By Bonny Burrows
For more than 40 years Harkaway resident Ray Exell has been maintaining the grounds of his local cemetery.
And on 5 February he was formally recognised for his volunteerism, with the cemetery’s rotunda and surrounding gardens renamed the Raymond Exell Rotunda and Memorial Rose Garden in his honour.
A commemorative plaque Ray unveiled at the service reads: “This rotunda and memorial rose garden is named in honour of Raymond Exell who served as a member of the Harkaway Cemetery Trust for 40 years – he has provided a lifetime of voluntary service in maintenance of the site for the benefit of the community”.
Ray has cut the grass and undertaken other maintenance activities at the Harkaway Cemetery since his early teenage years.
He initially went along to the cemetery to assist his grandfather, before carrying on the work with his two uncles and then his wife.
Now 73, Ray and wife Val continue their work in many facets of the cemetery’s administration and maintenance, mowing a paddock at the back of the grounds about once a fortnight.
“I thought I’d keep doing it, I like doing it,” Ray said.
Chairman of the Berwick and Harkaway Cemetery Trust Neil Lucas said the renaming of the garden was a way to thank Ray for his “magnificent contribution” over many years.
“The members were pleased to honour Ray in this manner,” Mr Lucas said.
Ray, who tends to shun the spotlight, said while he didn’t like the idea of a commemorative garden to start with, the honour “now feels alright”.
