If you are ever to read an article I write, please make it this one.

As you may know, I sit on the board of a charity, Wombat's Wish.

Wombat's Wish helps kids who have lost parents find their way through the grieving process. We do so through bereavement camps where we immerse kids in a variety of bereavement therapy workshops with other children who share a similar experience. Each group is lead by a team leader who is a social worker, psychologist or therapist.

The parents are also in a grown-up version of group therapy at the same time, but away from the campground, so they and the kids each have their own space.

Having been a widow at age 38, and then trying to help a grieving 11 year-old while still processing my own overwhelming sadness, my heart breaks for others sharing that same fate. So, the mission of Wombat's Wish is quite close to my heart.

Up until now, my volunteer work has mainly focused on fundraising and the event side of things (who doesn't love a high tea and flower crown event?!)

Last weekend, however, my son (who is now 20) and I both attended camp as volunteers.

My heart is full and my mind is blown! 

The kids share photos and memories (both wonderful and tragic) of their departed parent, and learn skills for coping with the loss. They hold stones that represent different kinds of memories; draw movie strips of their lives before, during and after the parent's death; make memory jars; throw clay at bad feelings; light candles; create bereavement "first aid" kits; write questions for a paediatrician who visits camp to answer; release balloons and, in-between, make friends; support each other; laugh and smile; and find ways to let go of the worry and just enjoy being a kids again. 

And the end of the camp, the campers take their drawings and other mementos home with them, tucked inside a wooden box in case they need to reflect upon what they have felt and learned. The idea is that they take, in their hearts and in their heads, many lessons which will help them in the difficult days to come. The mementos are there to remind them of their new tools.

This camp was truly one of the most worthwhile things I have ever been involved in. 

The children's stories and drawings and even their questions to the doctor ("what pain do you feel when you have a bad spinal cord injury in your neck?" "Is there a cure for suicide?") make my eyes well up with tears, even now, as I think of them. Life can sometimes be so cruel and unfair. 

Unfortunately we cannot go back in time and undo what has been done. But we can at least try our hardest to make the path before them a bit smoother.

I've put together my camp video which I shared with the parents at the end of the weekend. I tried to focus on the love and light of the weekend, and the beauty I saw radiating from these kids . . .kids who have experienced such terribly tragedy and yet found a way to help one another, and to rise above the sadness and be kids again. There were many tears of happiness as the video played, as mums saw their kids smiling . . .really smiling . . . for the first time in a long time. 

Finally, I must give a shoutout to Gabe Freeman of Animatica who created our amazing wombat, Freeman! Gabe lost her father when she was quite young and saw an opportunity to help out kids going through the same thing now. 

Gabe donated all of her time and talent in making "Freeman" the Wombat's Wish mascot. He was such an amazing addition to our volunteer team. He had so many cuddles on the last day of camp that he was almost embarrassed by his popularity.

If you want to refer a child to a camp, want to donate money, goods, services or time to the organisation; want to attend one of our upcoming events; or if you just want more information about what we do, please let me know. 

And please, please, please have a look at the video by clicking on the text below:

Video - Wombat's Wish Camp Nov 2017