My young son rests peacefully at Leppington Cemetery, NSW, Australia. His grave was once adorned with a small butterfly, a small angel, a soccer ball and a solar light - tokens of love that brought comfort to our family. However, the cemetery management has recently decided to only allow 'real' flowers on gravesites in an attempt to 'enhance the natural beauty' of the cemetery. This new policy led them to remove all artificial flowers and ornaments from my son's grave without any prior notice or consultation.

This abrupt change is not only distressing for grieving families like ours but also contradicts their own website which does not mention this 'policy'. It feels as though they have stripped away our right to remember our loved ones in ways that are meaningful to us.

Moreover, real flowers wilt and die within days while artificial ones can withstand weather conditions for longer periods. They provide an enduring symbol of love and remembrance that we believe enhances rather than detracts from the natural beauty of the cemetery.

We understand that cemeteries need policies for maintenance purposes but these should be balanced with respect for individual's rights to express their grief in their own way. We urge Leppington Cemetery management to reconsider this policy change and allow families like ours the freedom to decorate gravesites with tasteful artificial flowers and ornaments.

Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving personal expressions of love at final resting places.