Group helps comfort the grief

By Sarah Schwager
A BLIND Bight woman whose husband died in a workplace accident is urging grieving relatives to seek support.
Pip McGeachin’s husband, Steve, died in October 2000 on Thompsons Road when the truck in which he was a passenger overturned.
Mrs McGeachin said as if grieving was not hard enough, she also had to deal with the legalities, WorkCover, lawyers, Centrelink, coroner’s report, caring for two teenage children and having lost the family’s provider.
“At that point you’re in a state of shock. You don’t think clearly or make the right decisions when it comes to important decision making,” she said.
Having been referred by a local Casey councillor, Mrs McGeachin contacted the Work related Grief Support (WGS) Group, a little known group funded by WorkCover to help the families of those killed in workplace accidents.
“It was the best thing I ever did,” Mrs McGeachin said.
“They really supported me but in a really positive way and offered heaps of practical advice and suggestions.”
She said as well as introducing her to a network of people who had gone through the same thing, the group also helped her with all the legal and technical things that went along with a death in the family.
Next Thursday, 8 March, members of the group will be on hand in Cranbourne to provide information on the group.
The morning tea will also showcase a special memorial quilt consisting of 47 squares dedicated to a loved husband or father who died through work-related circumstances.
The opportunity for those wanting to honour their own loved one by making a square of the quilt will also be offered. Mrs McGeachin encouraged people to come down and receive the same support she had.
“I’ve made some really good friends in the group. You find they have more empathy. Other people have no idea about how you’re feeling or coping,” she said.
“You tend not to feel so crazy when you talk to someone who is feeling as crazy as you. “Also Bette Phillips (who works for the group) has been fantastic and will always drop in to see me when I need her.”
The morning tea will be held at the Cranbourne Regional Uniting Church at 41 Lesdon Avenue, Cranbourne, at 10.30am. For information contact Bette Phillips on 9827 8322 or 0409 788 883.