Hunter Valley cemetery robbed of 40 memorial plaques

Police are investigating the theft of approximately 40 memorial plaques from the Gordon Williams Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Aberdare, located in the Hunter Valley. The incident occurred between 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 6, and 9:00 AM on Wednesday, October 7.

Cessnock City Council confirmed the matter has been referred to the police and stated that teams are currently assessing the site to determine the full extent of the impact and communicate with affected families.

One affected family described themselves as “devastated,” noting that they had only recently had their mother’s plaque installed after a four-month wait. The family and local residents have appealed to the community for information to help return the stolen items.