Amber NT

As I look forward to the next chapter of my life beyond Darwin and reflect on my last 2 years with Amber NT, what stands out is the strength displayed by all the families and individuals I’ve supported through possibly the most unimaginably heartbreaking and vulnerable times in their lives.

Thank YOU for giving me the honour and privilege to support all of you in your grief and healing journeys. Thank you for sharing your memories and stories of your beautiful babies and children. Thank you for allowing me to hold space for you as we shared tears and laughter, or even just sat in silence.

You have played such an integral role in my growth as not only a professional, but as a human being.
My wish and hope for all of you is that you continue to hold on to the hope that in time, your life will grow in beautiful ways around your grief, even though the grief is not going to go away or reduce in size.

Grief ends when love ends.

Thank you also to all the professional connections that I have made during my time with Amber NT. It has been a pleasure connecting with all of you and it has been great to see you acknowledge the tremendous need for a service such as Amber NT, whilst supporting us to continue providing our invaluable free support.

💜 Rita

When we lose a child, we need support. Support can come from family, friends, and the community. This can be in the form of sitting talking, sitting in silence, helping with day-to-day chores, just being there to listen, walking to name a few.

Our monthly get-togethers are another way to be supported. They are an opportunity to connect with other members of the community who have been on a similar journey of grief and loss, whilst honoring the babies/children we hold in our hearts and not in our arms.

Join us for our monthly Coffee and Chat, where you can find solace in shared experience, engage in heartfelt conversations, and participate in activities designed to nurture your well-being.

Next Meeting: Thursday 25th July
Location: Amber NT Office
Level 1, Harry’s Place
1 Willeroo Street
Tiwi
Time: 10.00 to 11.30

To learn more please our Facebook event page AmberNT.BesideYouInGrief or website www.ambernt.org.au

Let’s walk this path together, knowing that we are never alone.

During this Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, we continue to acknowledge the challenges and heartache that our bereaved parents face daily after the unimaginable loss of their child(ren). We also want to raise awareness about the importance of empathy from those supporting the bereaved.

Many bereaved parents have shared accounts of unhelpful comments from their support networks. Our society is not well-versed in grief, and these comments often come from a place of discomfort, awkwardness, or lack of knowledge.

This RSA short is a light-hearted way to explain the difference between “Empathy” and "Sympathy”.

Some important things to remember:
• Cliches or silver linings are never helpful.
• Don’t rush their grief.
• Don’t tell them what they should feel or do.
• Don’t try to fix them.

If you’re a bereaved parent, share this with your support network as a gentle, light-hearted reminder.

https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw?si=AqlBN1UxwnZC9tCZ

All set up for our fundraiser with Finn overseeing. Who said you can't have dessert before dinner, come and grab a sweet or two!!! We will be here from 5.00pm until 8.00pm, unless sold out before hand..

July is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month.

This month, we aim to raise awareness of the support necessary when one endures the unimaginable loss of a child by posting a series of hints on how to support a bereaved parent. It’s about sharing stories so that others know they are not alone.

The first is to reach out to a bereaved parent and acknowledge their child who is no longer with them. Say their Name so that they know they are not alone in remembering their loved ones, no matter how much time has passed.

All set up and ready to go for registrations for The Walk to Remember.

Bacon and eggs cooking. Tea and coffee available. Tip Top Circus Entertainment ready to entertain.

Reminder: Our Annual Walk to Remember Reflection Event is on Sunday 7th July!

📅 Date: Sunday, July 7th, 2024
🕘 Registration: begins at 9.00am
🚶‍♀️ Walk Commences at 10.00am
📍 Location: Sanctuary Lakes, Gunn

Remember to bring water for hydration, be sun smart and wear comfortable shoes.

A Time for Reflection:
This event is more than just a walk; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the precious lives of the children who remain forever in our hearts. Whether you’re a bereaved parent, a family member, or a friend, this is an opportunity to honor the memory of those who are deeply missed but never forgotten.

