DEAD AIR #182 / August 31, 2026 by The Departure

NEW SHOW SPONSOR - BARKERS CREEK AUTO REPAIRS!

Historic vote completes VAD journey – but NT law falls short – Go Gentle Australia

Where does the artist begin and end? At Revivification at Now or Never, the answer’s far from simple – ArtsHub

Importing human remains and biosecurity – Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing

Also see: Importing human remains or ashes – Australian Border Force

Fact vs. Myth: Rigor Mortis Is Not Permanent – Home Funeral Alliance Substack

Make-up on corpses – Trish & Tracey from Are You Dying To Know Instagram

Are you an early career professional working in or alongside Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in Victoria? DWDV is offering one fully funded 2-day pass to attend the VAD Conference (VADCON 2026) in Melbourne on 19–20 Oct, plus a travel bursary for regional applicants. Apps close: Fri 11 Sept, details HERE

NDAN Presents - How Mushrooms Are Changing the Way We Say Goodbye with Bob Hendrikx, founder & CEO of Loop Biotech, award-winning inventor, architect and bio designer. Fri 18 Sept 7-8pm AEST. Details HERE book HERE

This year’s Spring Ball theme is ‘Castlemaine Gothic.’ Spring Ball is a major annual fundraiser for Castlemaine Community House and a highlight of the local calendar. Don’t miss it. Sat 12 Sept, Castlemaine Town Hall Tickets: $50 (full price); $35 (conc.) Purchase tickets HERE

A weekend immersion into shrouding and weaving hosted by master weaver of 30+ years Zimmi Forest from NSW and facilitated by local, independent death worker Hayley West of The Departure (and host of Mainfm show DEAD AIR). Together, we will weave a shroud carrier and/or a coffin out of the invasive Cats Claw vine. An opportunity to learn and share curiosities and questions around the practice of shrouding and open up conversations anything death, dying and grieving. All materials and morning teas are provided. Book via Humantix, search for 'Coffin Weaving Castlemaine' or contact Hayley directly at hello@thedeparture.com.au Sat 10 Oct, 9:30am – 4pm & Sun 11 Oct, 10am-3.30pm. Venue: The Old Gaol, Castlemaine. Book HERE

TRACKS: Did you ever want to go to your own funeral? – James Ellis Ford / Man is like a spring flower demo – Lingua Ignota

DEAD AIR #164 / April 5, 2026 by The Departure

Annaliese Holland will die within months. Here is what she wants you to know – ABC NEWS

‘Almost human’: life-size replicas of the dead help mend broken hearts in India - The Guardian

Cemeteries as Living Spaces Honouring the past, enriching the future – Remembrance Parks Central Victoria Master Plan, details HERE

Dearly Departed: death in life exhibition & events, State Library Queensland Gallery, Brisbane, until 23 August.

‘Undying - Abdul-Rahman Abdullah’ exhibition Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, finishes 26 July.

SURVEY- Have you organised a funeral in the past 6 - 24 months? Researchers from La Trobe University and UNSW are inviting people in Australia over the age of 18 to take part in a survey about funerals and bereavement. The survey takes 15-20 minutes, is voluntary and completely anonymous, click HERE

NDAN presents a panel discussion on restoration, conservation and natural burial Wed 29 April, 6.30-8.30pm AEST, book HERE

Principles of Sacred Deathcare - a guide for soul-based practitioners by Dr Sarah Kerr. Sacred deathcare is a healing modality that attends to our souls as well as our bodies, and to the dead as well as the living. Free e-book download HERE

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: One Million Years – Robin Gibb / You’re Dead – Robin Tanega / Farewell My Friend – Dennis Wilson

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