Last Thursday evening, Northern Health’s Spiritual Care, Palliative Care, Mental Health and Social Work teams hosted a Memorial Service to honour the memory of those who passed away at Northern Health between June and November 2025.
The service, ‘A time to remember’, was an opportunity for loved ones and staff to join together to remember those who passed away. The service also paid tribute to Northern Health staff who passed away during this time.
The event was attended by about 130 family members and staff. The Northern Health Community Choir performed at the service and was joined by members of the Whittlesea Community Choir. Melbourne Market Authority kindly supported the event by donating the flower arrangements.
During the service, guests were invited to reflect by choosing a butterfly that represented an element – grief, courage, memories, love, peace and hope – that was meaningful to them. The butterflies were placed on a community tree in memory of those being honoured, creating a very colourful representative of attendees thoughts and feelings.
Julius Quiring, Nurse Unit Manager, Palliative Care Unit, said the occasion was such a beautiful atmosphere.
“From the conversations afterwards, it was clear the service meant a lot to families, giving them an opportunity to remember and honour their loved ones. Some families were excited to see some of us there,” he said.
“One family member approached me after the service and said she didn’t feel comfortable speaking in front of everyone but wanted to let me know how much she appreciated the whole team and how we made a really difficult time easier for their family.”
“Hearing all the positive feedback about Northern Health, and especially our Palliative Care Unit, was truly touching and a reminder of why we do what we do.”
Natalia Dewiyani, Spiritual Care Coordinator, thanked all staff who were involved in organising another memorable event.
“It is a privilege to be working with kind and compassionate colleagues. You have made a difference to the patients and families who are blessed to be cared for by you,” she said.
“Thank you for being who you are and doing what you do.”
Adj. Prof Debra Bourne, Chief Executive, attended the service. She said it was another deeply moving and uplifting event where families could gather to honour their loved ones who have passed.
“These occasions are incredibly important to our community. Often, this is the place where they last saw their loved one, and the opportunity to return, to share stories, and to grieve alongside others, and with the staff who care for them, is an important part of the hearing journey,” she said.
“I was so proud to hear from families who shared that they had a positive experience at Northern Health. It is truly special to have staff who care for patients.”