Ideas for Marking Grief Week

Many people in our community are eager to mark Grief Week in some way, however, how they can do so is often a difficult decision. As the range of losses that can result in grief is so wide, and the particular focus of various settings differs, this list has been compiled as a guideline (only) as to how a formal recognition of Grief Week could be planned.

Firstly, in order to stimulate some thought, a list has been made of some of the changes and transitions that can result in loss and grief. Naturally, this is not comprehensive, but is meant as a starting point for discussion among those who are planning an event.

Secondly, some ideas for ways in which to acknowledge those changes and transitions are also listed. Again these are offered only as a starting point for discussion and are not comprehensive.

N.B. To ensure that the event has maximum effect it is always a good idea, where appropriate, to invite local media to attend at the time or to do an interview about Grief Week with the organisers of the event.

- In the workplace
- At school
- In a rural community organisation
- At a place of religious observance
- Within specific interest groups
- Community Health Centres/Hospitals/GPs
- Pet bereavement
- NALAG Practitioners

In the workplace:

Changes and Transitions that could be recalled:

• Workers/colleagues leaving for another job
• Retrenchment
• Retirement
• Restructuring of roles within workplace
• Death of an worker (either on-site or elsewhere)
• Death of a worker's family member
• Relocation of work-site
• When there has been an accident on site

Ideas:

• Workers invited to wear something yellow (representing wattle) or a sprig of wattle.
• A display on a work place notice board of a NALAG poster, brochures, etc.
• Photos of any workers who may have left or died in the past year displayed on notice board
• A lunch break set aside for all workers to share in a meal - e.g. barbecue, 'bring a plate', etc. during which there are a few minutes set aside to call attention to the NALAG poster and brochures displayed. Inclusion of information on Grief - A Part of Life in work-place news sheet.
• Adorn desks/counters etc., with vases of wattle.
• Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.
• Distribute fridge magnets

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At school:

Changes and transitions that could be recalled:

• Graduation from school (leaving school)
• Examinations
• Sporting activities
• Loss of friendships
• Death of a pet
• Family relationships changing
• Commencing school
• Leaving school and starting at a new one
• Change of staff
• Death of staff member/child/etc.

Ideas:

• Placing of a branch of wattle at flag-pole and lowering of flag to half-mast for one day
• Hold an exhibition of students' work relating to positive ways to deal with loss (e.g. artwork, written pieces, collages, etc.)
• Incorporating discussion of loss and grief issues into classroom work through stories (for younger children), viewing of relevant videos on loss and grief, selecting current music that speaks of loss and discussing it, etc.
• Planting a wattle tree in the school grounds. During the ceremony invite any that wish to write a word or two about a loss they have experienced on a small piece of paper. These are buried in the ground under the wattle tree to provide 'mulch' to help the tree grow
• Holding an in-service training session for all staff on children/young people and grief.
• Inclusion of information on Grief - A Part of Life in school newsletter/sheet
• Encourage librarian to create a display of loss and grief related books for Grief Week, with information brochures, posters and wattle in a vase.
• Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.
• Guest speaker from community
• Distribute fridge magnets

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In a rural community organisation:

Changes and transitions that could be recalled:

• Decreasing population in area
• Deaths that have impacted on community
• Natural disasters: fire, drought, flood, etc.
• Families being separated (e.g. children leaving to go to school/work in city)
• Services (e.g. banks, schools) being closed in area

Ideas:

• Laying a sheaf of wattle at a memorial in the town with a brief ceremony of personal reflection
• Organising an information evening for the community on loss and grief and our responses to them
• Circulating and sending off a petition about an issue of community concern to a Local Member or whoever is appropriate.
• Speaking to the media about the impact on the community of the losses it is experiencing
  Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.
• Distribute fridge magnets

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At a place of religious observance:

Changes and transitions that could be recalled:

• Death of a member of the congregation
• Family breakdown
• Loss of a minister/clergy
• Unemployment
• School difficulties of children attending
• National events that resulted in grief (e.g. natural disasters)

Ideas:

• Holding a public exhibition of works of art, etc. which reflect losses experienced within the congregation and community
• Conducting a special service of reflection/renewal for those families who have experienced a loss of any type in the past
• Holding a reunion of past members of the congregation to recognise that the memory of their involvement is still part of the congregation's life
• Initiating a support group within the congregation for those who are mourning
• Hosting a community information day on loss and grief - invite local organisations to send representatives to share details of how they offer support
• Inclusion of information on Grief - A Part of Life in newsletter and prayer sheet.
• Display board with collected images and headlines from newspapers - looking at grief the universal experience.
• Create a special Mass or church service around the theme of grief - a part of life. Utilise hymns, scriptures, images, stories that demonstrate the grief and the hope that can arise from loss.
• Decorate the Church or house of worship with wattle.
• Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.
• Distribute fridge magnets

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Within specific interest groups:

Changes and transitions that can be recalled:

• Particular loss recognised (e.g. child's death, death of a partner, divorce, suicide, etc.)
• RSL
• CFA

Ideas:

• Plan a community information display about the group or organisation to inform community on how this group assists those experiencing loss and grief
• Hold a fund raising event to buy educational tools on loss and grief for local libraries and/or schools
• Hold a memorial service for families
• Laying of wattle sheath at war memorial or outside CFA premises
• Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.
• Distribute fridge magnets

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Community Health Centres/Hospitals/GPs:

Changes and transitions that can be acknowledged:

• Mental health
• Physical health
• Infant care
• Relationships
• Adolescent issues
• Retrenchment

Ideas:

• Open Day to the community to explain services offered with emphasis on support services to those experiencing loss and grief
• Display on notice boards of NALAG posters and brochures - collect images and headlines from newspapers on grief and loss issues.
• Host a free community seminar on loss, grief and its impact on day to day life
• All staff to hand out fridge magnets and wattle to be in vases on site
• Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.

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Pet bereavement:

Raising awareness of the impact of pet or companion animal bereavement is one way of acknowledging what can be a situation of disenfranchised grief.

• Encourage local veterinary surgeons to place NALAG brochures on counter, and display Grief Week posters in prominent places.
• Encourage veterinary surgeons/nurses to speak at local school with children on losing a loved pet, offering strategies for remembering, eg. Scrap book, memory box, plant a tree, etc.
• Plan a community awareness raising session on pets and pet loss. Raising awareness of the impact of an animal's death and how trivialisation of the event can impact on the grief felt by the owner/family.
• Encourage local media to write an article about the impact of the death of a pet/companion animal.
• A family or group could make a donation in memory of a deceased pet to an animal welfare agency.
• Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.
• Distribute fridge magnets

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NALAG Practitioners may also like to:

• Accredited Educators could plan and present workshops and seminars on various types of loss for inclusion in Grief Week calendar (e.g. children, young people, traumatic death, pet loss, separation/divorce, chronic illness)
• Approach schools, community centres, libraries, shopping centres, general practitioners, etc. and offer to assist in displaying material for Grief Week on their site. This would assist in raising profile of practitioners and enhance networks.
• Contact the media with an offer to be interviewed on issues relating to loss and grief.
• Counsellors, educators, support workers, etc. could each provide information from their perspective.
• Encourage local bookshops to display relevant books with a NALAG poster during that week.
• Encourage schools, libraries, churches and community centres to identify and display resources and materials they have on loss and grief related matters.
• Prepare a short ceremony (see suggested outline, below)
• Display of photographs relating to loss and grief
• Draw attention to web pages and commemorative books in which individuals can make an entry
• Float candles (be conscious of environmental issues), wattle sprigs on pond, lake, etc.

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