DEAD AIR #138

‘Calls to change Victoria's 'outdated' burial laws to allow for owners to be laid to rest with their pets’ – ABC News

NDAN FAQs – an overview

How War, Medicine, and Funerals Changed Australia Into A Death-Avoidant Culture – TabooEducation

ELM Peer Support Group – for those bereaved by suicide. Last Monday evening of the month, 6-7.30pm. Castlemaine Safe Space, 74 Mostyn St - 25 Aug + 29 Sept + 27 Oct + 24 Nov.

The Mourning After Exhibition and Public Program, 24.7.-20.9.2025, RMIT Design Hub in Melbourne. Thur Aug 21, 11.30-13.00 - A drop in the ocean: attuning for posthuman futures by Fiona Hillary and the Posthuman Lab, an immersive workshop. Fri Aug 22, 11.30-13.00 - BILYA - Creative Lab  by Jen Rae and collaborators from the Centre for Reworlding. BILYA is a non-proprietary relational mapping platform to connect those working at the intersections of climate, adaptation, social justice, culture & the arts. Sat Aug 23, 12.30-14.00 Living skeletons: Exploring environmental connection and loss with coral bones by Claudia Benham and Chloe Watfern focusses on the Great Barrier Reef and climate grief.

Community Planting Day, Melbourne General Cemetery Sat 30 Aug, 10am–1pm; arrive anytime, stay as long as you like. Melbourne General Cemetery, Macpherson Street entrance. RSVP by Wed 27 Aug, register HERE

ONLINE: The Death Dialogues - Calling All Men. Sun, 31 Aug 9:30 -10:30 am AEST, book HERE

‘Recognise and regulate Human Composting as a death care option’ petition. If in NSW or know someone who is, please sign and share! SIGN HERE

NDAN Presents: Human Composting in Australia Sat 11 Oct 2025, 9-11am AEST (Bookings will open for this event shortly)

ACHLR Public Lecture - International Perspectives on Assisted Dying. Mon 8 Sep, 5pm - 6pm AEST. In person Brisbane, or online – Register HERE

The Melbourne Inner North End-of-Life Doula Hub runs monthly “Talking about Life and Death” discussions, Alphington Community Centre - the last Thursday of the month,1pm. Thur 28 Aug, details HERE

POEM: Love After Love by Derek Walcott

TRACKS: Survivor – Klaus Weiss / Detroit Snackbar Dreamer – Edgar Froese 

DEAD AIR #137

‘DYING TO KNOW’ AUGUST EVENTS SPECIAL

THIS WEEK - - - - -  >

Fireside funeral chat with Celebrant Beverly Risstrom. Wed 6 Aug 2-3pm Inglewood Library Agency Thur 7 Aug, 2-3pm Kangaroo Flat Library

AHFA presents: Technology Supports for Community Care - Simon Lowe (The Ageing Revolution), Colin Pudsey (SilVR), Holly Smith (Public Health Palliative Care Unit) and Catherine Ashton (Critical Info). Wed 6 Aug, 7-8.30pm AEST online: register HERE

Delve into Buddhism, Good Grief Lounge - Northern Arts Hotel, Fri 8 Aug 11am-1pm Register HERE

The Mourning After Exhibition and Public Program, 24 July-20 Sept, RMIT Design Hub, Melbourne. Details HERE / Wed 6 Aug, 11.30am-1pm - Grief Guide: Your 3AM Friend workshop with Evonne Miller, co -design an AI-powered grief support tool. / Thu 7 Aug, 11.30am-1pm - Writing Through Eco Grief workshop with The Grief Cocoon founder Gabriella Georges. / Fri 8 Aug, 11.30am-1pm - Mapping Climate Feelings workshop for young people with Linda Knight, Larissa Hjorth and Tamara Borovica.

NDAN Presents: Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life with Author and Morbid Anatomy Museum founder Joanna Ebenstein. Sat 9 Aug, 9-11am AEST, book HERE

COMING SOON - - - - -  >

Reimagining Death with me Hayley West! Kyneton Library Thursday 14 August, 2-3pm - book HERE Castlemaine Library Thursday 14 August, 5.30-6.30pm - book HERE

BAT MASSIVE XL: Guided Tour Sat 16 Aug 3pm. Presented by Abbotsford Convent, Wildlife Victoria, 3RRR + MAPPA. Book HERE

The Death Dialogues - Calling All Men. Sun 31 Aug, 9:30am-10:30am AEST online, book HERE

NORTHERN BOOKS - SAVE THE DATE - Sat 13 Sept, 2pm. ‘The Power of Choice’ book discussion, Buda House, Castlemaine.

LISTEN BACK - - - - - > ABC Nightlife - What songs do you want played at your funeral? Death literacy advocate Hayley West joins Lisa Pellegrino to discuss why you should start planning your funeral now. Listen HERE

TRACKS: High Command – Earth / Psunspot – Kanaan / Raglan – Grace Cummings / Choc-A-Bloc - Anika

DEAD AIR #136

Preservative chemicals to winged eyeliner: How embalmers bring dignity to the deceased – ABC News

The Role of Rituals and the Power of Symbolism..... - Sincere Ceremonies blog by Karen Brady.

REBORN - I Bought a Doll to Replicate My Son, Who I Left Behind - SBS Feed

Holistic End-Of-Life & Death Care Australia (HELD) - a new organisation dedicated to promoting and providing holistic approaches to end-of-life care, deathcare practices, after-death care, and funeral care in Australia.

TALK DEATH is accepting pitches from guest writers and pay CAD 0.20/word for 800-1200 words. Send your pitches to rian@talkdeath.com Submission guidelines HERE

New live deathie radio show!!! Re/gard with Emma Beattie - Mondays on BayFM 99.9fm (NSW) 11am–12pm, Listen HERE

TRACKS: You’re No Good – ESG / Quantum Entanglement – Uma Seedlings / Love Fingers – Silver Apples