Charity Group Which Sews Gowns for Stillborn Babies Banned From Family Expo

A not-for-profit group, who sew handmade garments for stillborn babies and young infants who pass away, were left devastated after they were banned from setting up at a family expo in Cairns.

Angel Babies Up North in FNQ founder, Jeananne Orf­anos, said she was told her stall would be ‘unfitting’ at the Baby Welcome and Family Expo this weekend by the Cairns Regional Council.

Ms Orfanos claimed she was told by someone from the council that:

“The expo aims to celebrate live babies and you’re promoting dead babies – you might make people depressed.”

She told Daily Mail Australia that she was surprised by the reaction, even after she is willing to give in to the expo’s recommendations for a stall.

“I was stunned when they told me we couldn’t be there. I tried about five times, and they kept saying no as it might make new mothers depressed. I even said I would modify the stall, and still the application was rejected.

“In fact, our stall is really discreet – there are no horrible photos or anything, and nothing controversial.

“All we wanted to do was take down a vinyl doll as a replica of a 20-month-old baby, put her in an angel gown, and display some of the other dresses.

“But it’s still taboo. No one talks about stillborns,” she said.

Angel Babies Up North in FNQ turns donated wedding dresses into hand-sewn gowns and outfits for stillborn babies and young infants who passed away. The dresses are then given away to mourning families for free.

Ms Orfanos said she set up the group after her son and his wife lost their first-born child: ‘When they met her, she was just wrapped in gauze and a paper bag. When I discovered that there was such a thing that was beautiful and could celebrate the child still, I wanted to get involved,” she said.

She said that they have been to three wedding expos within the more than three years since the group’s establishment.

Nene Fulcher, a mum from Adelaide, who lost her own son, Jacob, and set up a Facebook page to help other parents and to remember him, has told Daily Mail Australia she is one with Ms Orfanos.

“Why would a council deem it unfit to showcase an item that can change the course of a parent’s grief for the better? I just don’t understand it.

“It is this sort of mindset that fuels the stigma surrounding our babies who grew their wings too soon.

“I’m so sorry this lady’s good work has been put in a bad light,” she said.

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Cairns Regional Council for comment. A spokesperson for the council explained:

“After careful consideration, it was determined that this particular stall did not fit with the theme of what is a fun, light-hearted and celebratory civic event aimed at parents with babies and young children.

“The group has been offered a stall at future, more suitable events.”

The Baby Welcome and Family Expo will be held from 10am to 2pm on Saturday. In its website, the expo is described as providing local families with a ‘fun day out, and opportunities to learn about family-friendly products and services available to them in Cairns’.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk