Lovell calls for new leadership at Remembrance Parks Central Victoria

By Taylah Baker

Feb 25, 2025

**RPCV addressed the claims made by the MP and the calls for new leadership.** Photo by Megan Fisher

As the clock ticks down on the current chair’s term at the Remembrance Parks Central Victoria trust, discussions about governance and transparency have intensified.

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State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has expressed concerns regarding the leadership of RPCV, which manages cemeteries in Shepparton, Bendigo, Axedale, Heathcote, Sunbury and Donnybrook.

Ms Lovell said there had been controversies throughout the current chair’s tenure, the most recent being a proposed increase in burial costs announced in November 2024.

She also highlighted that the RPCV had repeatedly failed to meet its statutory obligations outlined in the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003.

Specifically, she said the trust had not held its annual general meetings on time or released annual reports for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.

The last annual report issued by RPCV was for the 2021-22 financial year.

In response, an RPCV spokesperson stated that the 2022-23 and 2023-24 annual reports had been completed and submitted to the Department of Health.

However, the RPCV cannot release these reports or hold an annual general meeting until they have been tabled in parliament.

The trust explained that the 2022-23 report faced significant delays due to various factors, including an eight-month wait for a new cemetery land valuation necessary for auditing and financial reporting.

As a result, the external audit process was not completed until December 2024, and the report could not be finalised until after this process concluded.

This delay also impacted the 2023-24 audit, which could not begin until after the 2022-23 audit was completed.

Ms Lovell remains adamant that action must be taken, urging Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to remove the board chair when their term ended on February 28.

“Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas is responsible to parliament for this public body but has failed to take responsibility for the repeated governance failures,” she said.

“It is essential that the minister appoints someone who can establish good governance at this cemetery trust.”

The governor appoints the chair based on recommendations from the Department of Health.

It has been confirmed that the current chair has reapplied for the position under the Public Board Appointments Victoria process.