THERE is a new peaceful corner of Sutherland Shire set aside to remember loved ones lost in road accidents.
Our Peaceful Place is a garden within Woronora Cemetery where people can reflect on lives lost through road trauma and acknowledge the dedicated work of ambulance, police and fire personnel, who are often first on the scene of an accident.
It came about following a suggestion by Ken Marslew, the founder and chief executive of Enough is Enough anti-violence movement.
Mr Marslew has much experience helping victims of road trauma through his work at Enough is Enough, which has its own support and education unit.
He felt it was important for victims to have a physical place to come and reflect and assist with their recovery process.
"We have held services for victims of road trauma and those emergency services personnel supporting them for over eight years across the shire and have been looking for a permanent place to hold a service," Mr Marslew said.
"I'm sorry to say numbers of victims are going up so it is even more important that people have a place to come and reflect after losing someone to road trauma.
"A lot of people struggle with the repercussions of road trauma, both physically and emotionally. This is the same for ambulance and police officers.
"We are looking at the development of the shire with more homes and units and new suburbs, but the need to provide the human services for the people who will occupy those dwelling is often left out.
"We see this as a step to adding to the human services available."
A Woronora Cemetery spokeswoman welcomed said the community was welcome to visit, reflect, remember and celebrate the life of loved ones lost. She said dedicated areas such as Our Peaceful Place helped families reflect on more personal situations.
Our Peaceful Place will be unveiled at 10.30am Sunday, December 7.
The service will held annually from next year on World Health Organisation's Day of Remembrance for Road Trauma Victims on the third Sunday of November.
Mr Marslew encouraged people to visit and enjoy Our Peaceful Place, particularly if they were affected by road trauma.
"We want to encourage young people to come along," he said.
"And maybe, just maybe, young people seeing this place will become more aware of road safety."
The garden is opposite Karinya Gardens in the cemetery.
The ceremony will be moved to Centenary Court, opposite Our Peaceful Place, if it rains.
Have you visited the garden?
