There can be nothing harder to deal with than the loss of a child, but now there is a way for South Coast parents to acknowledge their loss in a special way.
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Nelligen photographer Bianca Dopson is a member of the Australian Community Of Child Photographers (ACOCP).
The ACOCP is a volunteer organisation of child photographers from all over Australia who have come together to form an organisation dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature and ill infants and children in the neonatal intensive care units of their local hospitals, as
well as children with serious and terminal illnesses.
Tomorrow is International Baby Loss Awareness Day and across the world, memorial services, balloon releases and candle lighting at 7pm take place in honour and as a sign of remembrance of lost children.
Ms Dopson said she wanted people to know the photography service, which is free, is now available on the South Coast.
“Until now this service has not been available to families in the Bay and the surrounding areas but it now is,” she said.
“I would like to promote this service, especially considering the local area’s support for sick children and Ronald McDonald houses.”
The service, session, all the images and products are provided completely free of charge to families.
On International Baby Loss Day, ACOCP is urging people to recognise the many families that go through the tragic loss of a child, rather than risk isolating them by neglecting to acknowledge their loss.
“The grief that follows the loss of a child is so engulfing but it can also be very isolating,” ACOCP president and co-founder Jessie Broome said.
“We encourage people to take the time to honour this grief; to realise that by avoiding the subject does not make it go away and by simply acknowledging the child can help the family immensely.”
Participating photographers - some of who have previously experienced their own loss - are on call 24 hours a day to go to hospitals or homes and are often present during the families’ most tragic hours.
Families wishing to take advantage of this service can call the NSW coordinator Casandra Anguita-Deep on 0402 917 910 or email nsw@acocp.org.au.
