Families, whose loved ones have made the great gift of leaving their bodies to science, will have a beautiful place to remember them.
A new memorial in the rose gardens at Woronora Memorial Park (cemetery and crematorium) will be opened on Monday, April 10, and the community is invited to attend.
The Wonderfully Made Memorial, as it is called, will hold the cremated ashes of the remains of bodies left for science as well as human tissues from a range of clinical settings, including the coroner’s office.
Individual, small plaques can be placed around the memorial.
Designed by Nadia Lanfranco, it takes its name from Psalm 139, Verse 14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard and chief medical officer of The Garvan Institute, Dr Marie Dziadek will attend the opening and Catholic auxiliary bishop Terence Brady will give a blessing.
The sculptures symbolise both the sacrifice people have made to help future generations and the incredible and complex miracle that is the human body.
- Graham Boyd
The memorial includes bronze sculptures of the human body with parts missing, which align from a particular perspective to create a whole person.
Chief executive Graham Boyd said the sculptures “symbolise both the sacrifice people have made to help future generations and the incredible and complex miracle that is the human body.”
Mr Boyd said up till now people had “nowhere to go” to remember loved ones, who donated their bodies to science.
He said the project began in 2002, when a national audit of human remains collected by the government and official institutions was conducted.
Many were from coronial inquiries, with samples dating back to 1830.
The opening of the memorial coincides with 12,000 rose bushes in the park coming to full bloom.
The official opening is at 10.15am. RSVP to Carolyn Dowe on 9545 4677 or email rsvp@smct.nsw.gov.au
