Memorial recognises “generous gift” of body donation

The UTS Memorial Garden at Rookwood General Cemetery was formally established in 2018 as a way to remember those who have generously donated their bodies to the UTS Body Donation Program. The Garden also serves as a site where families of donors can reflect on the memories of their loved one all year round and at an annual remembrance and 'thank you' ceremony.

At the most recent ceremony in November 2019 around 130 people gathered in front of the striking bronze donut shaped sculpture and steel tree panels which “come into flower” at the ceremony. In an address to the gathering of family, friends and representatives from partner organisations, the CEO of the Rookwood General Cemetery Mr George Simpson remarked that this was one of the “most significant events of the year” for Rookwood.

It’s a peaceful place, and over the past 12 months the garden has become established and the steel panels have rusted up, blending into the environment, he said.

Speakers from UTS and University of Notre Dame highlighted the incredible generosity of donors noting the positive societal impact of donating your body to science. Hundreds of donors have helped researchers studying the process of decomposition in an Australian environment at the UTS led Australian Facility for Experimental Taphonomic Research (AFTER) which in turn benefits disaster victim identification, cadaver dog training and criminal investigations. Many 1000’s of medical and anatomy students have also gained the best possible training at the Surgical and Anatomical Skills Facility (SASF) based at UTS.

Read more: UTS Body Donation Program

SASF Director Associate Professor Allan Jones said that the donors played an essential role in educating health professionals, “from physiotherapists to speech pathologists”, about the variability in human anatomy and also thanked the UTS staff for the respect, care and “absolute professionalism” they show towards donors and donor families.

Speaking on behalf of UTS and Notre Dame University students UTS PhD candidate Samara Garrett-Rickman - whose AFTER based research will help pinpoint time of death more accurately - said the program not only teaches physical and practical aspects.

“Importantly the program fosters empathy, reverence and humility. Integral qualities when you are dealing with people’s lives,” she said.

In thanking donor families for supporting their loved one through the body donation process UTS Dean of Science, Professor Dianne Jolley, said the long-lasting legacy of donors could not be overstated.

“Donating your body to science is the single most generous gift anyone can give,” she said.

ABOUT THE SCULPTURE
The main Bronze sculpture was designed and made by Everlon Bronze

It represents the "circle of life" and purity of purpose. The steel tree panels were designed by Jessica Fay a former SASF professional staff and also a talented medical artist. The sculpture is a tree - which comes in flower at the remembrance and thankyou ceremony as people place flowers on the panels.

The garden pathways are an infinity symbol to represents the never ending renewal of life. The Rookwood General Cemetery staff designed the landscape plan.

There are also 5 granite plinths at the entrance - with one bearing the inscription “In remembrance of the men and women who have made a unique contribution to the advancement of medicine and science by donating their bodies to the University of Technology Sydney."