Baby Lily Grace Won’t Be Forgotten

By Marcus Braid on June 8, 2015 in News

The tragedy of Baby Lily Grace will never be forgotten and has touched the community to its core.

Baby Lily Grace, whose body was found in a shallow grave at South Maroubra Beach in November, was buried after her funeral in April.

“It was really moving,” CEO of The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation, Catherine Oates-Smith, said of the funeral.

“It was also amazing to see the community, the police and people turn up in support.

“The celebrant wrote a poem about Lily Grace, with the theme ‘Did you ever have someone to hold you tight?’ There was not a dry eye in the house.”

On April 29 each year, the day of the funeral, Baby Lily Grace Awareness Day will be marked by a pre-dawn service in which candles will be lit and extinguished when the sun rises.

“People can have that physical expression of sadness for the loss of either a miscarried child or a child that hasn’t known its parents,” Ms Oates-Smith said.

The Maroubra Community found hope by rallying together to support The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation Newborn Care Centre, where premature babies and their families receive the highest level of care, treatment and support.

“The most up-to-date technology is available within the Newborn Care Centre because of private donations, and it makes a massive difference,” Ms Oates-Smith said.

If you would like to donate and leave a message for Baby Lily Grace, you can do so at www.give.everydayhero.com/au/maroubra-baby.