Policy Objective

Consistent with its vision of nurturing enduring remembrance and to facilitate its mission to create and maintain enduring and accessible remembrance into perpetuity whilst delivering quality and caring service with compassion, RPCV has established these guidelines to enable achievement of its vision and mission.

Above all else, these guidelines are focused on maintaining the safety of visitors, volunteers and staff across all RPCV sites. In addition, the guidelines maintain respect for self and others and are also focused on maintaining the aesthetics of RPCV sites commensurate with the expectations of the community.

General Decoration Guidelines Applicable to All Areas

  • Temporary markers approved by RPCV are permitted for a period of up to 6 months, unless otherwise permitted;
  • Artificial flowers are permitted whilst they remain in good condition.  If deemed by RPCV, old and deteriorated artificial flowers will be removed at RPCV’s sole discretion;
  • Concrete beams must remain in their natural state.  Under no circumstances are concrete beams to be painted, decorated in anyway or coloured in;
  • A maximum of three (3) items are permitted on each gravesite/memorial,, ensuring it does not become overcrowded and cluttered;
  • Memorialisation items are not to extend beyond the boundary of the gravesite/memorial or impede in any way upon neighbouring sites;
  • Any items that may be considered offensive, derogatory or not befitting with the cemetery aesthetics are no permitted under any circumstances and will be removed by RPCV at its sole discretion; and
  • Approved ornaments and/or containers that form part of a monument, headstone and base are permitted.

Restricted Items for All Areas

  • Metal spikes used to hang decorations;
  • Items hanging from trees;
  • Any other item that will or has deteriorated (ie. teddy bears, plastic ornaments); and
  • Photo frames, visitors books, candles, toys or wind chimes (excluding designated children’s areas – refer to conditions below).

Restricted Items for Lawn Graves and Cremation Memorials

  • Decorative, other fencing or lighting around lawn graves or cremation memorials;
  • Edging, curbing, special stones and bark;
  • Anything placed or planted in the ground around the grave/memorial; and
  • Any solar or battery operated lights that are not an approved item by RPCV.

Restricted Items for Monumental Graves

  • Fragile or breakable fences; and
  • Anything placed or planted on paths, thoroughfares, roads or inside/outside the monument boundary.

Designated Children’s Areas Only

  • Photo frames, visitors books, candles, toys and wind chimes are permitted within designated children’s areas in strict accordance with the conditions outlined below:

o   A maximum of three (3) items are permitted on each memorial to ensure it does not become overcrowded and cluttered;

o   Memorialisation items are not to extend beyond the boundary of the grave or impede in any way upon neighbouring sites;

o   All memorialisation items must be located on the concrete beam and not protrude onto or into the lawned area; and

o   Strictly no glass or ceramic objects, including jars, bottles & vases