I am writing in reply to Mr and Mrs Hodges letter dated September 3, 2014.

Do the council have any idea of the worry and stress they have caused all the people in the same position as Mr and Mrs Hodges, including ourselves? A lot of the aged people are living in the retirement village and the nursing home and money is quite limited. Why did they do this in the first place: to save the family, the worry.

A lot of these people would not have homes to sell as they have already done this to get them into the accommodation they now live in.  Every night you put the television on every third or fourth advertisement is about taking out insurance, so that the kids do not have the worry when you pass on, or “I am glad mum and dad have paid for their funerals”.  We paid for ours for the same reason. 

We have a receipt that states one lawn plot holder and nowhere that it states rite of burial or deposit, and as far as Mr Philips remark I can assure him we paid the going price at the time. Mr Tretheweys saying its only a storm in a tea cup, well the storm has not started yet and it will take more than a tea cup. 

If the money had been invested wisely as it should have been we would not be in this predicament now.  Also when the cemetery budget is made each year they don’t know how many people are going to die that year. It could be 10 or 30, so each one is cream on top of the budget.  

You have no ethics or compassion, as Jeff and Joyce said, when the next election comes around make sure the new people standing have the town interests and rate payers in mind. I feel the council is profiteering from the dead and if they have any compassion they would reimburse the people that have been charged the extra money.

Yours Sincerely,

John and Margaret Holder

12 Francis Street

Cootamundra NSW 2590