New memorial unveiled
The small group of people there were welcomed by Rotarian President Alan Mansfield who introduced Ross Crute, who gave a brief background of the project; several years ago the Shire of Wyalkatchem in conjunction with the Wyalkatchem Rotary Club and Beryl Jennings, made a commitment to having all the unnamed graves in the cemetery commemorated with a plaque. This took a great deal of Beryl's time in researching the graves and was achieved after a few years of hard work. Towards the end of the project, Beryl suggested that a memorial be erected to commemorate all the stillborn babies born in the Wyalkatchem District.
Reverend John Martin led the group in prayer - a simple prayer with heartfelt feelings; Heavenly Father we dedicate this stone as a monument to those babies who in the past and in the future have been or will be miscarried, stillborn, or have died shortly after birth. We ask you to bless it as a source of closure and consolation to all those grieving mothers, fathers and families who in the past and in the future have lost or will lose babies in this way.
Belinda and Beryl Jennings then both made brief speeches. The idea for the memorial had come about when they were walking around the cemetery together one day and Belinda noticed the lack of babies' graves. As a Sister and midwife helping grieving parents deal with stillborn births, the subject is close to Belinda's heart. Beryl spoke of all the families in Wyalkatchem who would have lost sons/daughters/siblings in this way, never knowing where or if they were buried, the subject being taboo for years. The butterflies on the memorial symbolize the freedom of the spirit and the monument is believed to be the only one outside of major cemeteries to commemorate stillborn children.
Belinda and Beryl then unveiled the memorial, visualising many happy little souls and providing a place for families to remember.
The sign on the rock reads; In loving memory of babies stillborn to families in Wyalkatchem A little piece of heaven shared for such a short while
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