5 October 2007

The Inverell community proudly welcomes Her Excellency, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor Marie Bashir to Inverell on Thursday 11 October to officially open the Inverell Memory Garden.

The Memory Garden is an initiative of the Inverell Community Health’s mental health team who have engaged community partners including the Shire Council, Masonicare, Inverell Lions Club and Inverell Quota Club, aiming to provide a special place for people to visit when grieving the loss of a loved one, particularly if that person is not buried locally.

Inverell mental health worker Carol Mitchell said anyone who has grieved the loss of a loved one will know that you can’t predict the heartache and sadness you go through.

“While time is often the greatest healer for grief, there are many things that people recommend to help you get through. For many people, having a place to go to remember their loved one provides some comfort,” she said.

Undertaking this project in partnership with other local service groups, has provided an opportunity for many local people to get involved.

“This project has become a symbol of community support for people experiencing loss and grief,” she said.

Carol said loss and grief is a significant issue for many of their mental health clients.

She said women who had lost a baby during pregnancy or at a very young age, sometimes grieved an entire lifetime. The new Memory Garden would be a place they could visit to remember their lost loved one.

“There are also a lot of people who have family members buried elsewhere and on special occasions, like birthdays and Christmas, this will be a place for people to go to remember them,” she said.

Carol said the process of establishing the Memory Garden is also an opportunity to assist local community groups to inform the community of services available to support individuals and families experiencing loss, grief and bereavement.

The Memory Garden will be opened on Thursday 11 October to coincide with Mental Health Week. All community members are welcome to attend.

Following the opening, guests are invited to adjourn to the Inverell Library where light refreshments will be served. At the Library, guests will be invited to view the array of mental health books recently donated to the Library and participate in the launch of a new book ‘But What can I Say?’ by local author Heather Kerridge.

Heather and Graham have experienced the loss of a child, which forms part of the content of her new book.

Contact: Kay Cope

Phone: 6776 9817