Building Harkness Memorial Park: Remembering Loved Ones
Mevlude Tarevski, GMCT Senior Supervisor of Client Services, smiling outdoors at Altona Memorial Park.
What does it mean to truly serve a community during life’s most significant moments? For us, it means listening to the people who will use the memorial park and designing memorial options that respond to their real needs.
In the sixth video of our Building Harkness Memorial Park series, we meet Mevlude (Mev) Tarevski, Senior Supervisor of Client Services at GMCT, who shares how putting customers at the heart of planning ensures Harkness Memorial Park will meet the diverse needs of Melbourne’s west.
A local perspective
Mev has called Melton home for 15 years, watching the area transform as the population has grown. Every day, she drives past the new development site on her way to work. Now, construction has started, and the new memorial park is fast approaching its opening date.
“I always think in my head, I wonder what Harkness will look like,” Mev reflects. “Being part of the planning and development of it, that’s something really exciting.”
Her dual perspective - as both a local resident and someone working closely with families during some of their most difficult moments - gives Mev unique insight into what the community needs from Harkness Memorial Park.
Through her role at GMCT, she’s seen firsthand the gaps that the new memorial park will fill for the growing region.
“We don't have a cemetery that big in Melton at the moment, so I think it’s going to be amazing.”
Listening and responding
Designing a cemetery in the 21st century isn’t as simple as pouring concrete. Final resting places are imbued with meaning and connection to place for the communities they serve.
GMCT’s approach to developing Harkness Memorial Park has been built on genuine engagement with the community from the start. This involves more than just asking for feedback – it means actively shaping the park’s offerings in response to what people actually need.
“Harkness will have a range of different options,” Mev explains. “Different cultures, different religions – many different ways of honouring your loved ones.”
Through focus groups and surveys, testing and prototypes, we are creating unique end-of-life options for a unique destination. Many of these options will be the first of their kind at any GMCT site, including newly developed memorials made out of custom Corten steel, which will reflect the earthy hues of the natural landscape.
The result is a memorial park where families can find options that genuinely resonate with their values and traditions. From the selection of materials to tiered pricing structures, community input has influenced decisions at every level.
GMCT’s Altona Memorial Park reception building where Mev and her team welcome families every day.
Putting care at the centre
But what’s design without heart? Creating meaningful memorial spaces is also about the human connections that happen within them.
Mev walks the talk every day, making sure everyone we encounter receives the attention and kindness they deserve.
“I'm thinking about our community’s needs, focusing on empathy, clear communication,” she says. “I make sure everyone feels valued and cared for during what can be a difficult time.”
When families come to us during times of loss, they bring their own unique experiences of grief and visions for how they want to honour their loved ones. Our philosophy of care is embedded deeply within the organisation, from community consultation and planning to everyday operations. It is staff like Mev that you’ll see smiling at reception from day one at Harkness Memorial Park.
Planning for your family’s future
As plans for Harkness Memorial Park continue to evolve, GMCT is encouraging community members to submit an expression of interest for various memorial options. This process helps the team understand which options will be most valued and ensures that the park can meet demand when it opens in 2027.
Submitting an expression of interest isn’t a commitment – it’s a way to stay informed about developments, receive updates as memorial options are finalised, and have early opportunities to secure a place for yourself or your loved ones.
It also allows us to continue building relationships with the community and deepen our understanding of their needs. Our vision is that when people arrive at the park, whether to make arrangements or to visit a loved one, they have what they need and feel genuinely cared for.
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Harkness Memorial Park is redefining what a cemetery can be. As the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust’s (GMCT) first greenfield development, this landmark project will serve communities for generations to come.
Through a nine-part video series, titled Building Harkness Memorial Park, we’re taking you behind the scenes of Victoria’s largest new cemetery in the last century. Meet the people shaping this innovative space as we explore the vision, design, and community central to the park’s development.
Keep up to date with the project
The first stage of Harkness Memorial Park is expected to open in early 2027.
Keep up to date with our progress by subscribing for project updates or exploring our development timeline.
Visit Mev and the project team at Melton’s Djerriwarrh festival
Want to learn more about Harkness Memorial Park and ask questions in person? Mev and the project team will be at Melton's Djerriwarrh Festival on Saturday 8 November, ready to share the latest updates on construction timelines, design plans, and memorial options.
Stop by our stall in the Community Info Zone on High Street between 12-5pm. It's a relaxed opportunity to have your questions answered face-to-face while enjoying everything the festival has to offer.