New look for Garden of Angels to help healing

But Remembrance Parks Central Victoria feels more can be done to beautify the area, which is a place of reflection and remembrance for people impacted by the loss of a baby.

“Whether their babies are interred here or not is somewhat irrelevant – they can come here to reflect and remember their loved ones, “ chief executive officer Graham Fountain said.

Redevelopment works are nearing completion at the site within Bendigo Cemetery, and Remembrance Parks Central Victoria is offering people an opportunity to plant a tree in memory of their baby on Thursday.

The finished project will include a sculpture with colourful butterflies. 

Mr Fountain assured families with loved ones at the site the works were being undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. 

“Our intention is not to disturb the existing garden but to add to and beautify it” he said. 

Existing plaques have been GPS plotted to ensure they are returned to their original locations.

Mr Fountain said the presentation of the Garden of Angels before the redevelopment works reflected its sad history. 

For many years, until the mid 1970s, it was an unmarked communal grave for stillborn babies from Bendigo hospital.

“A lot of women during that period of time didn’t know where their babies went,” Remembrance Parks Central Victoria business analyst Joanne Trickey said.

Cemetery and hospital officials located the site in the 1990s, after which the Garden of Angels was created.

Ms Trickey said the redevelopment works aimed to give the garden “that sense of gravitas you would expect for such a site.”

About $50,000 is being spent on the beautification works, paid for with support from the Francis and Harold Abbott Foundation.

Ms Trickey hoped the official opening would coincide with International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on October 15, but a date has yet to be set.  

She said there was a tendency for people not to want to talk about the loss of a baby.

“We could be supporting people more,” she said. 

“It’s not just the women that are affected – it’s the whole family.”

Ms Trickey encouraged people to call Remembrance Parks Central Victoria on 5446 1566 to participate in the tree planting on Thursday.