Narrabri Council Reveals Systemic Incompetency in Fundamental Administration Processes, Leaving Potential Thousands of Locals Without Statutory Legal Documentation, 18.09.2025
A grieving family still trying to obtain its purchased Interment Right Certificate after almost four years has uncovered the ultimate example of local council incompetency, complacency, and clear absence of initiative to correct legal records.
The family purchased the Interment Rights at the time of paying the funeral arrangements for their son in November 2021. Initially, having no prior experience with the legal complexities of funeral arrangements, they did believe they were provided due documentation, albeit Council only provided a photocopy via email, and three years after their son’s passing. As such they were never provided an actual certificate of any kind or quality.
However, inquiries with Council about the content of the completed form has revealed the Certificate contained the details of the funeral director and the deceased son, instead of the actual purchaser.
“I purchased the Interment Right Certificate, I am the Applicant, yet there are other people’s details on it and I still have not been provided my documentation which forms part of my estate and legacy,” stated Cherina Gray mother of her late son.
“I’ve been asking for the document repeatedly, even sought documents through the GIPA process in order to try to put the paper trail into some order, but I still do not have what I paid for,” she stated. “Contact was made with Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW who subsequently advised the Certificate was in the right name, being the name of my deceased son, and if I wanted the Rights transferred I have to get the rightful owner, as listed on the form, to complete a Transfer Form. They are actually telling me I have to get my deceased son to fill out the form and transfer it to me! What kind of people are running the Council?! Surely they can’t be that stupid! I’ve since tried to access the online Interment Right Register, a public tool, and it’s not available. I wanted to check the public record myself. The NSW State Library has also informed me it is not accessible. What this tells me is I’m not the only one in this administrative blunder; clearly Council has shut the registry down because they know it’s not accurate. These legal forms have not been in the correct format for an extended period of time; decades.”
The family are now scheduled to address the next Council Meeting in October, coincidently one day prior to the anniversary of losing their son, compounding their distress and trauma.
“This should never have happened. They need to fix this. I have documents stating they’ve been consulting with just about everyone else but me. This matter only concerns me. What right do they have to deny me my document purchased in good faith, and consult with other people who have no connection to this matter whatsoever?” stated Mrs Gray in a heightened state of distress.
“I just can’t believe any of this. It could all be rectified with the stroke of a pen,” she said.
The Narrabri Shire community is urged to make enquiries to it concerning Interment Right documentation which is considered necessary for accurate tracing of genealogy and general family history. It is likely those enquiries will see a flood of inaccuracies demanding correction.
Council has been afforded a Right of Reply prior to publication on Monday 22nd September 2025 on the website www.nswfreedomofinformation.net. As at the time of publication on 22nd September 2025 Narrabri Shire Council has not issued any comment. Contact: Jason Townsend, Governance Manager, jasont@narrabri.nsw.gov.au Darrell Tiemens, Mayor, mayor@narrabri.nsw.gov.au Eloise Chaplain, General Manager, eloisec@narrabri.nsw.gov.au
The family purchased the Interment Rights at the time of paying the funeral arrangements for their son in November 2021. Initially, having no prior experience with the legal complexities of funeral arrangements, they did believe they were provided due documentation, albeit Council only provided a photocopy via email, and three years after their son’s passing. As such they were never provided an actual certificate of any kind or quality.
However, inquiries with Council about the content of the completed form has revealed the Certificate contained the details of the funeral director and the deceased son, instead of the actual purchaser.
“I purchased the Interment Right Certificate, I am the Applicant, yet there are other people’s details on it and I still have not been provided my documentation which forms part of my estate and legacy,” stated Cherina Gray mother of her late son.
“I’ve been asking for the document repeatedly, even sought documents through the GIPA process in order to try to put the paper trail into some order, but I still do not have what I paid for,” she stated. “Contact was made with Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW who subsequently advised the Certificate was in the right name, being the name of my deceased son, and if I wanted the Rights transferred I have to get the rightful owner, as listed on the form, to complete a Transfer Form. They are actually telling me I have to get my deceased son to fill out the form and transfer it to me! What kind of people are running the Council?! Surely they can’t be that stupid! I’ve since tried to access the online Interment Right Register, a public tool, and it’s not available. I wanted to check the public record myself. The NSW State Library has also informed me it is not accessible. What this tells me is I’m not the only one in this administrative blunder; clearly Council has shut the registry down because they know it’s not accurate. These legal forms have not been in the correct format for an extended period of time; decades.”
The family are now scheduled to address the next Council Meeting in October, coincidently one day prior to the anniversary of losing their son, compounding their distress and trauma.
“This should never have happened. They need to fix this. I have documents stating they’ve been consulting with just about everyone else but me. This matter only concerns me. What right do they have to deny me my document purchased in good faith, and consult with other people who have no connection to this matter whatsoever?” stated Mrs Gray in a heightened state of distress.
“I just can’t believe any of this. It could all be rectified with the stroke of a pen,” she said.
The Narrabri Shire community is urged to make enquiries to it concerning Interment Right documentation which is considered necessary for accurate tracing of genealogy and general family history. It is likely those enquiries will see a flood of inaccuracies demanding correction.
Council has been afforded a Right of Reply prior to publication on Monday 22nd September 2025 on the website www.nswfreedomofinformation.net. As at the time of publication on 22nd September 2025 Narrabri Shire Council has not issued any comment. Contact: Jason Townsend, Governance Manager, jasont@narrabri.nsw.gov.au Darrell Tiemens, Mayor, mayor@narrabri.nsw.gov.au Eloise Chaplain, General Manager, eloisec@narrabri.nsw.gov.au