Geelong Cemeteries Trust

23/10/2026

All Souls' Day offers a time for prayer and remembrance, to honour and reflect on the memories of loved ones.

We warmly welcome all to attend the service held in the grounds of Queenscliff Cemetery on Monday 2 November.

A marquee and seating will be in place, and tea and coffee provided.

For an event map, please visit https://gct.net.au/resource/all-souls-day-service/

19/10/2026

We are pleased to announce an opportunity for charities and organisations within the death and bereavement industry in our regions to apply for a donation.

For more information and to apply, visit:https://gct.net.au/resource/news/donation-opportunity/

Applications close Friday 20 November 2026.

Geelong Cemeteries Trust is pleased to announce an opportunity for charities and organisations within the death and bereavement sector in our regions to apply for a donation.

11/10/2026

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

It’s a time to remember little lives lost too soon, and to help break the silence surrounding miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death.

To mark this month and the upcoming International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, candles will be available to light and float in the pond at our Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial Garden at Geelong Memorial Park.

These candles will be available in a basket at the garden between 8am and 8pm, from today, until Sunday 18 October. All are welcome 🤍

For directions to the garden, click here: https://gct.net.au/resource/wave-of-light/?fbclid=IwY2xjawU48mtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMVA3M05SNW5XT1FSdHR5SWhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeb8M2hGdEYPAR_UvXuSZIkB5QiM66KZPXzq6P_0UEreQGwxkrk9uXa2_IWv8_aem_2nC3JBhZAZRqRxmXz7Ou0Q

09/10/2026

Today, we marked the opening of a Blue Tree at both Bellarine Memorial Park and Geelong Eastern Cemetery, continuing an important message of hope, connection and support for mental health across the communities we care for.

The Blue Tree Project works to break the silence and stigma surrounding mental health and su***de. Each blue tree is a visual reminder to check in with one another, speak openly about how we’re feeling and seek support when we need it.

To mark this important occasion, we gathered at Bellarine Memorial Park, where we were honoured to have Mental Health Advocate Mick Cummins from The Code 9 Foundation to share his reflections on the importance of starting conversations around mental health.

We also acknowledge Colonel Tony Egan and Cor Infinitus, who have been involved in bringing this Blue Tree to Bellarine Memorial Park. Cor Infinitus supports families and loved ones affected by su***de, particularly those who have lost someone who served Australia through military, defence or emergency services, while working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and su***de.

Both Blue Trees carry the same important message, creating spaces for reflection and encouraging conversations about mental health within our community.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to bringing these Blue Trees to our cemeteries.

We also extend our thanks to Metal Art & Design, who crafted the Red Gum Blue Tree at Geelong Eastern Cemetery, and Entanglements Metal Art, who created the Yellow Gum Blue Tree sculpture at Bellarine Memorial Park.

We warmly welcome our community to visit the Blue Trees at Bellarine Memorial Park and Geelong Eastern Cemetery and, if you see one, perhaps let it be a reminder to check in with someone you care about. 💙

01/10/2026

A partnership shaped by service, community and a belief in better representation.

William and F***y Brownbill devoted their lives to the people of Geelong. William, a working-class Labor politician, represented Geelong in the Victorian Parliament and advocated for the interests of workers and his local community.

After William’s death in 1938, his wife F***y stepped forward to continue that work, making history in her own right as the first woman elected to the Victorian Parliament as a Labor member.

Together, William and F***y left a lasting mark on Geelong through decades of political and community service.

This is one story among many, offering a glimpse into the remarkable lives resting across our cemeteries. We have more stories to tell, and we look forward to sharing them with you.

We invite you to begin exploring your own ancestry, starting with our Family History Search tool: gct.net.au/ancestry-stories/

21/09/2026

As part of our perpetual maintenance program, upgrade works at Geelong Memorial Park are scheduled to commence from the first week of October 2026.

The works will focus on the four native memorial gardens located behind the crematorium building.

These upgrades will be completed in stages, with some areas temporarily restricted while works are underway. Signage will be in place throughout the area to keep families and visitors informed.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of families and visitors while these important improvements are carried out.

For more information, please visit: https://gct.net.au/resource/news/upgrade-works-to-begin-at-geelong-memorial-park/

15/09/2026

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

A time to remember the little lives lost too soon, honour the families who carry their memory, and help break the silence surrounding miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss.

To honour the month and International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, we warmly invite you to join us for our Wave of Light Ceremony.

This will be an intimate, informal gathering on Thursday 15 October at Geelong Memorial Park, where we will come together to light and float a candle in our reflection pond in memory of babies gone too soon.

Candles will be available at the garden between 8am – 8pm throughout the week beginning Monday 12 October, for those who wish to reflect and remember in their own private moment.

All are welcome. If you haven't visited before, click this link for a guide to the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial Garden. https://gct.net.au/resource/wave-of-light/

07/09/2026

🌿 Connecting, collaborating and caring for Country this Biodiversity Month! 💚

What a fantastic day exploring some of the Bellarine Peninsula’s most inspiring environmental restoration, conservation and w**d management projects!

Our Bellarine Catchment Network community came together for a full-day guided field tour, bringing together volunteers, community members, land managers and partner organisations to learn more about the practical work happening across our region to protect and enhance our local landscapes.

Travelling by bus between sites, we heard directly from local land managers and environmental experts, gained behind-the-scenes insights, shared ideas and celebrated the incredible work being carried out across the Bellarine. 🌱

A special highlight of the day was the official launch of our new Weeds of the Bellarine booklet by Alison Marchant MP, Member for Bellarine, at the Point Lonsdale Surf Club.

Developed in collaboration with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and supported through the Victorian Government’s Partnerships Against Pests Program, the booklet is a practical community resource designed to help people identify invasive w**ds and understand their impacts on our local ecosystems.

Building community knowledge and confidence in identifying w**ds is an important step towards protecting our indigenous plants, wildlife and landscapes. 🌿

A huge thank you to our valued BCN partners Barwon Water, Geelong Cemeteries Trust, Borough of Queenscliffe and Bellarine Bayside for welcoming us onto their sites and sharing their knowledge, experiences and conservation work with our network.

And thank you to Alison Marchant MP for helping us celebrate the launch of this important resource and supporting community-led environmental action.

Days like this are a wonderful reminder of what can be achieved when community, volunteers, land managers and organisations come together to learn, share and take action for our environment. 💚

01/09/2026

A fine stamp of man, whose life of service was shaped by profound personal loss.

After losing both his sons to war, Major Dr. Richard Gibbs devoted himself to caring for wounded and returned soldiers.

Despite his life coming to a tragic end, he left an inspiring legacy to look up to.

This is one story among many, offering a glimpse into the remarkable lives resting across our cemeteries. We have more stories to tell, and we look forward to sharing them with you.

We invite you to begin exploring your own ancestry, starting with our Family History Search tool: gct.net.au/ancestry-stories/

20/08/2026

Last week, we welcomed students, volunteers and community members to Flinders Memorial Park for two days of planting and learning.

Thursday saw 100 Year 5 students from Lara Lake Primary School plant 500 native plants as part of the Lara Lions Club’s Planting for the Future project. Sunday brought 50 community members together to continue planting and install guards around the remaining plants.

Across both days, Tyr from TM Biodiversity shared his knowledge about the plants, revegetation and the importance of supporting local biodiversity.

A big thank you to everyone who took part and a special thanks to Lara Lions for partnering with us to organise these events and providing a BBQ lunch for Sunday’s volunteers.

Together, we’re helping create a greener, healthier landscape for the future.