The Illawarra Mercury reports Stonemasons from Sydney's historic Rookwood Cemetery have spent the past two days rebuilding 14 broken headstones at Wollongong Cemetery which mark the final resting place of the Illawarra's early pioneers.

Almost 100 graves dating from the 1800s were damaged in January last year, when vandals pushed over marble headstones, causing them to shatter and leaving tombstones exposed.

Urns and vases were smashed and one vandal carved the name "Calum" into a piece of marble.

Wollongong Cemetery historian Carol Herben welcomed the conservation work, which was funded by Rookwood's General Cemeteries Trust.
Ms Herben said she hoped funds to repair the remaining graves would soon be forthcoming.

In December Wollongong City Council erected a $300,000 security fence around the cemetery.

Source: Illawarra Mercury

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