The Magnificent Song He Yuan A dedicated Feng Shui designed Asian cemetery

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The Feng Shui designed Song He Yuan is located within the grounds of the world-class Springvale Botanical Cemetery, which is administered and cared for by the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust. This is a community based, not-for-profit organisation, committed to serving the needs of our communities.

We also care for Bunurong and Cheltenham Memorial Parks, Brighton General, Cheltenham Pioneer, Dandenong Community, Melbourne General and St Kilda cemeteries.

Historic and iconic, the cemeteries and memorial parks within our care are beautiful, tranquil and distinctive destinations to honour and celebrate life.

Honouring and celebrating life

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Welcome to the extraordinary beauty of Springvale Botanical Cemetery, a magnificent, diverse and tranquil destination, which is both historically and culturally rich.

At Springvale Botanical Cemetery, we have a great respect and understanding of the diverse range of faiths and cultures within our community, and cater for all personal, religious and cultural preferences.

We are very proud to have created the Feng Shui designed Song He Yuan Asian cemetery, which is specially located on qi gathering land within our beautiful grounds.

THE WORLD-CLASS SPRINGVALE BOTANICAL CEMETERY

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The Song He Yuan is a specialist cemetery, which caters for the Asian style of burial and interment of ashes. Designed in accordance with Feng Shui principles on a westward facing slope, the Song He Yuan presents a magnificent landscape.

The site was carefully chosen under the guidance of Feng Shui Master, James Yao Wen Zheng, who also provided considerable advice on the cemetery design and landscaping.

The focal point is the magnificent Di Zhang Wang Temple, with it’s design drawn from the Tang Dynasty. The temple provides a permanent home for the specially commissioned Di Zhang Wang Buddha, offering the Buddhist community a special place for ancestral worship.

The Song He Yuan also features the Dragon’s Head on the top of the water feature, a statue of Guan Yin, imported from Fuzhou, statues of Amitabah and Dasezi and a number of pagodas, traditional water features, bridges and gardens.

THE MAGNIFICENT SONG HE YUAN

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When Feng Shui Master, James Yao Wen Zheng first surveyed Springvale Botanical Cemetery he unexpectedly found a large block of land due to the west of the cemetery to be exactly at the settlement of the Dandenong Mountain. He explained,

“Down the settlement is a natural stream stopping the qi of the land and hence pingyang channel is formed. The soil is fine but solid, moist but not flooded. It is rare and one of the best pieces of qi gathering land. I thereby formed an indissoluble bond with this land.”

As the best of Feng Shui is cangfeng and qi gathering, all elements of the design, landscaping and construction took into consideration the advice of the Feng Shui Master. These included the widening of the stream, the building of the Dragon’s Head and bridges, the flow of water, the location of the temple and the heights and shapes of buildings and statues.

“The distribution is symmetric and balanced in the overall Feng Shui design to achieve harmony of yin and yang; the special atmosphere of being balanced, stable, serious, solemn and respectful…the heights and shapes of different building and statues go well, corresponding with each other and meet the Feng Shui principle of balancing left and right, being harmonious with yin and yang, stillness in motion and motion in stillness.”

Feng Shui Master, James Yao Wen Zheng.

THE FENG SHUI OF THE SONG HE YUAN

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Springvale Botanical Cemetery was honoured when the Song He Yuan was officially blessed by Venerable Master Ru Sun on an open sky day in 2003.

Master Ru Sun and forty Yun Yang Temple Buddhist followers conducted a Buddhist ritual by worshipping the Buddha and Bodhisattvas with flowers, incense and fruit. With the blessing of the God of Mercy, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Master Ru Sun blessed Song He Yuan with holy dews to clean the area.

The blessing and ceremony transformed the Song He Yuan into a pure land.

Earlier that year, Springvale Botanical Cemetery was privileged when His Holiness, Sakya Trizin, blessed the Song He Yuan during his visit to Australia.

THE BLESSING OF THE SONG HE YUAN BY VENERABLE MASTER RU SUN AND HIS HOLINESS SAKYA TRIZIN

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On an auspicious day, 4 December 2004, Master Ru Sun and twenty monks blessed the Di Zhang Wang Buddha. At the conclusion of the cemetery a ‘miracle’ occurred. Looking to the heavens, those in attendance witnessed an incredible phenomenon.

On that warm December morning, the clouds moved apart, allowing the sun and a Saturn like ring or aura to appear. It was a remarkable sight and, indeed, a sign of the blessing.

In August 2007, the authentic Di Zhang Wang Temple was officially opened, with Master Ru Sun blessing both the temple and the collection of religious relics, which are housed beneath the temple roof.

THE BLESSING OF THE DI ZHANG WANG BUDDHA AND OPENING OF THE TEMPLE

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The Song He Yuan offers a number of different grave types, which vary according to size, aspect and location.

Graves are categorised as Family, Premium, Super Deluxe and Deluxe and all can be personally selected in the position of your choice.

Our Client Services Consultants will take you through the many options available and are on hand to take you on a tour of the Song He Yuan.

To maintain the quality of this magnificent cemetery, all monuments must be constructed to a certain standard and permits are required before construction and installation commence.

