The Departure

08/06/2026

07/06/2026

I’m attending to death work today and next Monday I’ll be coming back from Mildura, so no DEAD AIR for two weeks. Even though I’ll be absent on the airwaves, there’s always the beautifully curated playlist to listen to on @94.9mainfm 🖤
🖤 (usually) Live: 94.9fm local frequency or stream mainfm.net Mondays 10-11am AEST
🖤 Past episodes: uploads at hayleywest.com.au/radio & MAINfm Mixcloud
📸: my offering during the Loy Krathong ceremony by .wattle

05/06/2026

Looking forward to this movie 🖤

Eighty years ago, the “Baby Boom” led to a massive uptick in births. Now, we’re seeing the inevitable end of that surge as those tens of millions of people pass away. This fascinating doc explores the dilemma now facing the funeral industry and the many inventive solutions being pioneered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiLlyNEES78

04/06/2026

For those up in the north of Victoria, please come along to this fabulous event I am excited to be part of, Sunday 14 June:

A community gathering to honour those who have diedSunday 14th June 11am-2pm Sky Garden, Irymple Hosted by artists and local community. Come with friends, family or on your own. Bring your favourite foods to eat and to share, and picnic blankets or camp chairs to be able to eat in comfort.You are in...

02/06/2026

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a crematorium?

Join us for our FREE Crematorium Talks & Tours at Ballarat New Cemetery this June for a rare and fascinating insight into the history and operation of cremation services in Ballarat.

📍 Location: Sovereign Chapel, Ballarat New Cemetery, 1250 Doveton Street North, Invermay Park (enter via Doveton Street gates).
📅 Date: Saturday 20 June 2026
⏰ Session Times: 10:00am | 11:30am | 2:00pm

Each session begins with an engaging talk from CEO Annie De Jong, exploring:
• The history of cremation
• The story of Ballarat’s Crematorium
• A Q&A session where you can ask the questions you’ve always wondered about.

Following the talk, you are invited to take an optional guided tour of the Crematorium facility with our experienced staff, offering a respectful, behind-the-scenes look at the space and equipment used.

Please note: Attendance at the talk provides important context for the tour of the Crematorium.

Bookings are essential as places are very limited - to book, please call or email us at [email protected] with:
• Your name
• Contact phone number
• Your preferred session time

You’ll receive a booking confirmation and information sheet within two weeks of booking.

We look forward to welcoming you to this unique and informative experience.

01/06/2026

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. ⚰️

When planning a funeral, most people immediately think of a coffin or a casket. But there is another option gaining traction in mainstream Australia — and it involves no box at all.

It’s called a shroud, and while it has been a sacred tradition in Muslim, Jewish, and Bahá’í cultures for centuries, it is now becoming widely available for cremations.

In fact, Australia's largest funeral provider, InvoCare, just quietly approved shrouded cremations at around 20 of its sites across NSW and Queensland.

But there’s an interesting twist... 🤔
InvoCare won’t be actively advertising this option to its clients, probably because coffins are so lucrative. It’s primarily being opened up for other funeral directors who 'rent' their cremators.

What does this mean for you? If you or a loved one wants a shrouded cremation, you have to ask for it. And if your chosen provider says no? Find one who will.

Read my blog to learn about:
👉 The history of shrouds
👉 The practicalities (like why a timber "shroud bearer" is required)
👉 Why many people don't like the idea
👉 The psychological impact on crematorium staff handling the organic shape of a human form rather than a box.

READ MORE HERE: https://thebottomdrawerbook.com.au/2026/05/30/shrouded-cremation-enters-the-mainstream/

What do you think? Is it something you'd consider?

xLisa
Author & 'deathie'.

31/05/2026

The Order Member exclusive newsletter is sliding into inboxes today. What's inside this month?

-A possible new form of body disposition that turns decomposition into light

-Lots of human composting news including why Oklahoma’s legislation became a larger fight over religion and bodily autonomy

-How AI is transforming funeral homes, from obituary writing to “grief sensitive” AI receptionists

-What a 93-year-old death and dying professor wants us to understand before we die

-The long history of funeral bells, death knells, and the sounds that once carried grief through communities

-What recent backlash against green burial grounds reveals about our society and why the work of the death positive movement is crucial

-A sculptor’s meditation on mortality, medicine, and what a “good death” might really mean

-Pet obituaries, cemetery dates, fast-food funerals, the emergence of internet based death rituals and other viral stories from our timelines

-The post everyone's talking about this month on eol caregiving, obligation, and burnout

-And much more!

Whether you’re a deathcare professional, longtime advocate, or simply death-curious, Order Membership offers context, care, and community. Not a member yet? Join here: https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/membership

31/05/2026

By Danielle Crittenden

31/05/2026