Rules are rules, but sometimes you think they'd make an exception.
Earlier this year Geraldton mother Tracey Carter found herself in a bureaucratic tangle she'd never imagined possible - being ordered to remove a hand-made cross from her son Daniel's grave three years after she buried him.
"I had to prove that it was treated, I had to prove the date it got treated, which was 3 years ago now, so there is no way on God's earth that I would have receipts," she said.
Ms Carter received a letter from the Geraldton Cemetery Board saying wooden crosses were prohibited unless treated, because they could attract termites and white ants.
"I treated it and mosaiced it, with tiny little tiles from top to bottom. It took me five months to make. I just wanted something really special for him. It was a really hard time, but it was my way of giving him something."
Ms Carter has since removed the cross - but not before reaching out to strangers on Facebook for any advice that would allow her to keep the cross.
People from the Facebook page Perth - Have A Whinge gave Ms Carter great support during that difficult time - and now they've gone one better, making her a new metal cross and a commemorative stone that will keep the memory of her son burning strong for years to come.
"My whinge is that a lot of you from PHAW made a woman cry today!" wrote one of the organisers, Nikki Fisher-Holmes.
"You may remember Tracy Carter who was made to remove her sons cross from the cemetery.
"One bloke on here donated a new metal cross, and many of you got behind a gofundme for a memorial that was set up by another PHAW member.
"Here is the result of that. We made the stone at cost and gave the remainder of the gofundme $ to Tracy today to use towards cemetery fees etc.
Tracy doesn't currently have access to her Facebook (in Perth for her daughter hospital appointments) but she was very grateful to everyone and blown away by it all. Well done whingers."
In a card sent to Ms Carter filled with money raised to help her, a hand written note reads:
"To Tracey,
"From family, friends and strangers from Perth - have a Whinge who made this happen.
"We hope this brings you comfort, having a beautiful way to honour your son."
There may be rules, but it's fair to say that there will always be exceptions, and sometimes they're very good ones.
- With Western Independent
