Premier's Australia Day - ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AWARD

"Healing Hearts" chairman saluted

GARY Redmond has won a City of Nedlands Australia Day honour for his compassionate efforts chairing the Healing Hearts Foundation. Mr Redmond (62) collected the ‘Community Group or Event Award’ at a joint citizenship and Premier’s Awards ceremony on January 23 for his work as executive chairman of the foundation, which supports people around the State who have lost a child.

The Sorrento resident knows first hand of sadness of losing his own son and daughter-in-law after a canyoning tragedy in Interlaken, Switzerland in 1999, which claimed the lives of 21 young people.

“When I received the award I guess I felt humility, certainly pride, but initially humility that something like this can come from such a tragic event and that we can help others." he said.

“Through the foundation there is a chance to others won’t have to suffer as much as people have in the past."

Mr Redmond and the Heirisson Rotary Club established the foundation in 2001 to honour the young couple, others who died in the Swiss tragedy and all children that have died before their time.

The group helps parents, family and friends of children through their losses by providing links to support groups, helping to create memorials and recommending books of inspiration.

The next mission for the group is to establish a Garden of Reflection in the metropolitan area for "all people to come and reflect, spend some quiet time and find solace" in a tranquil environment.