Daniel Calabro, Vanessa Barnes and Jake Hubbard on the site of what’s set to be Griffith’s first crematorium. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Griffith’s long wait for a crematorium could end next year, with local provider Trenerry Funerals submitting a development application (DA) on Monday (8 July) to build a facility on Battista Street in Yoogali.
“People have been talking about this for years. We just want to get it done,” Trenerry Funerals owner Daniel Calabro said.
A crematorium is a venue in which a deceased body is burnt to ashes, generally after a funeral ceremony. No such facility exists in Griffith.
Trenerry Funerals’ DA for a crematorium is understood to be the first ever that’s been submitted to Griffith City Council, which will consider it over the coming weeks.
“We’ve got the land secured; we’ve got the builder; we want to start turning soil as soon as we get the DA approved. We hope to have this venue operational by early 2025, though like anything, timelines can get pushed out,” Mr Calabro said.
Cremation is the preferred form of deceased body disposal for members of the Indian Sikh religion. Griffith has more than 1000 people of this faith, many of whom have been advocating for this service to be available in town for several years.
“The Sikh community have to travel two hours to Wagga to farewell their loved one,” Jake Hubbard of Trenerry Funerals said. “Some are even travelling to Melbourne to get the service and cremation completed on the same day.
“Once our facility is built, they’ll be able to have the service at their temple and then the cremation here in Griffith. The Indian community want to watch the cremation take place, and in our plans, we’re designing a viewing room so they can do that.”
The local Griffith Sikh community have pushed for a crematorium for years. Photo: Supplied.
Mr Calabro said it was not only the Sikhs who would benefit, but the whole Griffith community.
“Cremation rates have previously shown an increase when you have a crematorium in town. That means it could expand the longevity of the Griffith cemetery, as more people opt to cremate their loved ones, with less demand for burials.”
A crematorium also offers a more affordable service for families. Burial expenses are typically around $3000, whereas cremations can be done for just over $1000.
In March 2024, it was announced that another local provider, Griffith Regional Funeral Services, would be partnering with Griffith City Council to install a crematorium service in town by mid-2026.
“I expect our service will be up and running well before then,” Mr Calabro said.
The 33-year-old was raised in Leeton and has been in the funeral industry since he was 15. He also owns another successful business, Central West Funerals, in Parkes. He bought the longstanding Griffith business, formerly named Collier Trenerry, in 2022.
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