The previous year's anniversary event was missed due to COVID so the group used some of the promotion funding [supplied by the Whanganui Community Foundation] towards a Memory Tree, which will be a beautiful permanent reminder of our children ….. briefly known forever loved.

Springvale Garden Centre sourced a beautiful white flowering cherry [Prunus Shirotae Mount Fuji Cherry] and it was planted by our Mayor Hamish McDouall and Council Parks staff.

This tree will blossom in October of each year and will be a joy to see.

The leaves will colour and fall in autumn, a reminder of loss and then there will be a spring renewal providing growth, shelter and shade reminiscent of the seasons and years of grief shared without a loved child.

• Each Spring we plan to celebrate our children’s lives by decorating the 2 special trees at Aramoho which shade the Children’s Area and the Baby Loss Area. Watch for details.

We were reminded of an old Chinese proverb

Display Associates Whanganui made a weatherproof TCF contact sign to go by the tree.

It was very poignant that at the same time as we were preparing for the planting a wee babe Eros was buried by her bereft family just a few meters from the tree.