Road Trauma Support Services Victoria are again holding, for the 13^th year, a Remembrance ceremony in Queens Hall, Parliament House, Melbourne at 12 noon 

“to remember those who have died, acknowledge those who have been injured and recognise the impact of road trauma on our community”

From the Booklet ‘The Forever Tree’

By Manny – one of the members of the Time for Remembering Art Group 2013

8877 6900

reception@rtssv.org.au

Andy.Calder@victas.uca.org.au

PDF:  australia-victoria-invitation-poster-wdr-2013

PDF:  australia-rtssv-booklet-about-the-forever-tree-wdr-2013

‘Felting to me is very much like my grief journey’

Our younger son Jack died on 23 December 2010. He was 13 years old. Jack was out cycling with his dad in Ivanhoe when he was run over by a prime mover. My husband held our precious son as he lay dying. I am so grateful to Claude for having the strength to do this and forever thankful that Jack was not alone in those last moments. It’s been almost three years, and every moment since that day has been filled with immense pain and sadness for my family. Claude and I have been unable to work since the accident.

My older son Tom was almost 17 when he lost his brother. Tom struggled terribly through his VCE years, and we are so proud of his courage to attend school every single day regardless of how he was feeling and what was going on at home. Not only does Tom grieve for his only sibling, but also for the parents he once had. Jack was the happiest child I have ever known, and he lived his life to the fullest. We all miss his beautiful smile, his warm hugs and his absolute joy for life. Jack was incredibly kind and he had the most wonderful ability to make everyone he’d meet feel special. I miss my dear son with all my heart.

RTSSV counsellors have supported my family from the beginning, providing the care and understanding we so desperately needed. Over the past two years, I have been involved with the ‘Time for Remembering’ group, and I’ve been blessed to meet other women who have also been touched by road tragedies. I have connected particularly with the other bereaved mothers. I think it’s been important for us all to have a place where we can share our thoughts, sorrow and hopes, without fear of judgement. We have been fortunate this year to have Barbara teaching us how to felt, and we have spent many months working on our leaves and tree. Felting to me is very much like my grief journey. The fleece is initially separated into small tufts and placed gently in layers. These are lightly patted and rubbed so that the fibres begin to mat together. If the wool is rubbed too hard in the beginning, it falls apart. As the wool starts to felt, the rubbing becomes more vigorous, and this makes the felt quite strong. When Jack died my life was ripped apart and I am trying to slowly and gently put the pieces back together. Like the wool, life is not and never will be as it was. But I pray that, with time, I will be strong enough to live with the pain while forever treasuring the memory of my beloved son with joy in my heart.