DEAD AIR #141

Suicide Prevention Day Wednesday 10 September

Interview with Rachel from Castlemaine Safe Space. Candlelight vigil at Castlemaine Safe Space, 74 Mostyn St, Wed 10 Sept, 7-8.30pm (candle lighting 8pm). All welcome, free.

Resources from the CHARLEE website: Supporting LGBTIQA+ people during public discussions about suicide loss

CHARLEE (Connection, Hope, Action, Resources and Lived Experience Education) is a project of Switchboard Victoria for LGBTIQA+ community with lived experiences of suicide. Rainbow Door (every day, 10am-5pm). Ph: 1800 729 367 Txt: 0480 017 246

Out Of The Shadows Walk an initiative of Lifeline. Wed 10 Sept, walk 9km for the 9 Australians who die every day by suicide. 

Hope Assistance Local Tradies (HALT) is a national grass-roots suicide prevention charity. Tough Conversations with Henry Rollins - Jeremy Forbes from HALT interview - YouTube

MATES is a charity to address suicide among Australian & New Zealand construction workers. Fly the Flag Week 8-12 Sept.

The 5th Annual Lifting The Lid International Festival of Death and Dying is online 14–16 Nov.

The Mourning After Exhibition and Public Program, continues until 20 Sept, RMIT Design Hub in Melbourne. Week 8 Current Workshops HERE Wed 10 Sept, 11.30-14:00, Kopi Healing Workshop - with Indigenous artist Maree Clarke. Thurs 11 Sept, 11.30 -13.00, Grief Mapping - a reflective postcard-making workshop led by Larissa Hjorth and Tamara Borovica. Fri 12 Sept, 11.30 -13.00, Chat with the Dead - a workshop allowing participants to have a live conversation with a deathbot.

Howl & Hold a radical grief zine, open submissions, due 31 Oct.

PODCAST: Reach In, Reach Out: The Impact of Suicide Loss and Bereavement - Podbean

TRACKS: Fade Into You – Mazzy Star / (iii) moribund – Faetooth / Cathedral – Yellow Eyes

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‘Calls to change Victoria's 'outdated' burial laws to allow for owners to be laid to rest with their pets’ – ABC News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 #132

Notes from the Open House Melbourne, Design + Death Beyond the Grave Memorialisation Symposium yesterday at the Shrine of Remembrance.

The truth about scattering cremated remains: why ashes don’t return to the earth naturally – The Modern Mortician

I’ve studied the history of death. I know how we can better face up to our grief – and our own mortality – The Guardian BOOK: No Ordinary Deaths – A People’s History of Mortality, by Molly Conisbee Booktopia.

Funeral Foods From Around the World – You Tube Mourning in the early 19th century: making funerals biscuits – YouTube

The next ELM Peer Support Group meeting for those affected by suicide loss will be held tonight: Mon 26 May, 6-7:30pm at The Castlemaine Safe Space. Monthly meetings on the final Monday of each month. Info: 0404 468 534 e: theelmpsg@gmail.com

Dhelkaya Health invites family members, friends, staff and the wider community to our Annual Memorial Service to remember and give thanks for the lives of patients, residents and clients of Dhelkaya Health who died between 1 Dec 2023 - 30 Nov 2024. The service will be held in the auditorium at Dhelkaya Health's Castlemaine campus tomorrow, Tues 27 May. Arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm. More info: 5471 3542.

Grief and Creative Practice with Chloe Coelho, presented by AHFA. Wed 28 May, 7-8.30pm AEST. Register HERE.

Departures and Dissolution – a meditation on death & dying. Free 3-hour experiential workshop with John Bradley, engaging Buddhist philosophy and coming to terms with death as essential lo living life fully. Sun 29 Jun, 4:45-8pm AEST. Hosted by The MIECAT Institute Inc Fitzroy. Book HERE. Mandala, Dancing in the Bardo exhibition - VIMEO

TRACKS: Opa-Loka – Hawkwind / Begger’s Need – electric citizen