Elisabeth Champion
A poignant display at the Mount Gambier Library pays tribute to 10 years of Angel Gowns Australia.
Founded in 2014, Angel Gowns Australia sees a new purpose given used wedding dresses as gowns for babies that have passed away.
Area coordinator for Angel Gowns Australia Amalia Morandin said the gowns were provided free to hospitals and funeral homes to bring comfort to parents that suffer a miscarriage, stillbirth and for any baby that is ill if parents would like a special gown for the baby to be buried or cremated in.
“We have so many hospitals, I think the majority – probably 90% of the hospitals in Australia – that have birthing units actually have all our gowns, blankets and wraps,” she said.
“We’ve also got early pouches so any baby that’s born pre-20 weeks, they are too small to go into a wrap. “The baby gets put in there and then the sides get wrapped so the early pouches are for anyone that would like one to put their little baby in.”
While the gowns are made from donated dresses, parents can choose to use their own wedding dress.
“Some people would like their wedding dress to be used, so it’s a special request.
“That can be done, it might take probably five days or so usually, by the time you get it and send it to someone to make the gown and then send it back.”
Despite the name, the organisation does also offer suits for those that don’t want a gown.
Mrs Morandin has been involved almost since the start, and used her own dress for her first for gowns.
“When I did my three gowns to test, that’s what I did, I used my wedding dress,” she said.
“I made it so I thought yep, that’ll do.”
Due to demand, dress donations are currently closed, with only one intake period a year.
Mrs Morandin urged people to hang onto their dresses for donation once intakes opened.
“We are full to capacity with wedding dresses at the moment,” she said
“We only have an intake once a year,” she said.
“If someone does have a wedding dress, hang on to it and wait until you see it – it’ll be online and you do all the forms.”
The library display shows an example of what the donated dresses become which includes gowns and wraps.
For more information on Angel Gowns Australia, visit www.angelgownsaustralia.org.au or find them on Facebook.
