A Brisbane property team is helping raise funds for Whittaker’s Wings Foundation, a charity supporting families following stillbirth and helping ensure parents understand the options available to them.
Chris May, Victoria May and Amy Brennan of Team May at Place Ascot have partnered with the Foundation and will host their annual charity gala at Place HQ on James Street on Thursday, 15 October.
The event is expected to bring together around 150 guests, with proceeds from ticket sales, donations and a charity auction supporting Whittaker’s Wings. Team May will also donate $200 from every property settlement to the Foundation.
Whittaker’s Wings was founded by Crystal and Ryan Zeeman after the stillbirth of their daughter, Whittaker Te Riunui Angela Zeeman, at 40 weeks and four days in July 2021.
The couple spent six days with Whittaker before saying goodbye. Their experience led them to establish the Foundation after learning many families are not given the same information, support or time with their baby.
Whittaker’s Wings focuses on stillbirth, defined as the loss of a baby from 20 weeks’ gestation or weighing 440 grams at birth. Its care packs and resources are also available to midwives’ supporting families who birth their babies earlier in pregnancy.
The Foundation provides care packs to hospitals for mothers and fathers. The packs include clothing, toiletries, practical essentials and helpful resources, and are designed to support gentle, informed conversations at an overwhelming time.
A central part of the Foundation’s work is helping families understand that they may have choices around the time they spend with, and care they provide for, their baby after death.
“What we want families to understand is that they have options,” Crystal said.
“Wanting unhurried time with your baby and wanting to parent them in the limited ways you can, is completely normal and should be supported.”
“The support a family receives in those first days can stay with them for life. We want families and maternity teams to know that family-led after-death care is possible, and to feel confident having those conversations.”
Whittaker’s Wings is also working towards a longer-term vision for Australia’s first Bereavement Birth Centre: a dedicated space where families could recover after birth, remain with their baby and be cared for by midwives trained in bereavement care.
Chris said the partnership came after Team May learned more about the Foundation’s work.
“Crystal and Ryan are working to make sure families facing the unthinkable have more information, more time and more support,” he said.
“We wanted to help them continue that work in a practical, ongoing way.”
The Whittaker’s Wings Annual Foundation Gala will be held from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, with drinks and canapés included. Tickets can be purchased here.