That is how Makatu cemetery caretaker Tam Scott described his feelings on Thursday when he discovered vandals had desecrated graves at a private cemetery near Kaka Point.
Mr Scott said everything was normal at the cemetery last Sunday night when he last visited.
‘‘But all that cold stormy weather we had early last week kept me away. When I got there on Thursday afternoon the results of this act of wanton vandalism greeted me,” he said.
Vandals had opened the Makatu cemetery gate, driven over and ripped up several pathways, broken chairs and benches, and much to Mr Scott’s annoyance, stolen bone carvings and greenstone items off the headstone of his grandmother, Tira (Stella) Raki Raki.
“It’s nothing short of desecration.
“I’ve been looking after our family’s graves here since 2006, and nothing like this has ever happened before.”
The small private cemetery was opened in 1871 when Mr Scott’s great-grandmother was interred there. It is now the final resting place for about 45 people, including descendants of the Raki Raki and Potiki families and others in the Kaka Point district.
“All my family are buried here — my parents and grandparents, my aunties and uncles. I’ll be here one day too, and my extended family as well.’’
For the past 15 years, Mr Scott has been slowly clearing the 1ha site of gorse, bush and thistle and restoring the cemetery for future generations.
Native shrubs and trees have been planted, the lawns are manicured and the once hidden sea view has been restored.
“It’s very disheartening to see the lack of respect offered by these vandals to people who have given so much to the community here.
“If they had wanted to come here to enjoy the view, the peace and quiet, all they had to do was ask and I would have let them in.”
Mr Scott was intending to make a complaint to Balclutha police yesterday.
