Each year on March 25, communities across the country pause for Say Their Name Day, a day of quiet reflection, remembrance and acknowledgement for babies and children who have been loved and lost.
It is a deeply sensitive space. For many families, the loss of a child is something that reshapes life forever. It is not something that can be fixed, only something that is carried. What can make that weight feel a little lighter, however, is simple acknowledgement — the willingness of others to recognise that these little lives mattered, and still do.
Saying a child’s name may seem small, but for grieving families it can be profoundly meaningful. It is an act of kindness that requires no special words, only compassion. At its heart, Say Their Name Day is about ensuring that no family feels alone in their grief, and that every child is remembered.
Central West local, Lily Castor, knows this journey all too well. After experiencing her own loss, Lily, along with other bereaved mothers, created the Central West Pregnancy & Infant Loss (CWPAIL) group. “We wanted to create a space for women and their families to connect with each other,” she shared. “For us, it was about not feeling quite as lonely while grieving and having support locally in the Central West.”
Each year, CWPAIL invites families across the central west to share the names of their babies and children to be included in a commemorative social media tribute. Submissions were made via the Central West Pregnancy & Infant Loss Facebook page.
The group also hosts monthly support groups for bereaved parents, siblings and anyone impacted by perinatal loss. Whether you choose to share, listen, or simply be present, you are welcome. The next support group is in Dubbo on Sunday, 29 March, then in Orange in late April. Details, dates and RSVPs are available via their Facebook page or through Humanitix – https://events.humanitix.com/host/central-west-pregnancy-and-infant-loss-inc.
On March 25, our community is invited to stand gently alongside these families — to remember, to acknowledge, and, simply, to say their names.
