Cumberland Councillor Paul Garrard, who is chair of the council’s Heritage Committee, has called for “immediate action to address the unkempt condition of the grave”.
Pointing out that John Nobbs, who was Granville’s first mayor, has a grave in a different section which is much better cared for, he also asked for a report and a consultation with the Rookwood Necropolis Land Manager.
“It’s [Arthur Holroyd’s grave] is obviously in one of the older parts of the cemetery but is it not being not being cared for in that particular area,” he said.
“I was actually disgusted by its condition.”
Prompted to find the grave after reading a little about Holroyd’s life in a local history book and realising it was his birthday on December 1, Cr Garrard wants the council to allocate funding to better maintain the site.
“There’s no better place to start to investigate someone than where they are buried,” he said.
“I think the story of prominent people in our council area is always very, very important and it should be promoted. We need to learn more about these people.
“This is a new council and we’ve spent a lot of time over the last three years harmonising rates, harmonising LEPs and so on but what needs to be harmonised is what came before us, our heritage.”
