Tasmanian mum Maria Bond helps families experiencing grief through Bears of Hope charity

TASMANIAN families experiencing grief now have someone to turn to thanks to the voluntary work of Montagu Bay’s Maria Bond.

Maria Bond has volunteered for the past five years with charity, "Bears Of Hope", which assists families dealing with miscarriages. Pictured with her 15 month old son, Eddie, holding one of the bears of hope.

TASMANIAN families experiencing grief now have someone to turn to thanks to the voluntary work of Montagu Bay’s Maria Bond.

After going through three miscarriages and receiving no local support, in 2009 Ms Bond approached the Bears of Hope Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Inc charity, based in NSW, to offer to co-ordinate the organisation in Tasmania.

“I was struck by the lack of support here. I didn’t know where to go,” she said.

Ms Bond now travels between the state’s hospitals to provide support packages for bereaved parents, volunteering up to 20 hours a week to assist families.

Each package offers a bear donated from another family which has lost a child, information relating specifically to the loss they have experienced and contact details where they can find further support.

The Bears of Hope offers phone and email counselling and online forums moderated by a trained counsellor.

Ms Bond has also organised psychologist-led bereavement workshops for parents to teach them how to deal with their grief.

Quietly going about her work, she has provided a voice to parents who previously were unable to express their grief about a subject that is not often spoken about.

For her selfless work, Ms Bond has been nominated in the Pride of Australia Medal’s community spirit category.

In Tasmania, there are 40 stillbirths and 20 newborn deaths every year.

The Bears of Hope supports at least 30,000 bereaved parents every year across Australia.

To nominate someone for a Pride of Australia Medal, visit www.themercury.com.au/
prideofaustralia

Nominations close at 5pm on July 29.