Maria Doyle understands only too well the pain of losing a child.
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Two of the Wagga mother’s four sons have died tragically.
Ms Doyle’s son Joseph Thomson died in 2011 after being struck by a car. He had been walking home from a party and the conditions were foggy.
He was just 17.
“We just floundered. We didn’t know where to go. It was devastating. It took us years and years and years to recover, and my youngest son Ben never did,” she said.
“Ben had anxiety and then depression. We lost him to his anxiety and depression in March 2016, at the age of 17 too.”
For Ms Doyle and her family, who were mourning the losses of Joseph and Benjamin, the experience was often isolating and finding support was not always easy.
“I looked for support after the loss of Joe. I rang hospitals, you know, asking ‘is there a grief group’ and there was just nothing,” she said.
“You can’t cope with life in general for so long afterwards.
“I eventually found a good professional. It took me a few goes to find one I was comfortable with.
“But there was no support group until after I lost Ben. I went to the after-suicide support group after I lost him.”
Having struggled to find a support group, Ms Doyle is now hoping to help other Wagga parents who have lost a child.
She and another mum, Louise Cashell, are behind the establishment of a Wagga chapter of the Compassionate Friends, which will meet from February.
Ms Cashell joined Compassionate Friends in Cairns, after her daughter Amanda was killed in a car accident in 2009.
“If I hadn't met those ladies, I don’t know what would have happened,” she said.
Ms Cashell has moved to Wagga from Howlong, where she also started a Compassionate Friends chapter.
“People always agree it does help,” she said.
“It is a safe, confidential environment for people who have lost a child of any age.”
Compassionate Friends of Wagga will hold a candle-lighting service at Collins Park on Sunday, December 10, from 6pm, for any family that has experienced a loss.
If you need help, call beyondblue: 1300 224 636, Lifeline: 131 144, Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800, community mental health access line: 1800 800 944