Attending for a burial or to visit a loved one who has passed, most of us don't give it a second thought when we see the lawns freshly cut, historic tombstones free of weeds and roads well maintained.

It is no accident that this work has been undertaken, usually it is the result of efforts by very few people who take pride in the appearance of the cemetery and its value to the local community in which they live.

There is no doubt the news that came last week about the government moving towards strengthening regional cemetery trusts would have put shivers up the spines of many in small communities. While it did have a positive twist in the media statement from Health Minister Daniel Andrews, the outcome may well have been disastrous for small towns like Glenorchy, Navarre, Landsborough and Deep Lead.

Thankfully, the impact has been contained to Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Mildura and won't affect Stawell and surrounding districts just yet.

We can only hope that this is not the start of bigger things to come from the Brumby Government in removing control of cemeteries from local government and regaining that control themselves.

The shire staff do a magnificent job maintaining the Stawell Cemetery and willing volunteers take pride in what they do in smaller communities - Let's keep it that way.