Creative Corner | 17 June 2025

The Old Grave Digger

It was a day trip to the Old Ingham Cemetery to establish a grave of a long-lost ancestor and give a facelift to another grave.

All went well with shovel in hand, until Mother Nature took over and the heat struck. His good wife fearing the worst called the Ambulance that a person needed medical attention at the Old Ingham Cemetery.

On arrival at the Cemetery, they found the Old Grave Digger as white as a ghost, and not quite with us. They sprang into action and brought him back to life, then contacted the lngham Hospital to expect a patient from the Old Ingham Cemetery. The Ambulance sped off with half a tree hanging out of the back door.

The staff at the hospital did not know what to expect. The Ambulance doors swung open and all the leaves fell down. The Old Grave Digger was stretchered out. He thought he was in heaven.

The dedicated doctors and nurses brought him back to earth. After 3 days in hospital, he knew the Pearly Gates weren't ready for him.

So, the next time you are driving past the Old Ingham Cemetery, take time to call in and walk around. You will be surprised how much of the district's history is on the tombstones. The Friends of the Cemetery have done a marvellous job locating and laying epitaphs on many old graves.

Author's note: A big thank you to the Ambulance Bearers, Doctors and Nurses at the Ingham Hospital for their dedicated and professional care and attention. (Kevin Blackford)

Driftwood, a Haiku.

Tossed by time and tide,
once a tree, now ocean's ghost,
resting on warm sand.

Author's note: Inspired by the Golden Oldies travels and nomadic lifestyle, as they too have fared the world as driftwood does. (Victoria Velton)

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