It's taken over a year to actually start work– I think there's been all sorts of problems with issues like whose going to pay... and the repairs have waited for the installation of a tall fence to ensure that the damage isn't repeated right away.
We met with some of the great & dedicated volunteerrs who have worked to document the monuments, map the cemetery, and, sadly, record all of the considerable vandalism damage. It was great to meet the volunteers, though, and we will all certainly be lobbying to work together again soon!
In two days – with a fun overnight stay at the Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort (though we didn't end up with much time to explore the 'leisure' or 'surf' aspects) – we completed most of the targetted 14 repairs plus 1 additional high priority safety concern. The lime putty mortar work will, however, have to await a longer-term project so that we can ensure proper aftercare for the setting mortar.
The main difficulties we faced was not with the scope of the damage – but, interestingly, with differences in philosophical approach... and subsequent corollaries in how, exactly, to complete repair work in the best possible fashion...!
What a great Job & effort to restore these historical monuments at Wollongong Cemetery, I often wonder what sort of "strange" person get satisfaction from damaging monuments?
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