SONG HE YUAN GRAVE OPPORTUNITIES

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Family Graves Exclusive Family Graves are located in prime positions within the Feng Shui designed cemetery and allow for a number of family members to be commemorated together. Family Graves are located in close proximity to the Temple and can be personally selected. They include pre-installed foundations to support an elaborate full monument.

• Size: 6m x 6m

• Monument size: Up to 1.8m high, including accessories

Please note, a permit must be obtained prior to construction and installation.

SONG HE YUAN GRAVE OPPORTUNITIES

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Premium Graves Premium Graves are located in prime locations at the top of the site and can be personally selected within the Song He Yuan. Premium Graves allow for two people to be buried side by side and include pre-installed foundations to support an elaborate full monument.

• Size: 4m x 3.6m

• Monument size: Up to 1.5m high, including accessories

Please note, a permit must be obtained prior to construction and installation.

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Super Deluxe Graves Super Deluxe Graves can be personally selected and allow for two people to be buried side by side. Super Deluxe Graves include pre-installed foundations to support an elaborate full monument.

• Size: 2.7m x 2.4m

• Monument size: Up to 1.2m, including accessories

Please note, a permit must be obtained prior to construction and installation.

SONG HE YUAN GRAVE OPPORTUNITIES

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Deluxe Graves Deluxe Graves can be personally selected and allow for a single width burial. Deluxe Graves include pre-installed foundations to support a full monument.

• Size: 2.7m x 1.2m

• Monument size: Up to 1m, including accessories

Please note, a permit must be obtained prior to construction and installation.

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The Song He Yuan offers a range of cremation memorials, located along the cascading water feature, which has the Dragon’s Head at one end and the Lake Guan Yin at the other.

You may choose an exclusive Waterside Position, a dedicated Memorial Pool or a simple, yet dignified Shrub Garden Position.

A range of commemoration options are available and memorials may be highly personalised.

Our Client Services Consultants will carefully explain the range of cremation memorial options available.

SONG HE YUAN CREMATION MEMORIALS

Waterside Positions A limited number of exclusive single Waterside Positions are available within the Song He Yuan and are the premium cremation memorial option, suited to a range of memorial styles.

A variety of monumental designs may be installed. Please note, a permit must be obtained prior to construction and installation.

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SONG HE YUAN CREMATION MEMORIALS

Pool Memorials Moving water gives sound and life to a Pool Memorial, which is set within the cascading water feature and highly landscaped garden beds.

Each Pool Memorial allows for the commemoration of up to eight individuals.

A Pool will be marked with a bronze name plate to memorialise a family name and individual commemorative plaques are placed on granite within the landscaped garden beds.

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Shrub Garden Memorials Shrub Garden Memorials provide a simple yet dignified form of commemoration.

Each position allows for the commemoration of one individual, with a plaque on granite placed within the landscaped gardens beside the water feature.

SONG HE YUAN CREMATION MEMORIALS

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Personalising Memorials There are very many ways to personalise plaques to reflect the personality and interests of the life honoured.

These include photographs, Chinese characters, emblems, decorative borders and individual finishes.

Our Client Services Consultants will take you through the range of options available.

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A TIME TO CONSIDER PLANNING AHEAD

By planning ahead and securing positions at today’s prices in a not-for-profit community cemetery, you will have peace of mind knowing that requests will be honoured and family members will be saved from making difficult decisions at an emotional time.

• Purchasing ahead of time also provides an opportunity to secure specific locations so that memorials of family members will be positioned together.

• Family members are not burdened financially. When decisions are made and paid for in advance, there are no ongoing fees at all. Once payment has been made in full, there is nothing more to pay so you will be protected against future price increases.

• You can plan ahead at Springvale Botanical Cemetery and at any of the cemeteries administered by the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT). With SMCT your funds are securely invested in a not-for-profit organisation that has been serving the community since 1852.

SECURING LOCATIONS WAY AHEAD OF TIME

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• At each location, our experienced Client Services Consultants can help you by introducing you to a comprehensive range of burial, cremation and memorial options.

• You also have the option of purchasing now with interest-free payment terms available.

If you would like to arrange an obligation-free appointment to discuss the options available, please call our Client Services Consultants on (03) 8558 8278 or email sbc@smct.org.au or visit www.sbc.smct.org.au/planning-ahead

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At Springvale Botanical Cemetery, our Client Services Consultants are always on hand to help you.

You are welcome to contact us to discuss your options or to arrange an obligation-free consultation and a tour of our magnificent Song He Yuan. Please call us on (03) 8558 8278 or email sbc@smct.org.au

If you prefer, we can always arrange a visit to your home.

For helpful advice and more information, please visit our website at www.sbc.smct.org.au

YOU ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT US

Springvale Botanical Cemetery

600 Princes Highway, Springvale VIC 3171

Telephone (03) 8558 8278 Facsimile (03) 9548 1902

email sbc@smct.org.au website sbc.smct.org.au

The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust is a not-for-profit, community based organisation that cares for Brighton General, Bunurong Memorial Park, Cheltenham Memorial Park, Cheltenham Pioneer, Dandenong Community, Melbourne General, Springvale Botanical and St Kilda cemeteries.