A memorial is a structure, object, or event that honours and remembers a person, group of people, or an event of significance. Bayside allows for an expression of interest for a tree planted in a park, or a garden bench in Bayside’s open spaces.

Council assess memorial requests based on the connection between the person and Bayside.

Council reviews application for memorial tree plantings and select the species when approved. The tree planting location is set by Council. Trees are planted when conditions are favourable, and in compliance with other policies and management plans.

Please note that plaques and other memorabilia is not to be placed next to the tree. 
 

The bench or seat will be a replacement for an existing bench in a park or included in the construction of a new park. Applicants have the option of installing a plaque, located on the back of the seat (at additional cost).

All bench or garden seat memorial requests are selected from a waitlist of new or replacement bench programs. In some cases, the City Projects Program for new benches is adopted by the Bayside Council at the beginning of a year for implementation in the following financial year.
 

When making an application, ensure you have included the following information about the person/group to be included on the memorial:

• A clear connection with the Bayside community. 
• A location request.
• Supporting documentation, if available, as to the good character and qualities of the individual or group you would like to be memorialised and a statement supporting the same.

Applicants have the option of installing a plaque located on the back of the bench (at additional cost). The rules and guidelines for plaques are:

• The choice of wording is to be  simple. 
• All wording must be approved by the General Manager. 

Suggested format for plaques may be: 

• Dedicated to 
• By/From or a short message (max 10 words) 
• Year of donation 

An example of this may read “Dedicated to David John Smith by his Family 2015.”

Download and print the Memorial Request Application and lodge the completed form by emailing council or applying at any of our Customer Service Centres.

An application fee will be charged at lodgement this is for the assessment of your application. If you request has been approved, you will be contacted with a quote for your Memorial. Check the Fees and Charges web page.

Other fees will be applied after your application has been assessed.

Payments can be made by Visa or Mastercard which incurs a service fee of 0.5%

All costs associated, including administrative costs and an allowance for maintenance, will be met by the applicant. Council is responsible for normal maintenance.

As an alternative to a Memorial tree, families or individuals who live within the Bayside Local Government Area can register to plant a tree to commemorate your parent(s) on either Mother’s or Father’s Day.

These are yearly events. The location and registration details will be announced by Bayside council’s website closer to Mother’s Day (May) or Father’s Day (September).

You may be contacted for further information once your memorial request has been received.

If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service team on 1300 581 299 Monday to Friday between 8:30 and 5:30 pm.