NW&DFHG February Meeting

We are delighted to have Celestina Sagazio as guest speaker this month with a talk on Interesting Cemetery Tales and Humorous Epitaphs. The talk  will feature stories, symbolism and notable graves not only in Victoria but overseas. It has been a popular topic essentially because people love looking at graves with interesting symbols and inscriptions and humour is used to ‘demystify’ cemeteries. Celestina says that should not be frightened about cemeteries but should treasure them as significant places of history, heritage, genealogy, architecture and botany.

Before starting in this role at the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) in August 2011, Celestina was Historian/Senior Historian for the National Trust in Victoria, a heritage organisation, for 26 years. She is the editor of two cemetery publications: Cemeteries: Our Heritage and Conserving Our Cemeteries. Celestina has organised and conducted the very popular night tours of the Melbourne General Cemetery for 14 years, firstly for the National Trust and now for SMCT. The night cemetery tours have attracted  considerable media attention and have raised over $100,000 for cemetery restoration projects. Other groups have emulated the night tours she also conducts tours of the Springvale Botanical Cemetery and is currently compiling a presentation on that significant cemetery for the public and community groups. Celestina has been lecturing on cemeteries for 20 years, and no doubt will have some very interesting things to say.

Visitors are always welcome – no need to book – just come along.