For more information check out our Event Page https://www.facebook.com/events/354258180367764 or our website www.ambernt.org.au

All set up at Berry Springs Tavern along with lovely Sophia from Foreva Yours at our marquee. Sophia and the Amber NT work closely together to create lasting memories for our beautiful families.

Come say hi to the team on this beautiful dry season day! We're running raffles for some awesome prizes from local businesses.

Finn checking out the cars this morning

Reminder: Our Classic Car Drive Fundraiser is tomorrow!

Registration starts at 9.00am at the Palmerston Golf Club. The café opens from 8.00am for coffee, and the restaurant opens at 8.30am for breakfast.

We will depart shortly after 10.00am for a leisurely drive to Berry Springs Tavern. Join us for lunch, enjoy their hospitality, and listen to live music.

We have a main raffle with great prizes from local businesses and meat tray raffles at the Tavern.

All money raised stays in the Territory to support those impacted by the loss of a child from conception to 18 years.

The team has worked very hard on this event, so do come along and show your support for a worthy cause, so that we can continue providing this much needed service for free!

**Any car can be considered a classic, it doesn't have to be an old car. The drive is open to anyone who wants to have a Sunday drive for a good cause.

Busy getting ready for our Classic Car Drive 24 on Sunday and looked out the window to see the amber colours shining through in the sunset.

Can't wait to see everyone on Sunday.

🌸 Understanding the Body's Response to Grief 🌸

We wanted to take a moment to connect with you about something important: how grief can manifest in our bodies during our journey as bereaved parents.

Yesterday, our team at AmberNT had a reflection after a group session. We discussed how our bodies remember trauma. After experiencing loss, it's common to feel a physical weight, a tightness in our chests, or tension in our muscles. These sensations are like echoes of our journey, reminding us of the love and loss we carry.

Acknowledging this mind-body connection is a powerful step toward healing. Self-care isn't just about soothing our minds; it's also about nurturing our bodies.

This month, I encourage you to explore gentle movements, take deep breaths, or simply go for a walk while reflecting on your loved one. Each act of self-care is a testament to your strength and resilience.

Let's support each other in this journey of healing. Together, we can create spaces where it's okay to not be okay, where we can share our stories, and where we find comfort in knowing we're not alone.

With love and compassion, The AmberNT team

Looking for somewhere to eat this weekend? Amber NT has been selected to have a Local Matters Jar ’d Casuarina. Drop in, have a burger (or two), and vote for us!

Did you know that today is National Peanut butter cookie day?

You might be wondering what the connection is between grief and baking, but across cultures and backgrounds, food has always held universal power to evoke cherished memories. And what better way to honour the precious memory of your lost child than through the art of baking? 💖

Here’s why it could be a meaningful activity to try this week:
🌺 Emotional Connection: Baking bridges the gap between your recollection and the present. Kneading dough while talking about your child (even to yourself) is a great way to keep your child’s memory alive.
🌈 Therapeutic Touch: Amidst the chaos of loss, baking offers predictability. Mixing ingredients to create something delicious can bring a sense of calm.
🎨 Personalized Tribute: Make it uniquely theirs. Whether it's their favourite flavour, colour, or a theme like football, butterflies or crocodiles, every batch becomes a beautiful tribute.

And if baking isn’t your cup of tea, that’s okay too! 💕 Treat yourself to a store bought cookie this week in their honour, and send them some love.

Following Global Parents Day on June 1st, we know that for some, the day may have stirred complex emotions.

Losing a child changes the landscape of parenthood, reshaping every day to something that looks very different than what you imagined.

The journey of parenting after loss is about finding a new identity amidst unimaginable grief, and it's okay to seek support along this challenging path.

Our grief doesn’t shrink, but our life can continue to grow around it- and that’s both happy and sad.

To those who carry the weight of an empty crib or a silent house, we see you.

