FAMILY of loved ones who have passed away have found community with each other through a walking group facilitated by Bendigo Health.<\/p>\n
The group meet at Peppergreen Farm each Wednesday morning for a stroll around Lake Weeroona and share a hot drink afterward.<\/p>\n
Those who have had a family member pass away in the hospital\u2019s palliative care units can join the walkers.<\/p>\n
Social worker, Megan Rohde, said she has been involved with the group for eight years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great time opportunity for bereaved to spend time with other people who understand and support them because they have a similar lived experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we all know the benefits of being outside, walking, and connections with others is really good for our mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the social work team facilitate the group and we are there to provide support and guidance to people in the group, it\u2019s a peer model that works really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe group often develops really good friendships and supports over the time that they\u2019re together that really helps them through the first 12 months of their grief.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roz, Jo, and James all recently had their partners pass away. Roz said spending time with the other walkers was a \u201chighlight\u201d of her week.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just feel really alone at times,\u201d said Roz.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was back at work and people think you\u2019re functioning, but obviously there\u2019s a big gaping hole.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes when we turn up we\u2019re in tears and can hardly walk, and then next time there\u2019s new people arriving and we\u2019re the ones going up and giving them hugs.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust to talk with the others, it\u2019s incredible the support you feel from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
James said he was married for 50 years and is not used to living by himself.<\/p>\n
He said he has found it helpful to \u201cmix with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that because we\u2019re all in the same situation, you can ask questions that you might have otherwise felt a bit uneasy about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jo said she met someone years ago who had previously been in the group and was still friends with people she had walked with.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd look at what we\u2019ve formed in a couple of weeks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FAMILY of loved ones who have passed away have found community with each other through a walking group facilitated by Bendigo Health. The group meet at Peppergreen Farm each Wednesday morning for a stroll around Lake Weeroona and share a hot drink afterward. Those who have had a family member pass away in the hospital\u2019s […]<\/p>\n