Father’s Day Fury: Cemeteries closed as baiting continues

TODAY is Father’s Day — a time when many families traditionally visit the graves of dads, grandfathers and father figures no longer with us.

But for some in the Junee Shire, they have been told those cherished visits won’t be possible this year, with three cemeteries — Old Junee Cemetery, Illabo Cemetery, and Junee’s Monumental Cemetery — closed to the public under an extended rabbit baiting program.

READ MORE: Rabbits tunnelling through graves in Junee

In response to mounting public concern over rabbit damage to burial sites, Junee Shire Council announced in August that it would begin a coordinated baiting program in the cemeteries in conjunction with Riverina Local Land Services.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Rabbits are burrowing through graves at Junee Monumental Cemetery | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Council’s first public notice, issued on August 14, advised that Pindone-laced poisoned carrots would be distributed between August 25 and September 5, and that affected cemeteries would be temporarily closed during that time.

In an updated notice posted to Facebook on September 3, Council stated that closures now extended until September 15 — covering the Father’s Day weekend.

“The cemeteries being treated include Old Junee Cemetery, Illabo Cemetery, [and] Junee Cemetery,” the post read. “Areas undergoing treatment have signs displayed, and entry is not permitted during the program.”

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

While Junee’s Lawn Cemetery remains open, that crucial detail was absent from Council’s original post, which simply referred to “Junee Cemetery” as being closed.

It wasn’t until 2.5 hours later, after members of the public questioned the lack of clarity, that Council edited the post to specify the Lawn section would remain open.

Still, for those with loved ones buried at Old Junee, Illabo, or within Junee’s Monumental Cemetery — which contains dozens of local fathers laid to rest in recent years and decades — access remains off-limits.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Adding to community frustration, all 21 public comments on Council’s Facebook post have since been hidden from public view, stifling discussion and raising transparency concerns.

Hidden comments on Facebook can only be seen by the author and their friends, effectively censoring wider community visibility.

Despite Council’s warnings, one local man — who asked not to be named — told The Junee Bulletin he still planned to visit the graves of his father and grandfather today, as he does every Father’s Day.

“Council can close the cemetery all they like,” he said.

“No sign or rope is going to stop me from visiting the final resting place of any deceased relative — let alone my father or grandfather — especially on a day like Father’s Day. That’s just absurd.

“Clearly no forethought went into this decision, which has the potential to trigger unnecessary stress and emotion in anyone with a father or grandfather buried at these cemeteries, myself included.”

He said the extended three-week closure of the cemeteries was proof of just how bad rabbit numbers had become.

“If Council had been more proactive months ago, instead of letting the infestation explode, they wouldn’t have been forced to close the cemeteries on Father’s Day. It’s that simple.”