Let's honour the memory of our cherished little ones and embrace the resilience that defines us as parents, even in the face of loss. 💖

Team Amber NT at Lauren Moss : Member for Casuarina and Ngaree Ah Kit: Member for Karama - Babies Day Out 2024.
We have children's activities and information on our service.

Come on down and say hi :)

Looking for somewhere to go to catch up with family and friends and support a local charity at the same time? We are one of the Grill'd Local Matters Charities this month. Visit Grill'd Casuarina for a meal and vote with your token.

On this Wednesday, we thought we would share with you a beautiful article written for the Guardian by Fay Renolds about the loss of her son Iestyn.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/19/it-has-been-40-years-since-the-death-of-our-son-grief-is-love-that-never-leaves

Reflecting on the journey of losing a child, it's crucial to acknowledge the strength it takes to find beauty amidst such profound loss.

It's important to give ourselves permission to experience all emotions that come with child loss. There will be days when the weight of grief feels overwhelming, and other days when it is a little easier to smile.

Let's hold space for each other in our journeys of healing. Let's offer compassion, understanding, and support to each other. Together, we can be inspired by our shared experiences and draw strength from the love and memories that continue to connect us to our children.

“Grief, in many ways, is all the love you wanted to give the person that has gone. It never leaves your heart.” – Fay Renolds

🕊️💖

Today, as we shared our personal grief journeys within our team, we were reminded of the power of keeping a grief journal. 📝
It's not just about putting pen to paper; it's about creating a sacred space for ourselves to navigate through the often overwhelming waves of grief.

A grief journal can become a friend—a place where we pour out our thoughts, feelings, and memories. It's a sanctuary we can return to, a map of our journey, showing us how far we've travelled and how much we've grown.

As we approach the end of May and the halfway mark of the year, why not consider starting your own journal? It doesn't have to be fancy; it can be as simple as the notes app on your phone or a collection of scraps of paper on your fridge.

The magic lies not in the book itself, but in the act of honouring yourself and your journey through loss.

If you are not sure where to start- why don’t you try answering one of the below prompts and see what happens?
1. Recall a moment when you found laughter after loss..
2. List a moment where you demonstrated courage...
3. Note a time when you exhibited patience...
4. Share something that brings you hope...
5. Reflect on how you've changed since experiencing loss..
6. Reflect on a cherished memory of your loved one that brings you joy..

Take this moment to embrace the healing power of journaling. 💖
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Ashlee and Rita keeping our mascot Finn company this beautiful dry season morning at Bicentennial Park this time, for the City of Darwin National Families Week.

We're down the Doctor's Gully end of the Esplanade next to the jumping castle, with some children's remembrance activities and information on our much needed service.

Come on down and say hi!

As time passes, the sharp ache of losing a child may still linger and surface without warning, especially during Anniversaries and Holidays like Christmas and Mother's Day just gone.

But it’s important to remember that these reactions to events are part of your grief and healing journeys. Acknowledging anniversaries, even painful ones, can be a step towards healing and can give us a chance to honour the love we will forever carry in our hearts for our children whom we are not able to hold in our arms.

As these significant dates approach, prioritise your well-being. Nourish your body with good food, rest when needed, and embrace your emotions. It's okay to feel a whirlwind of both happiness and sadness, to laugh through tears or simply sit in silence. Do not feel guilty about whatever your choice may be.

Surround yourself with those who understand, or those who offer unwavering support. It's okay to step back from those who can't provide the comfort you seek.

Take it easy, indulge in activities that bring solace, and remember, grief is simply another form of love—a testament to the impact someone has had on our lives.

For further guidance on navigating grief during important Anniversaries, a good resource to explore is the website from Grief Australia, filled with valuable insights and support:

https://www.grief.org.au

🌷

Attending the Community Achievement Awards NT. Thank you to all the sponsors who make these awards possible to recognise all the great individuals and organisations who give so much back to the community.