Barwon Coast Committee of Management has reinstalled a memorial seat at The Bluff in Barwon Heads after its removal prompted a public outcry.
The memorial seat is for Louise Sellwood, who was 18 years old when she died suddenly from meningococcal virus in 1997.
The seat and accompanying plaque is a reminder of her life, but it was removed by Barwon Coast during recent landslip restoration works.
Sherryn Bennett started an online petition calling on Barwon Coast to reinstate the chair and it attracted 1415 signatures before it was closed on Tuesday evening.
However, Barwon Coast Committee of Management CEO Gary McPike said the chair was being “reinstated as we speak” when contacted by the Independent on Tuesday afternoon.
“It obviously sparked a lot of discussion and we’ve responded to that,” he said.
“Our operations team did some landslip works and removed the seat and had a technical assessment done.
“The seat is being reinstated this afternoon (Tuesday).
“Barwon Coast deeply regrets any distress it may have caused by the removal of the memorial seat at the Barwon Bluff viewing area.”
Mr McPike said no new seats had been installed “for about six years” and that eventually the existing seats would no longer be fit for use.
Louise’s seat has been at The Bluff, Barwon Heads for more than 25 years.
“Louise’s ashes were scattered at the Barwon Heads Bluff and arrangements were made with the Barwon Coast for a special memorial chair with a plaque for Louise to be purchased and installed at the Barwon Heads Bluff,” the petition said.
“A beautiful spot to reflect on such a young and beautiful girl. Her chair was one of the first, if not the first, to be installed along the beautiful Barwon Coast.
“To date, there are now many more memorial chairs dotted along the stunning coastline, acting as a treasured place for many other families who have lost beloved people.”
Mr McPike said state law now regulated that memorial seats were no longer installed on public land.
