Recently (1983) there has been some wonderful work done round the country in the old cemeteries.

Complete surveys have been made of the folk buried therein and these have been listed both according to site and in an alphabetical order to enable those seeking information from the inscriptions more easily to find them, particularly in the larger cemeteries.

The National Trust has classified, and listed many of them, and seeks any information regarding those isolated burial places. Although there may only be a few graves, these ought to be listed for often the paucity of formal cemetery fittings has no relation with the historic relations of the folk buried there.

Locally the Forster General Cemetery, (in Strand Street area), the Bungwahl (Old Cemetery - on the spur above the church), the Bungwahl-Neranie Cemetery or Neranie Head Cemetery, and the Bulahdelah General Cemetery and no doubt others will in due course be also classified and added to the Register.

Unfortunately down the years some like the Old Willow Point Cemetery up the Wallamba River have suffered much damage through bushfires, falling timber, weathering and sometimes vandalism, and where there were many old burials of pioneer families, there is today little trace of the existence. On last inspection there were 12 discernible sites there but we know that there were more than this originally. Wooden markers and paled fencing round sites have naturally been destroyed by fire and/or termites, and only those of stone, and/or cast iron remain.

"Portion 110 is situated on the north-eastern side of Main Road (Lakes Way) some distance south of Underwood Road and according to verbal information received from the Lands Board Office, Taree, comprises a reserve for the preservation of graves.

Inspection of the land revealed the existence of a number of headstones dating back to the last century, the Shire Clerk, Mr. Terry, told Stroud Shire Council (now Great Lakes Shire Council) on Monday. Council, he said may wish to give consideration to cleaning up the area with a view to preserving the graves and headstones in which case application should be made for the area to be placed under Council's Trusteeship.

Council will make application to have the area placed under its trusteeship....."

On October 7, 1981 there remained only remains of the following markers: -

l. Annie Miles, died 8th January, 1886, aged 14 days;

2. Mary Barbara Miles, died 22nd March, 189-;

3. The memory of Alfred Basham, 13th December, 1891, aged 20 years.

5. Jane Middlemiss, 19th September, 1883

There is considerable marble and sandstone debris in the area - and as of recent days the stone of Miss Middlemiss has been removed. Rumour has it that somewhere about the area, there was a stack of stones some time back but so far we have not been able to locate these, for we have sought to ascertain names thereon.

We, that is the Historical Society would be very grateful for any information regarding any graves in the Wallamba-Lake Wallis area, so that at least we can have their situation and state recorded. A note in the post to Box 23, Tuncurry would be appreciated.

Now talking of those who have passed on, there were some time back certain customs which have died out, relating to the observance of reverence and respect to those passed. Recently a local citizen presented to us a framed Obituary which has hung in its solid cedar frame since 1867, in a local house, and although sealed into the frame the paper therein has reached a very fragile state. Let us quote, for as yet we have not copied it for reproduction:

"Obituary notice.

Donald Cameron.

The death of Mr. Donald Cameron of Port Stephens of which the usual Obituary Notice was inserted in the "Empire" of Friday last deserves a more extended notice than it then and there received.

Mr. Cameron was a native of Ardnamurchan, Argyleshire, Scotland and was upwards of sixty years of age when he emigrated with his family to the colony per ship "Brilliant" which sailed from Tobar Mory in the Isle of Mull in the year 1838, being ninety years of age when he died on the 12th instant.

He had been twice married and was father of fifteen children some of who were also married when he brought them out with him, and eleven are still alive in the colony. Besides these sons and daughters he had sixty-six grandchildren of whom forty-seven are living making a total of one hundred and six living descendants when he died.

I wonder how many of us....the ordinary people will be considered worthy enough to be remembered in a preserved printed Obituary for in excess of 116 years.....and who would hang it there in daily sight?