Brisbane, QLD


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

I LEARNT A NEW WORD--TAPHOPHILE

Corrigin is a small country town in WA. It has a population of 900 and it is situated in wheat and sheep country. However, the town is known for its love of dogs. It is quite a familiar site in the country to see a dog in the back of a ute. (utility truck as above). In 2003 the locals organised a world record parade of 1,527 utes with a dog. 
I learnt a few new words this week, one of them being taphophile (one who enjoys cemeteries, graveyards, funerals and the trimmings of death.) Photographing headstones and graves is also included.

A dog driving a ute, installed on top of the roadhouse. Note the number plate and windscreen text.


A statue of a dog erected in commemoration of the world record for a "Dog and a Ute" parade. 


So I guess it is understandable for this tiny town to have a Dog Cemetery. I learnt a few new words this week, one of them being taphophile (one who enjoys cemeteries, graveyards, funerals and the trimmings of death.) Photographing headstones and graves is also included.

It was touching to see pet names on the gravestones but a bit unusual.
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27 comments:

  1. Joan ElizabethDecember 27, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    Great contribution to the meme. It has been such fun to see the variety of submissions. Yours is unique!

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  2. JulieDecember 27, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    Oh dear, I had to laugh. I suspect there are cemeteries like this the world over, except that I had not given it a thought prior to your post here. I wonder what the costs involved here are. Cannot see how it would be much cheaper than laying a human to rest. Do dogs go 6' under too?

    Thank you so much for contributing to the 'Taphophile Tragics' meme. Your support means a lot to me, especially as you avoid memes generally speaking, Diane.

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  3. SquirrelQueenDecember 27, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    What an interesting meme, I'll have to take a closer look at this one. That must have been one very long parade, I would imagine it would have taken most of the day to pass.

    I had never thought about canine cemeteries before. This one looks very well kept.

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  4. freefallingDecember 27, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    Awww - I think that's lovely.
    The people in our town have a love affair with the Jack Russell Terrier - seems everyone has one. They don't ride in the back of the ute - they are usually sitting up in the front seat!

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  5. JoDecember 27, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    Interesting meme and post, Diane. I've seen pet cemeteries on US documentaries. Hope you're having a good week between Christmas and New Year. Jo PS Thanks for the bokeh link and also the wonderful bokeh lights you posted!

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  6. AnonymousDecember 27, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    While I like roaming around cemeteries, I am not so sure about the Taphophile idea. But I loved your take on it.

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  7. Gemma WisemanDecember 27, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    How unusual! This could almost be a tourist attraction in the small town because it is so unique! A very interesting post!

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  8. biebkriebelsDecember 27, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    That is a funny meme, I must admit that I am a bit of a "Thaphophile" too. Mostly abroad I can't resist to visit a cemetery. The pets cemetery is touching too.

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  9. UrmiDecember 27, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    I liked your blog very much. As I am staying in Western Australia, I have visited almost all the places including Corrigin and it was amazing to see such a beautiful place and immense love for dogs. Absolutely unique place to visit. I am very much fond of dogs.

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  10. RoeHDecember 27, 2011 at 10:47 PM

    I love this!! Makes me want to look up all the pet cemeteries within driving area and visit. My cousin in California is a cat person (it runs in the family...with girls that is) and she has buried all her cats from many years in her very large back yard. It's a little cemetery back in the corner. Not sure if I'd want to do that or not. But I like the pet cemetery idea.

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  11. Margaret DDecember 27, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Never have I seen a pet cemetery until your photos.
    Good post, something different.

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  12. MadSnapperDecember 27, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    i like cemetery and have wandered through many old ones. but never a pet cemetery.

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  13. MTWagginDecember 28, 2011 at 12:38 AM

    That is too cool and of course very near and dear to MY heart. :)

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  14. GattinaDecember 28, 2011 at 1:06 AM

    We have pet cimetaries here too. Our pets are all burried in our garden in a corner which I call our graveyard !
    Very touching !

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  15. john bainDecember 28, 2011 at 1:49 AM

    I read another post about cemeteries today at pORTcITYdAILYpHOTO.
    Don't like to think of life without Sadie the German Shepherd looking out of the car window.
    What is a meme?

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  16. Filip DemuinckDecember 28, 2011 at 3:22 AM

    I have a colleague who likes to take pictures of graveyards and I already saw a few very good pictures of graveyards in the fog on blogs. It is in fact a popular topic.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  17. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiDecember 28, 2011 at 4:22 AM

    What an interesting meme and term ..I will have to join in one day as I am a "Taphophile," and didn't even know there was a term for it!

    I'm sure many pet dogs become a well loved memebr of a family, so this must have been a very touching place to visit.

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  18. darlinDecember 28, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    I've only ever heard of pet cemeteries, I've never seen one before. Now I can safely say I've seen one thanks to you. :-)

    Have a very Happy New Year!

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  19. GeorgeDecember 28, 2011 at 5:26 AM

    This is definitely interesting. I've never been to a pet cemetery, but the one in Corrigin is very impressive.

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  20. UnknownDecember 28, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    Interesting, we have our former hamsters in the garden where they turn into tulips and roses and are remembered fondly.

    I hope your Christmas is full of joy and possibly some nice cookies, if you like them:)!

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  21. JimDecember 28, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    Fascinating cemetery.

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  22. AnnDecember 28, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    I always thought this was more of a US thing. Didn't realise they were here as well.

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  23. Michele R. UngerDecember 28, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Thanks for the new word! Love to learn new things. The dog cemetery is quite unusual. It strikes me a a fitting tribute to a faithful friend---but then I'm a pet pushover. Still grieving my cat. I can certainly understand where all this memorializing comes from!

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  24. Oakland Daily PhotoDecember 28, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Interesting post. It has already widened the cast of the net for this new meme.

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  25. Jo-Anne's RamblingsDecember 28, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Wow loved those pics and think it would be cool to wonder through that dog cemetery.........

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  26. DianneDecember 28, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    A wonderful addition to the meme. - I'm sure there were lots of Sheps and Scruffys and Blackys on the headstones.

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  27. UnknownDecember 30, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    Sounds familiar - I wonder if I came across this town on telly...

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