DEAD AIR #168 / May 4, 2026 by The Departure

‘Wrap our arms around’: Is this the new language of Australian grief? – ABC Religion and Ethics

‘Give me your love, so I can take it with me’: James Valentine’s living funeral – The Age

Strange hours - wonder, dread, and the shape of tiny wings by Chloe Hope, Death & Birds Substack

BOOK: Is This Normal? A book about grief by Joanna Lincolne.

SURVEY: Researchers from La Trobe University and UNSW are currently conducting a national study about funerals and bereavement. Take part HERE

The Australian Death Studies Society interdisciplinary symposium, ‘Death Down Under: Toward an Australian Death Studies’ University of Melbourne on July 10, 2026. Further info ADSS website. Abstracts invited, submitted using this form by 10 May 2026, with acceptance to be announced mid-May. Presenters will be required to be members of the Australian Death Studies Society. Info HERE

Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas, Fri 31 July - Sun 2 Aug. Dark Market applications close 30 May. Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum, Sat 1 Aug, 3mx3m stall, $20. Email: gabrielle@thompsonsfunerals.com.au

Death Doula Mini Conference, Sat 14 – Sun 15 Nov 2026. Radius Art, Hepburn Springs 3461 Vic, Cost: $225 ($50 deposit holds your place). Sat Sat:10am-6pm – presentations, lunch. Sun: 10am-2pm - mini workshops, morning tea. Email: ask.deniselove@gmail.com

TRACKS: I Love You Lena – Elias Rahbani / Pile ou Face – Les Loups Noirs / Laughing on the Outside – Bernadette Carroll / Fahrradsattel - Pisse

DEAD AIR #165 / April 7, 2026 by The Departure

Are You Dying to Know? Scared to view your loved one - YouTube

BOOK: Creative and Aesthetic Ways of Grief: All Things Reimagined, a new publication as part of the series in Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Pre-order HERE

BOOK: Compassionate Communities in Action: Global Stories of Care, Loss and Connection brings together practical examples of compassionate cities and communities from around the world. Purchase hard copy HERE, Open Access version also available.

ONLINE: Supporting LGBTIQA+ people bereaved by suicide. Webinar facilitated by Switchboard's Bereavement Group Facilitators Grace Lee and Jon B, Wed 8 April, 12-1pm AEST, Register HERE

The Castlemaine Cemetery Trust has engaged Know Your Place to manage the Castlemaine Cemetery Burial Recovery Project. Community info session: Sat 2 May, 10am–12pm, Old Castlemaine Gaol. Please RSVP HERE

Entries open soon for the 2026 Australian Hearse Nationals in Maldon, part of the Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas, $45 per entry. Check the Facebook group for updates.

Central Victorian Meet Up – Australian Psychedelic Society, 12pm The Albion Castlemaine. Please RSVP by either marking yourself as 'Going' on the Facebook event, or email stu.h@psychedelicsociety.org.au

Showing Up For Each Other: Community Death Care Workshop - funded by the Wicking Trust. Supported by the Australian Home Funeral Alliance, in conjunction with Social Health Australia and the Death Literacy Institute. Led by myself, Jenny Blake & Nici Wright. Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 April, Castlemaine. EOIs have closed, but you can join the waiting list HERE

TRACKS: songs from Julian Williams new album - A TADPOLE POOL OF STARS

DEAD AIR #161 / February 25, 2026 by The Departure

A Landscape Artist in Winter. In rural Scotland, Andy Goldsworthy, the sculptor famed for his use of natural materials, contemplates his own decay. - The New Yorker

Funeral Songs by Daniel Mudie Cunningham. Plans are underway for an expanded presentation of Funeral Songs on its 20th anniversary in 2027. Submit your song HERE.

Online Talk: Beyond the Vampire: Transylvania as Matriarchal Origin with Medical Art Psychotherapist & Artist Isabelle Rizo– Tues 24 Feb, 10am AEDT (7pm ET (NYC time) Mon 23 Feb). Info HERE.

NDAN Panel Event - The growing options of water cremation in Australia, with Jeff Boyle (QLD) and Luke Cripps (Tas). Online, Wed 25 Feb 2026, 6.30-8.30pm AEDT. Info HERE.

We invite writers, storytellers and community nationwide to participate in the 2026 Grieve Project. Grieve Issue 13 submissions close Sunday 26 April, 8pm AEST, info HERE.

Castlemaine State Festival presents: Life’s Too Short – our mums are dead with Teamo Henderson & Deidre Gibb, Thompsons Family Funerals. Fri 27 March 8pm, Sat 28 March 2pm, $30/$25. Book HERE.

Internationally renowned witch, bestselling author, and former 90s rockstar Fiona Horne invites you to a special event celebrating her new book Coven – Where Witches Gather and its matching oracle deck. Fri 27 Mar, 5:30-6:30 pm, Bendigo Library. Book HERE.

Dark Market Stall applications now open for the Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas in Maldon. Sat 1 Aug, $20 per stall. The more macabre and odd the better! gabrielle@thompsonsfunerals.com.au

TRACKS: Move Like Ghosts – Affordable Repayments / A Dream of Zeus – Savvas / Malady of a secret Design - Kollektiv Raumordnung