SIDSI Kaarene Fitzgerald Award

Kaarene Fitzgerald lost her battle with cancer in 2003. Kaarene founded the Sudden Infant Death Research Foundation in Victoria, Australia, following the death of her son Glen in 1977.

She was co-founder and director of SIDS and Kids Australia, co-founder and Director of SIDS International and Chairman and founder of the Global Strategy Task Force.

In 1999 she received Australia' highest award, a Companion in the Order of Australia, for her work in promoting research into SIDS and her world wide efforts to develop research and education strategies to reduce infant mortality.

Kaarene had a particular interest in research and encouraged young researchers to enter the field. She was very keen for the award in her memory to be given to a researcher in recognition of their work.

In 2004 SIDSI called for research papers from young researchers throughout the world with the award being given to the best paper. This paper was duly presented at the conference in Edmonton, Canada.

In 2006 SIDSI will present the Kaarene Fitzgerald Award to a Japanese researcher who has shown a commitment to reducing infant mortality. The researcher will be selected by the Scientific Organising Committee for the Yokohama Conference.

                               "To mourn too long for those we love is self              

                                indulgent  ...... but to honour their memory

                                with a promise to live a little better for having 

                                known them gives some purpose to their life -

                                and some purpose to their death ......"