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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-02 Daily Xml
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PAYNEHAM MAUSOLEUM

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:49): A month or so ago, along with many other politicians and special guests, I had the pleasure of being invited by Mr Anthony Farrugia, to the special occasion of the opening of the Chapel of the Holy Family Complex at Payneham by Robert Bria, the Mayor of Norwood, Payneham and St Peter's.

The occasion took me back to when I first became a member of this chamber. I recall, as a member of the Statutory Authorities Review Committee, being involved in an inquiry which ultimately saw the tabling of four reports between the years of 1998 and 2003 on the management of one of our historic cemeteries. I have to admit that I found the whole area very interesting. I was certainly able to gain a greater appreciation of our state's past; cemeteries everywhere are such a great repository of history.

As a committee, we travelled intrastate as well as interstate, and the matter of conservation and preservation of historic cemeteries truly brought into focus the customs and traditions of those interred in our state, as well as the need for extra burial space. At the back of one's mind is the acknowledgement that issues surrounding burials are handled with sensitivity and understanding in all cultures.

Entombment in a mausoleum is a relatively new practice in our state, and indeed interstate, where the practice commenced with legislative changes in the early 1990s. I am told that since 1994, Australia-wide about 50 public mausoleums have been built, ranging from small crypt buildings to massive 2,000-crypt facilities. If my memory serves me correctly, one of our largest cemeteries has also added a mausoleum. The most important feature that large mausoleums offer is that they take up less ground space compared with an earth burial.

Mr Anthony Farrugia told those gathered for the opening that one acre of land yields 2,000 earth burials, whilst a mausoleum yields 10,000 crypts. The Farrugia family is one of those families instrumental in the building and marketing of mausoleums in Australia, and Mr Farrugia's involvement in the industry goes back to 1976. Prior to coming to South Australia, Mr Anthony Farrugia built mausoleums in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

In his opening address, Mr Farrugia highlighted the history associated with mausoleums. He told those gathered of the two great aboveground burials amongst the wonders of the ancient world; namely, the great Pyramid of Giza, built in 2500 BC, and the tomb of King Mausolus of Persia (from where the name mausoleum, meaning 'great tomb', derives), which was built in 350 BC but which was destroyed by earthquakes in 1400 AD; now only the base remains. Mr Farrugia told his guests that the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne is based on this mausoleum.

I have to say that Mr Farrugia really did his homework; and indeed he did not have to go too far from his first home because apparently the oldest man-made structure still standing is, in fact, a mausoleum. Built 6,000 years ago—1,500 years before the pyramids—it is located on the island of Malta and stands just three kilometres from where Mr Farrugia was born.

The family's association with South Australia commenced with the building of the Salisbury mausoleum, the opening of which I was also invited to, in March 2004. The association with Payneham has had a 16-year gestation, and the cooperation of the Norwood, Payneham and St Peter's council was acknowledged on the day. I believe the service being offered is an important one.

As far as I am aware, mausoleums of all sizes are part of many overseas landscapes. I appreciate that it is not for everyone, but the opportunity of having a choice certainly gives those who want to make that choice peace of mind. Members of various Asian communities, as well as Buddhist monks, were also welcomed on the day. I understand that the first funeral service held in January was a Buddhist funeral for a Vietnamese family, who hired the chapel prior to a cremation service at Enfield.

The audience was told that the facility is not just limited to interment but offers a variety of services, such as mind masses, which are common in cultures that choose to continue to remember and respect their deceased at particular times of the year or at anniversaries. I would like to offer my congratulations to Mr Anthony Farrugia, his family and all involved in the Chapel of the Holy Name complex on providing the community with an important choice in this area.

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