This memorial offers solace for people affected by road trauma, a space for quiet contemplation and reflection. The phases of the moon symbolise the stages of grief, the journey from loss toward acceptance and hope.
A project delivered by the City of Greater Geelong, in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission and supported by Amber
Community (formerly Road Trauma Support Services Victoria) and the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.
In 2007 the Board of Amber Community instigated
a project to develop a Victorian Memorial to honour people killed and injured
on our roads. Board members Jeanette Suhr OAM and Rev Andy Calder met with
Transport Minister Hon Tim Holding, and secured initial funding to develop the
case and scope suitable sites across Victoria.
Victoria’s first state-wide Memorial is now completed and
located here on the foreshore of Corio Bay, Geelong. It is titled ‘Solace’,
designed by Don Walters, and is a beautiful sculpture of moon formations,
depicting the different phases of grief:
The moon is our celestial companion. It guides us, it inspires us and it stirs our collective imagination. The moon can also encapsulate our emotions as we gaze at its endlessly unfolding cycle of light and shade.
The experience of grief and trauma also has phases. These may not be as obvious or predictable as the phases of the moon but they exist for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one through road trauma. And, like the moon, the loss of a loved one never fades completely. For many the emotion sits just below the surface often emerging unexpectedly or whenever milestones arise.
Representatives from the TAC and City of Greater Geelong, along with TAC clients and community members affected by road trauma, were involved in the selection process of the successful artwork.
Solace Public Memorial Geelong from National Wool Museum on Vimeo.
Having been recognised as a need and instigated by the Road Trauma Support Services Victoria (RTSSV), the memorial will also raise awareness for support networks that Victorians can access: