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

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