Kirra Sim’s favourite colour was purple.

The 19-year-old, from Bendigo in Victoria, died in a car accident on Fathers’ Day, 2012. Her devastated family visit her gravesite regularly. They have decorated her grave with personal items, installed a seat nearby and painted the concrete around the plaque purple.

Now they’re being told they have to make changes to Kirra’s grave within the next three weeks. Apparently, the colour purple doesn’t meet with the cemetery’s guidelines.

The deadline the family has been given is June 9, the date that would have been Kirra’s 24^th birthday.

Kirra’s brother Trent Sim has started a petition to keep the grave as it is.

“Kirra's grave is a place for us all to go and be close to her, a place that we keep in the best possible condition and is a reflection of her,” he writes on change.org. “Mum visits almost daily and always makes sure that everything is neat, tidy and clean.”

Sim says the family received a letter from Remembrance Parks – Central Victoria stating they’d received several “complaints”. He says the family was told there were issues with the colour of the seat and the concrete, as well as the number of decorative items near the plaque.

“If we are made to remove these personal touches that mean so much to us it will destroy Mum, in a way that only a parent who has lost a child could know,” Sim adds.

The chief executive of Remembrance Parks – Central Victoria, Graham Fountain, told the Bendigo Advertiser that the only issue with Kirra’s grave was the concrete. He said they couldn’t let every family paint the concrete a different colour.

“That’s not conducive of the appearance that people expect,” Fountain said. “There are other ways to recognise someone’s favourite colours.”

In just six days, Sim’s petition already has already gathered more than 1900 signatures. People who don’t even know the family have expressed their support.

“Why not add things like this that are in good taste to brighten the place up for visitors?” posted one woman. “My children and I sat in Kirra’s seat, reminiscing about our own loved ones that are no longer with us, and it was beautiful talking to my children and feeling the unwavering love Kirra’s family obviously have for her.”

Another supporter said the painted concrete wasn’t hurting anyone. “I would like to see more graves with the care and exuberance of Kirra's, as it seems to reflect the person who lies beneath.”

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Yet another said she walked past the cemetery most days.

“I often pass Kirra's grave and, although it brings sadness, I also smile to myself to see the physical manifestations of the love her family has for her.”