Hope Bereavement: 21st Annual  Remembering Service

Hope Bereavement Care hosted its Annual Remembering Service on Monday evening 2nd December 2019 and much positive feedback was received from those who attended. People seemed most impacted by the personal stories that were shared and moved by the opportunity to light a candle in memory of their baby/child who had died. The venue also created a lovely, intimate atmosphere. Families were gifted with a metal feather and special message  to work in with the ‘Feathers’ theme.

The theme for the service was ‘Feathers’. This theme was carried through the year being, the focus for our Children’s Memory Mornings.  Photos from those mornings were on display at the Remembering Service and photos were also part of a slide show that was created for the night. The evening’s focus was to show how the symbolism of Feathers can comfort and strengthen bereaved parents in the midst of their life that they didn’t expect.

Upon arrival children had the opportunity to create their own feathers craft  in memory of their sibling to hang on a tree at the front of the room.

We were very privileged to have so many bereaved parents and siblings contribute to the evening.  Bruce McMillan (Liam’s dad) was the MC for the evening, poems were read by Mark Harris (Maya & Anthony’s dad), Indigo Gowlett 12yrs (Ariel’s sister), Julie Kluckow (Benji’s mum) & Mercedes Gowlett 16yrs  (Ariel’s sister). A segment involving the children highlighting the happenings at the Children’s Memory Mornings

We were very privileged to have so many bereaved parents and siblings contribute to the evening.  Bruce McMillan (Liam’s dad) was the MC for the evening, poems were read by Mark Harris (Maya & Anthony’s dad), Indigo Gowlett 12yrs (Ariel’s sister), Julie Kluckow (Benji’s mum) & Mercedes Gowlett 16yrs  (Ariel’s sister). A segment involving the children highlighting the happenings at the Children’s Memory Mornings through 2019 was lead by bereavement support counsellor, Tracey Paech.

Personal stories were a highlight for many – these being shared by Lisa Keem (Edward’s mum), Lisa Gelbart (Jake & Jonathan’s mum), Brent Lehmann (Asha’s dad) and Tracey Paech reflected on 10 years working as a bereavement counsellor at Hope in light of being a bereaved parent (Ariel’s mum).

Hope 18+Service counsellor, Christine Rawson, read out the names of the babies / children / young people who were being remembered as families made their way to the sand trays to light candles in their honour.

 

The service was made possible with the support of Red Nose Australia, The Compassionate Friends , Kings Funerals, Tuckers Funeral and Bereavement Service, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co Op and the One Voice Choir.