Cairns families are being asked to check gravesites and take home treasured or valuable items before the council’s annual cemetery clean-up begins on Friday, 13 November 2026. Cairns Regional Council says the work is expected to continue for about a month.

The council says crews will remove items that are unsafe or do not meet cemetery rules. Its examples include broken or loose plastic flowers, glass and ceramic ornaments, lights, potted plants, flags, candles and objects with sharp edges. Items taken away during the clean-up will not be stored or returned, so families should collect keepsakes beforehand.

The council says white crosses that are secure and in good condition will remain. Families unsure what can stay at a gravesite can check the council’s cemetery policy and memorial guidelines before the work starts.

Source: Cairns Regional Council, 26 October 2026. The featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration of a generic tropical cemetery, not a photograph of a Cairns cemetery or the clean-up.