By Helena Adeloju and Bonny Burrows
“A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering – always.”
Little is known about the young girl buried in Lang Lang Cemetery’s first grave, but as of 24 June, Louisa Mary Pickersgill’s final resting place has a plaque scribed with these words.
The two-year-old Grantville girl, daughter of Robert ‘William’ Pickersgill and Jane Pickersgill (formerly McDonald), died on 31 October 1886 after a three-week illness.
It is understood William was away from the farm and older brother Robert was staying with his grandparents when Louisa and her younger brother Samuel became ill with diphtheria.
Alone, with no neighbours or doctor nearby, their mother decided to yoke up the horse and take the children to the doctor at Griffith’s Point at San Remo 30 miles away.
Jane made them as comfortable as she could, piling up blankets and rugs around them to keep them warm.
But Louisa died on the way and Samuel died a short time later.
Having died at such a young age, Louisa had no chance to create her life story or form her own identity.
However her death would leave a lasting impact on the Lang Lang community, sparking the beginning of the town’s cemetery.
And 131 years later, her grave – which she now shares with her brother Samuel Kirkby Pickersgill and mother Jane – would be commemorated with a plaque and service.
More than 40 people attended the historic event, including members of the Lang Lang District Historical Society and the Narre Warren and District Family History Group.
Lang Lang District Historical Society secretary Peter Hayden said the group had unsuccessfully tried over the years to locate Louisa’s relatives, hoping to have them at the ceremony, but with little information known it had proved difficult.
However, in attendance were Ted and Calvin Jewell, the great grandsons of James Baker, who had lobbied the government for land to be used for a cemetery.
“James Baker was the original settler of the Lang Lang township and it was he who dug that first grave,” Mr Hayden said.
“It was wonderful that Ted and Calvin (James Baker’s grandson) could do the unveiling.”
The unveiling and wreath laying ceremony was followed by a morning tea in the cemetery rotunda.
