Walker Family Funerals Perth

17/10/2026

A huge congratulations to everyone over east who has worked so hard to get human body composting (terramation) one step closer to becoming a reality in Australia.

This is a significant moment for sustainable death care, and it gives us hope here in WA that change is possible.

The work continues. We won’t give up on bringing this choice to Western Australian families, too.

17/10/2026

A historic step forward for Terramation in Australia.

New South Wales is on track to become the first state in Australia to offer Terramation, giving people a third choice alongside burial and cremation.

The bill, introduced by Independent MP Alex Greenwich and supported by the NSW Government, has passed unanimously through the NSW Legislative Assembly (Lower House).

Terramation, also known as natural organic reduction or human composting, gently transforms a person’s body into nutrient-rich soil through a natural decomposition process.

It offers the potential for a more environmentally sustainable and affordable approach to death care, providing families with another meaningful choice.

The proposed legislation will establish a regulatory framework to oversee the process, facilities and standards, in a similar way to the existing regulation of burial and cremation.

This is more than a change in legislation. It’s a shift in how we think about death, our connection to nature, and the legacy we leave behind.

For those of us advocating for more sustainable funeral choices here in Western Australia, this is an important milestone.

WA has already seen growing community interest in Terramation. Now, we have the opportunity to learn from NSW and continue the conversation about bringing this option to our state.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to choose a death care option that aligns with their values, beliefs and wishes.

It’s time to rethink what’s possible.

24/09/2026

What if the way we care for the dead could look very different in the future?

It was an honour to present at the Funerals Australia AGM, hosted at Rendezvous Scarborough, where I had the opportunity to explore sustainable funerals and look towards what the future of death care could hold — including the possibility of human body composting here in Australia.

Change can be difficult, especially when we’re comfortable with systems we’ve used for generations. But there is always room for improvement when we remain open to new ideas, technology and better ways of caring for people and the environment.

The future of funerals is worth talking about.

Our 2026 Divisional AGM season has wrapped up with our final weekends in Scarborough, WA and Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.

One of the strengths of Funerals Australia is our member-led community, and our AGM weekends provide valuable opportunities for funeral professionals to connect, learn, share experiences and discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the profession, while strengthening the care our members provide to families.

Thank you to all our members who joined us throughout this year’s AGM season, and to our sponsors, Divisional Councils, speakers and supporters for helping make each weekend such a success.

19/09/2026

There’s nothing wrong with a standard funeral.

You don’t need mermaids delivering the coffin, a themed hearse or some wildly creative idea.

A familiar, simple, tried-and-tested service can be a beautiful way to say goodbye.

When you’re overwhelmed with grief, being expected to come up with ideas can feel like another burden.

You don’t have to start a trend. You don’t have to make it extraordinary.

If simple feels comfortable, choose si

Sometimes, simple is more than enough.

16/09/2026

There’s something deeply caring about making plans for your own funeral.

It isn’t about being morbid.
It’s about love, consideration and taking one more difficult decision out of your family’s hands.

When the time comes, your family will already be carrying the weight of your loss. Knowing what you wanted, how you wanted to be cared for, and having the financial arrangements in place can give them something incredibly valuable - clarity when they may not have much of it.

But if you’re thinking about a prepaid funeral, please do your homework.

Prepaid funerals, funeral bonds and funeral insurance are not the same thing. The costs, protections, inclusions and conditions can be very different.

Read the fine print.
Ask questions.
Find out exactly what happens if you move, change your mind or your circumstances change.
Know what is included - and what isn’t.

And perhaps most importantly, don’t make the decision alone.

Take someone you trust with you. A partner, adult child, friend or family member. Have another set of ears listening, asking questions and helping you take the time to understand what you’re agreeing to.

There should never be pressure to make a decision about your funeral on the spot.

Planning ahead should leave you feeling reassured, informed and in control.

I was grateful to speak with Have A Go News about prepaid funerals, funeral bonds and insurance in their September issue.

Check out their online newspaper or grab a copy around Perth

07/09/2026

We need to stop calling something sustainable simply because it’s biodegradable.

It’s fantastic to see sustainable innovation entering the Australian funeral industry.

A mushroom-based coffin that uses mycelium and natural materials instead of traditional plastics, glues and chemicals? Absolutely. Bring on the change.

But there’s a problem we need to talk about.

These coffins are grown in the Netherlands and then shipped to Australia.

So while the coffin itself may return naturally to the earth, we have to ask:

How sustainable is it to manufacture something on the other side of the world and transport it thousands of kilometres to its final resting place?

Sustainability isn’t just about the product.

It’s about the whole lifecycle.

Where is it made?
What resources are used?
How far does it travel?
What happens to the body?
And can we create something better here?

Because surely Australia can do more than import sustainability.

We can create it.

This is why I believe we need to be having a much bigger conversation about terramation — human composting.

