Editorial: Kind act gets mixed reviews

Kelly McLean took it upon himself to water-blast the headstones at the cities graveyard.

It's great when people take the initiative to do something good in their community.

Today we have a story about Tauranga's Kelly McLean, an unemployed man who has ventured into the city's cemeteries and taken it upon himself to clean the headstones.

This week, Mr McLean spent more than six hours cleaning headstones, which belonged to complete strangers.

I admire Mr McLean's initiative and desire to do something good in the community.

His good will would have undoubtedly brightened someone's day and it is not every day people do something and expect nothing in return.

I do understand why Mr McLean has come under fire from the city council and has been asked to leave the cemetery.

Tauranga City Council communications manager Frank Begley says Mr McLean was asked to leave as the graves were private property.

Maintenance work like this needs the permission of the families involved.

Cemeteries are sacred places where families go to remember their loved ones and high-pressure water blasting could pose all sorts of risks to something as precious as a headstone.

Mr Begley said water blasting could damage the headstones' surface and inscriptions.

If I was visiting my loved one's grave and there was damage caused by waterblasting, something I hadn't asked for and didn't know was happening, I would be devastated.

I feel sorry for Mr McLean. He was, after all, just trying to do a good deed.

Maybe Mr McLean could apply his talents somewhere else and get appropriate permission or volunteer his services for other charities which could do with a helping hand.

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