On 15 October, South Australian families who have experienced the sudden or unexpected loss of a pregnancy, baby, child or teen will come together for Red Tree Foundation’s Wave of Light walk in memory of their loved ones.
Now in its second year, the walk takes place on International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. It’s a dedicated time for grieving families to honour those they have lost and be reminded they are not walking this journey alone.
An estimated one in four Australian pregnancies ends in miscarriage or loss each year, affecting around 285 families every day. Despite how common pregnancy and infant loss is, grief of this kind remains deeply isolating and often invisible to the wider community.
Red Tree Foundation General Manager Rachel Thompson said the event shines a light on an issue that affects so many but often goes unspoken.
“For many families, this unimaginable loss is met with silence. By gathering on this occasion, families, loved ones, nurses and healthcare professionals stand together to honour the lives of those who were loved so deeply and farewelled too soon,” Ms Thompson said.
“Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is a dedicated time to honour these precious little lives. But that support doesn’t stop when October ends. Red Tree Foundation offers free counselling and bereavement support all year round, helping more than 300 people across South Australia every year.”
What to know about the Wave of Light walk
The Wave of Light event is free to join and the only event of its kind in South Australia. Registered guests gather from 6.15pm at the Red Tree Foundation marquee in Veale Gardens in the Adelaide CBD. Guests are encouraged to wear a touch of red, with red t-shirts available for pre-purchase.
For more information, event details and registration, visit wave-of-light.redtreefoundation.org.au
SA landmarks lighting up in red
As part of this year’s Wave of Light, a number of iconic landmarks across the state will be illuminated in red to mark International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day:
- Adelaide Oval
- Adelaide Railway Station
- Adelaide Town Hall
- City of West Torrens Civic Centre
- Elemental Sculpture, Ocean St, Victor Harbor
- Gawler Civic Centre
- InterContinental Hotel Adelaide
- Kadina Town Hall
- Parliament House
- Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, Mt Gambier
- Riverbank Precinct Pedestrian Bridge
- Unley Town Hall
- Visitor Centre Lady Nelson, Mt Gambier
- Whyalla Visitor Centre and Maritime Museum (HMAS Whyalla)
About Red Tree Foundation
Red Tree Foundation provides free bereavement counselling and peer support services to South Australian families who have been impacted by the sudden or unexpected loss of a pregnancy, baby, child or teen, up to 17 years of age. Recognising there is no one-size-fits-all approach to grief, the Foundation’s professional, empathetic counselling is tailored to each individual, supporting mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents alike. More than 300 South Australians are supported by the Foundation each year.
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