A dedicated memorial section has been established at Redland Bay Cemetery, providing a peaceful and respectful space where families can honour early life loss and remember their loved ones.
Redland City Acting Mayor Julie Talty said the new Little Wings Lawn and Whispering Wallabies Garden was created to provide an inclusive and gentle place of remembrance for families.
“Early life loss does occur, and it is important that we provide a space within our cemetery that recognises these experiences with dignity, care and belonging,” Cr Talty said.
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“This memorial section honours all loss connected to the beginning of life – from pregnancy through childhood – acknowledging that every story, no matter how brief, can find a space here.”
Cr Talty said the garden had been designed to offer comfort, reflection and connection.
“Its natural landscape design includes native plantings and metal wallaby silhouettes, reflecting the real swamp wallabies that move through the garden each morning and at dusk,” she said.
“Their presence adds a quiet, reflective quality to the environment.”
The garden also features three large boulders sourced from Minjerribah. These stones serve as anchors of memory – strong, steady and protective – and provide a place for families to affix butterfly‑shaped plaques in remembrance of their child.
“These plaques can honour children interred within the cemetery, as well as those remembered here while resting elsewhere – whether ashes are kept at home, interred in another cemetery, or from a time when families did not have the opportunity to receive ashes,” Cr Talty said.
Across Little Wings Lawn, plaques are installed on white granite markers chosen for their gentle brightness and sense of calm.
For losses occurring during pregnancy or shortly after birth, plaques are smaller and accompanied by a single flower holder and a granite teddy bear. For losses occurring later in childhood, plaques are slightly larger with two flower holders.
This subtle difference reflects the varied ways families honour early life loss while maintaining a cohesive, peaceful design throughout the space.
“The Little Wings Lawn and Whispering Wallabies Garden provides families with a dedicated environment for remembrance, supports emotional healing through reflection and ritual, and reinforces Council’s commitment to compassionate, inclusive community services,” Cr Talty said.
