This article reproduced here with permission was first published in [The New Local]: news and views from Hurstbridge, Nutfield, Strathewen, Arthurs Creek, Panton Hill, Wattle Glen, St Andrews, Smiths Gully, Kangaroo Ground, Cottles Bridge, Doreen and Watsons Creek Issue 1 November/December 2008 page 16.
The Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along the Eltham-Yarra Glen Road is the oldest working cemetery outside of Melbourne. Its first burial was that of five year old Judith Furphy, the young sister of John Furphy who later gained renown as the maker of the Furphy water-cart, whose brother, Joseph, wrote the great Australian novel, Such is Life.
Judith had just begun school at Kangaroo Ground when she caught a chill (as her mother put it), ‘from resting on wet grass’ There followed a mad dash into Melbourne for medicine by schoolmaster, Andrew Ross, but it was all too late. Judith died the following day (17 May 1851).
That evening, the Kangaroo Ground community gathered in the schoolhouse to decide where she ought be buried and they chose an unoccupied sandy location beyond their fence-lines, later to be gazetted as the present cemetery.
Here’s how the schoolmaster recorded it in his ‘Reminiscences’:
Here, therefore, on the afternoon of Sunday, 18th May, 1851, the remains of Judith Furphy were deposited, always to be noted as the first interment. The Rev. Peter Gunn held service at the schoolhouse in the morning of that day to a full congregation, but as he had to leave for another engagement the teacher performed at the grave, being the first of a very considerable number whom it devolved upon him to perform this duty on their being consigned to the last resting-place.
Judith wouldn’t really have been the first to be buried in the cemetery since within its bounds once stood a recorded Aboriginal campsite with alongside it a still-flowing spring and waterhole.
Note: 150 years later to the day, the people of Kangaroo Ground once again gathered at Judith’s graveside to hear Bruce Nixon read a poem dedicated to her, titled ‘Can You Hear the Eerie Wind Today?, a part of which reads: She’s only five ‘their wide eyes cried,’ and hardly any schooling. So sick she wurr’the old Scots said, ‘we thurt she was jus’ fooling Lass caught a chill’ her mother sobbed, ‘from romping in the clover. Aye, now she’s gone ‘poor Samuel moaned – the committal hardly over.
by Mick Woiwod
I visited Judith Furphys grave site today 29th March 2018 and took a photo of the metal plaque in the foot path which stated she was 9years old but another record lists her as 5 . I spent
many years on the land and can still visualise the Furphy water carts with its cast iron end which. Bolderly says Never rest till your best is better and your better best.