HELP
A new mobile app is helping preserve the stories of people buried at Colac Cemetery, following more than a decade of research by the Colac and District Family History Group.
The launch of the Remembered app was recently covered by the Colac Herald, which highlighted the extensive community effort behind the project and its role in bringing historical stories to a new generation.
The project, titled Almost Forgotten, began after researchers discovered that Colac Cemetery records were significantly incomplete, particularly for people buried before 1900. Over 11 years, volunteers worked to identify individuals, research their family histories and document their lives, ultimately preserving around 1,800 stories.
The new app provides an interactive way for visitors to explore these histories. Users can browse a map of the cemetery and select virtual headstones to discover more about individuals through written stories and audio recordings.
The project is a collaboration between the Colac and District Family History Group, Geelong Cemeteries Trust and Arrow Bronze, combining historical research, community knowledge and technology to create a new approach to memorialisation.
Speaking to the Colac Herald, Arrow Bronze Business Development Manager Sonia Vachalec said the launch represented a celebration of collaboration and community.
“Memorialisation is about more than just a monument, it is about stories.”
Sonia also highlighted how the app allows visitors to connect with the people behind the names as they explore the cemetery.
“As visitors walk through Colac Cemetery, they can now learn the lives behind the names.”
For Arrow Bronze, the project represents an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful initiative that looks beyond traditional memorialisation and considers how technology can help preserve personal histories for future generations.
The Colac Herald also acknowledged the dedication of the Colac and District Family History Group volunteers, who contributed thousands of hours to researching, photographing, editing, writing and recording the stories.
As Sonia noted in the article, the project is helping demonstrate what the future of remembering can look like — ensuring that the lives and stories connected to Colac Cemetery continue to be accessible for years to come.
Read more on the Colac Herald here: https://colacherald.com.au/2026/06/stories-live-on-through-project/