Woronora Memorial Park is continuing its tradition of placing a Christmas tree in each of its landscaped children’s areas, Karinya, the Garden of Angels and Grevillea to hold messages to remember lost children.
Families and friends are invited to come and place a decoration or card with messages on a tree in their child’s memory.
“We understand that the decision to do this will be a very personal one, so families can visit at any time during cemetery opening hours and reflect on their precious child’s life, in their own way and in their own time,” Woronora Memorial Park chief executive officer Graham Boyd said.
“For some families, the joy of Christmas can be tinged with sadness. Many parents who have experienced the pain of losing a young child seek solace each Christmas by visiting these loved children at their place of rest, often sharing the experience with their other children.”
Mr Boyd said that while the tradition of the Christmas tree dates back to the early 1500s, it is hoped that Woronora’s tradition “will be a source of comfort to families as they remember children who will live forever in their memories”.
The trees have been placed in planter boxes especially designed with nursery rhyme characters, while the top of each tree is adorned with Christmas symbols of Hope.
“The Angel Gabriel, and traditional Star complement the serenity and sense of Hope for enduring spiritual life that characterize these special areas within the cemetery’s beautiful grounds,” Mr Boyd said.
Woronora Memorial Park will be observing the tradition of removing decorations on the 12th day after Christmas, which falls on Saturday, January 6, 2018.
“We ask families who would like to keep decorations to visit us a day or so before the 6th so they can take them home,” he said.
“The trees will then be tended by the same grounds staff who keep Karinya, the
Garden of Angels and Grevillea looking so wonderful until we use them again next year.”