Terramation doesn’t just replace the coffin.
It challenges the entire traditional model of what happens after death.

Instead of burning a body or placing it into the ground in a permanent container, terramation uses a natural process to transform human remains into soil.

The body becomes part of the earth again.

And importantly, it opens the door to something much bigger:

A genuinely local approach
A circular end-of-life system
Less reliance on energy-intensive cremation
Returning nutrients to the earth
Rethinking what a funeral can look like

I’m excited to see the funeral industry changing. But I don’t want us to stop at “better coffin.”

I want us asking:

Can we do better?
Can we do it here?
Can we create something truly regenerative?

Because the future of sustainable funerals shouldn’t be about finding a greener way to do the same thing.

It should be about doing death differently.

And Australia is ready for that conversation.

Let’s talk terramation.

07/09/2026

No one really tells you about this part of the job.

Sometimes you’re asked to care for someone you know.

Someone you’ve seen at family gatherings.
Someone who once picked you up from a party.
Someone whose children you watched grow up.
Someone who knew you before you became a Death Walker.

And suddenly, you’re caring for them after they’ve died.

You know what to do. You’ve learnt how to see the things others don’t, how to manage the difficult parts and how to keep going when the work is confronting.

But when you know the person, it feels different.

Because you remember them.

And honestly, would you want them anywhere else?

Absolutely not.

You’d want them in your care. You’d want them treated like your own family. Gently. Respectfully. With every little detail taken care of.

So you put your feelings aside and do what you do best.

You care for them.

And sometimes, you absorb a little of the hard stuff so their family doesn’t have to.

Because being a death walker doesn’t mean you don’t feel it.

It means you’ve learnt how to keep caring, even when it hurts.

To every death walker who has ever cared for someone they knew - I see you.

06/09/2026

Father’s Day can look a little different when Dad isn’t here.

Maybe you still buy his favourite drink.

Maybe you hear his laugh in one of the grandkids.

Maybe there’s a story you’ve told a hundred times and you’ll happily tell it a hundred more.

Or maybe today just hurts.

There’s no right way to spend Father’s Day when someone you love is missing. You don’t have to make it meaningful, be positive, or even feel okay.

You can laugh. You can cry. You can talk about him. You can sit quietly and miss him.

Because the people we love leave little pieces of themselves everywhere, in our stories, our habits, our humour, our traditions and the way we love the people around us.

Today, we’re thinking of the dads who are here, the dads who are deeply missed, and the father figures who made a difference simply by being there.

Happy Father’s Day.
From our family to yours.

04/09/2026

YOU CAN ASK FOR SO MUCH MORE

When someone dies, it can be easy to think there is a set way a funeral is supposed to happen.

A coffin.
A hearse.
A chapel.
Some flowers.
A few words.
And then it’s over.

But what if you asked for more?

More personality.
More meaning.
More connection.
More of the person you’re saying goodbye to.

What if their farewell could be held somewhere that mattered to them?

What if their favourite music played, their favourite food was shared, their stories were told, or their hobbies became part of the day?

What if the flowers weren’t traditional funeral flowers, but reflected their garden?

What if you wanted a woven coffin instead of a conventional one?

What if you wanted to spend more time with them before the funeral?

What if you wanted to bring the family together at home, at the beach, in a garden or somewhere that tells their story?

You can ask.

And if you’re told, “That’s not how funerals are done,” you can ask why.

There are, of course, legal requirements and practical limitations around death care, but within those boundaries, there can be so much more possibility than people realise.

We believe a funeral should be a reflection of the person.

So ask questions.
Tell us your ideas.
Tell us what would feel meaningful.
Tell us what you don’t want.

You might be surprised by just how much more you can ask for.

29/08/2026

WA led the way on Voluntary Assisted Dying. Now it’s time to finish the job.

In 2019, Western Australia led the nation by introducing Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) - a landmark step in compassionate end-of-life care.

But the law isn’t working fairly for everyone.

Too many terminally ill Western Australians still face unnecessary barriers, complex processes and unequal access. Other states have already moved forward, and WA risks falling behind.

After more than three years of VAD in practice, the evidence shows the law has helped alleviate suffering for many Western Australians, with no evidence of abuse or overreach.

Dying with dignity should not depend on where you live, the circumstances of your illness, or whether you can navigate a complicated system.

We’re calling for sensible reform, including:

• Fairer eligibility criteria
• Advance requests for people living with dementia
• More equitable access across regional and metropolitan WA
• Clear, appropriate safeguards

This is about giving people greater choice and ensuring families can spend their precious time together - rather than fighting red tape at the end of life.

WA started the conversation. Now let’s finish the job.

Please sign the petition from Dying with Dignity WA and show your support for fairer, safer and more accessible VAD in Western Australia.

Support WA’s VAD law reform, with fairer access for all.