The Garden of Remembrance

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Under the South Australian Government's Transforming Health restructuring of Adelaide's public health services, the Repatriation General Hospital in Daw Park will undergo significant changes. Over the last few years these changes have been controversial with the proposal driving much discussion over what will happen with the Repatriation General Hospital Site.

Thankfully these debates are beyond the scope of this article. Rather, this short article will focus on one of the three sites that will be spared from any redevelopment, the Remembrance Garden (The other two sites being the Chapel and the Museum ).

The garden is a little difficult to find. On entering the Repatriation General Hospital grounds, move in the direction of the main wards (signposted as wards 1-8) from the chapel, being careful not to enter the wards or building itself. The garden is not marked on the hospital map , but it lies between the rear of ward 8 (marked as '8' on the map) and a small building marked on the map as the "rheumatology and orthopaedics hut."



The profusion of greenery, two sets of benches set in small leafy recesses, the relatively secluded location and a burbling fountain create a sense of peace and tranquillity. In the centre are 4 small plots with commemorative plaques. The surrounding gardens bloom with fragrant 'Spirit of Peace' Roses, released to the world for the first time in South Australia by Meilland International in France in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 'Peace' rose and the anniversary of World War II.



In the Remembrance Garden it is easy to take a few minutes to allow your mind to relax, to drift, to reminisce, perhaps to spend a moment in contemplation of Australia's servicemen and women as well as the Repat's genesis as a Military Hospital in 1942 to care for wounded veterans as they returned from World War II.



If you're at the hospital waiting for a friend or relative to be discharged, attending an appointment at the outpatient clinics, wandering through the Repat Op Shop or visiting the chapel/museum, a short detour to the quiet serenity of the Remembrance Garden may be a perfect respite from a busy day.

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