Zaidee Turner is forever young, vibrant, and joyful.
And now, her gravestone is too.
On Thursday, July 4, the first qRIP Memories medallion was installed at Cobram Cemetery on Zaidee’s gravestone.
When scanned, the QR code leads to a personally customised online tribute to the local hero, featuring Zaidee’s story, photos, and a dedicated poem.
Zaidee died from a cerebral aneurysm in 2004 at the age of seven, and her decision to become an organ and tissue donor at the end of life saved and improved the lives of seven people.
Her legacy lives on through Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation, a charity established in her honour to promote organ and tissue donation.
Allan Turner, the foundation’s founder and proud dad of Zaidee, said he didn’t hesitate when the opportunity arose to put a QR code on Zaidee’s grave.
“It’s very special for sure,” he said.
“There’s only so much you can put on a headstone, and I think Zaidee will be so chuffed to have this and will love the attention.
“It’s also a way of once again getting the message (of organ and tissue donation) out there.”
The medallions can be attached to plaques, headstones, or urns, allowing family members to add, update, and change verbal, visual and audible memories over time.
The innovative product was designed by Jeff Watkinson, who in 2020 created and affixed the first QR code in the country to his brother’s grave.
“My brother, when he passed away, he was only two years older than me – it’s crazy,” he said.
“I had his headstone and thought, ‘What am I going to say about him?’
“He was a voiceover artist, and so, I was able to put his demo on it.
“You can actually hear his voice, which is amazing.”
Mr Watkinson said that going through the experience of losing a loved one, dealing with the shock of it all, and the pressure to make decisions during that time influenced his decision to enable others to add QR codes to their loved one’s final resting place.
“The good thing about the QR codes is you don’t have to make that difficult decision straight away – you can think about it six months down the track and then add to it at any time,” he said.
“That’s the beauty of it. It’s ever-changing, and there are no limits.”
To find out more about qRIP Memories, visit https://qripmemories.com.au/
To learn more about Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and organ and tissue donation in Australia, visit https://www.zaidee.org/