It is for this reason a small group of volunteers at the Ballarat Woodworkers Guild has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make “memory” or “angel” boxes for precious children who are lost to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or stillborn.

Inside a shed at the Ballarat Airport, a handful of men have built hundreds of boxes by hand for the SIDS foundation for almost five years.

The boxes are part of the Treasured Babies’ Program, an initiative for bereaved parents who experience the loss of an infant.

Volunteer Brian Rickard said the men made 40 boxes at a time, with each one taking four hours to complete.

“For all us fellas, making the boxes is just something small we can do to help people going through a really difficult time,” he said.

“It’s the satisfaction of doing something that can help others and for the babies that tragically pass away.”

The guild’s involvement in the program was the idea of volunteers Fred Townsing and Ron Hearn.

Mr Hearn passed away last year, but his wife Valmai has continued on the tradition. From her home, 

Mrs Hearn sews dozens of tiny felt hearts and teddy bears and blankets every month.

The pieces are placed inside the satin-lined boxes, along with a set of handmade clothes and handwritten name scroll. 

Mrs Hearn said the number of babies who passed away was far greater than many people realised.

“It (the box) gives the grieving parents a way they can say goodbye to their precious baby,” she said. “It gives them a place where they can put their baby’s stuff ... they can dress them and they can sit with them and just be near them.”

The goal of the program is to ensure every hospital throughout Victoria has enough treasured memory boxes for any families who need them. 

Mrs Hearn said the program was driven by the generosity of the community.

All the timber to make the boxes is donated by Laminex and the paint is given to the men  by Haymes Paint. 

The boxes are then passed on to SIDS groups in Melbourne and Geelong, where they are hand-painted before being distributed to hospitals.

For more details about the program, visit www.sidsandkids.org.

melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au