New cemetery in south-west Sydney to go ahead: Its passionate advocate farewelled

The NSW Government has given the go ahead for the resumption of work at Macarthur Memorial Park in Varroville that will open in February 2025 as a world class, innovative and sustainable cemetery for all religious groups. Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said, “Macarthur Memorial Park is the first new Crown cemetery to be built in Sydney in over 80 years,” after “The former Government’s indecision and infighting left Sydney cemeteries in a mess.”

The government decision announced on Thursday 22 June was soon after the former CEO of Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (CMCT), Peter O’Meara, who passionately fought for the establishment of Macarthur Memorial Park recently passed away and was farewelled by hundreds of family and friends on Saturday 17 June 2023.

Peter was O’Meara remembered as a courageous and tireless leader for the church’s mission to care for the dead and their grieving loved ones, who maintained his integrity and humour in the face of fierce government opposition while building an interfaith coalition to successfully fight off plans by the then NSW property minister, Melinda Pavey, to amalgamate five separate Sydney cemetery trusts into one single government-controlled entity.

He managed to convince the NSW Labor government to fix the mess left behind by the former government by fast-tracking the approval of the 113-hectare new 136,000 plot Crown land cemetery at Varroville to help solve Sydney’s impending burial crisis.

CMCT is the Crown land manager of Macarthur Memorial Park. As well as affordable burials, Macarthur Memorial Park will provide 35 hectares of publicly accessible areas, peaceful walking tracks, six lakes, a café, sculpture park, community lawns and boardwalks.

The current CEO of CMCT, Lauren Hardgrove said, “Macarthur Memorial Park will be an innovative, sustainable multi-denominational memorial parkland destination.”

She further added, “There will be modern function spaces to accommodate both intimate gatherings and larger groups surrounded by scenic open landscape.”

The Government recently announced it will move to a two-operator model for Sydney’s Crown cemeteries sector. Three Sydney Crown cemetery managers (Rookwood General, Northern Metropolitan and Southern Metropolitan) will be formally amalgamated into a single operator.

The NSW Government is working across a number of areas to increase cemetery supply, including exploring suitable land for other new cemeteries like Macarthur Memorial Park.

Tributes flow for giant of Sydney cemeteries

The funeral of Peter O’Meara (1956-2023) who died at the age of 67 was attended by hundreds of people including leaders from business, community and faith organisations.

Bishop Terry Brady celebrated a deeply moving Mass, filled with tears and loving laughter at Rookwood Catholic Cemetery, one of the four cemeteries operated by Catholic Cemeteries + Crematoria in Sydney.

He praised the deep relationships Peter nurtured with the different faith communities that the organisation serves, including the Islamic, Jewish and Buddhist communities. “His work in breaking down barriers and connecting us together was amazing.”

In attendance at the funeral were Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Minister Steve Kamper MP, Anthony Roberts MP as well as Kazi Ali and Hosneara Ali, Jasim Ahmed, Imam Nazirul Hassan Thanvi and Azam Ali from the Muslim Cemeteries Board.

Mr Kazi Ali OAM read in the Prayers of the Faithful that Peter “welcomed all the people under one Maker, acknowledging everyone as brothers and sisters, without discrimination of race or nation.”

Mr Ali said that Peter had become more like a brother to him over the years, “He was a very compassionate and gentle person. He had immense respect for all faith groups and would always advocate for a dignified funeral for every person, irrespective of their background.”

Many of the attendees were wearing blue ribbons, the colour of his beloved Western Force rugby team and of the blue cornflower symbol for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Peter was diagnosed with MND seven months ago and mourners were encouraged to donate in the hope of finding a cure.

As a mark of respect, the staff of Catholic Cemeteries formed a guard of honour for the funeral cortege as the admired and loved leader’s coffin was transported from the chapel to his grave.

Danny Casey, governor of the Catholic Cemeteries Board, said in his eulogy that Peter had been a man of “vision and courage.” In 2010, he inherited an organisation with a “long and proud history, but a very uncertain future” and set about improving skills and practices to make it the best of its kind.”

“He reached out to other faith groups and worked hard to understand their many and varied requirements to ensure Catholic Cemeteries embedded them in current practice and planned for them in all future initiatives.”

In tackling Sydney’s burial crisis, Peter won long-fought approval to build two new cemeteries in Sydney, one in Macarthur and the other in the Penrith region. His legacy will continue to benefit generations of Sydneysiders and their families for decades to come.

Peter is survived by his wife Christine, children Liam and Caitlin, daughter-in-law Dani and grandson Thomas. Liam and Caitlin spoke of their father as dedicated to his friends and family who led by example and embodied generosity, humour, honesty, determination and empathy.

“He did not care where you came from, what your background, race, religion or creed was. If you embodied these traits, you would find a friend in dad and quite often, that was for life.”