Dead interesting

Rex McFarlane and Lynne Bradley from the Narre Warren and District Family History Group at the Pakenham Cemetery.Picture: David Allen

By Danielle Galvin
HALLOWEEN celebrations were off to an early start in Pakenham on the weekend.
The Narre Warren and District Family History Group led a tour of the Pakenham cemetery, as history buffs braved the cold and rain to come along and learn about early settlers in the area.
It was all part of History Week, which ran last week from 23 October to 30 October.
“We were trying to think of something to do for History Week, so we thought why not a tour of the Pakenham cemetery?” research officer Lynne Bradley said.
The Thewlis Road cemetery in Pakenham was gazetted in 1865.
Twenty five people came along to hear from tour leader Wendy Brock.
Despite the rain and poor weather, Ms Bradley said the tour was a unique historical snapshot and a successful trip.
“The feedback was very good, we got a phone call to say how well the day went and how much people enjoyed it,” she said.
It was the first time the group had organised a tour of the Pakenham cemetery.
“We decided to do something different and interesting,” she said.
The tour focused on the first five trustees of the cemetery George Ritchie, Michael Bourke, Thomas Mulcahy, John Startup and Richard Fortune, who is the only one not buried at the Pakenham cemetery.
Ms Bradley hopes to organise another tour next year.
“It takes a lot of effort and research to plan a cemetery tour, but next year we’ll organise more.”