DEAD AIR #164

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

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

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

DEAD AIR #152

The conversation no one wants to have with their parents (and it’s not about sex) – SMH

In Tokyo, a new space for writing letters to the departed as a quiet ritual of grief – TrendWatching

Australia’s Coffin Confessor Bill Edgar signs major television deal in the U.S securing the rights for the inspiration/adaptation of The Coffin Confessor’s life story.

Tender Funerals is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Registered Training Organisation RiteSkill Education & Training.

ALSO: IFISS short courses & Funeral Fix, Funeral Director training.

Being a mortician is hard on your body – Are You Dying to Know? YouTube

Ashworks creates bespoke memorial art using a unique process that transforms ashes into art. You can meet Gav Barbey (artist) and Dana Ronan (storyteller) at the Ashworks Launch, Thu 4 Dec, 5:30-8pm, 108 Urquhart St, Ballarat Central VIC. RSVP HERE

NDAN & AHFA jointly presents End of Life: Bodies in Dress and Death with Dr Pia Interlandi. Online, Sat 6 Dec, 7- 9PM AEDT. Book 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, Venue TBC. EOIs open now, submit HERE

TRACKS: Suspirium – Thom Yorke / Love Wheel – Daniel Johnston