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‘Calls to change Victoria's 'outdated' burial laws to allow for owners to be laid to rest with their pets’ – ABC News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 #118

Chewton Cemetery stolen equipment! See their Facebook post - Please contact Castlemaine Police if you see or hear anything. Reward offered.

Deathweavers is a free and private online community for deathworkers. Sign up HERE to join the site. Insta: @deathweavers

‘How to plan a DIY Funeral: Is it even possible?’– Taboo Education YouTube

‘Public Grief, Public Space’, Brunswick Mechanics Institute, Fri 31 Jan, 6:30-8pm AEDT. Book HERE

TerraCon 2025 -‘Embracing the Future of Terramation’ 4&5 Feb, Tacoma WA, USA

The 2nd International Death Literacies Symposium, Brussels, Belgium, 17&18 March 2025.

AHFA presents: ‘Creativity and Funeral Rites; The use of creative art during wakes, funerals & memorials’ with Joh Fairley of Nyx Funerals, Wed 26 March, 7-8.30pm AEDT. Book HERE

LGBTQ+ Legal Planning Online Workshops - W1 ‘Legal Tips and End of Life Decisions’ Tues 4 Feb, 6-7pm. W2 ‘Advance Care Planning’ Tues 11 Feb, 6-7pm. Facebook post Email: Zoe Hinton, zhinton@acon.org.au

NDAN Presents - ‘The churchyard itself is a great-nuisance. The lively burial grounds of the eighteenth century with Dr Dan O’Brien’ Fri 7 Feb, 7-9pm AEDT Book HERE

 TRACKS: A Want a Break Thru – The Hykkers / In the Jungle – The Hygrades / Love and Death – Ebo Taylor

DEAD AIR #113

TALK DEATH - Anti-Claus Traditions and Christmas Witches and Christmas Death Traditions

MOVIE: NOSFERATU (director Robert Eggers of The Lighthouse) at the Theatre Royal Castlemaine. Thu 16 Jan - 8pm, Fri 17 Jan - 5pm, Sat 18 Jan - 8pm, more session times soon…

CONFERENCE: 2025 National Compassionate Communities forum in Brisbane. Save the date - 9 September. More information to follow. We are inviting Compassionate Communities from across Australia to come together to network and learn from each other - while also facilitating a discussion with the broader palliative care sector who will be meeting for the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 10-12 September in Brisbane.

ONLINE: AHFA presents - ‘The Bioscope as a cartographic tool to facilitate conversations about death.’ Speaker Chetan Shastri. Wed 22-January 2025 from 7-8.30pm AEDT. Book HERE  

ONLINE: NDAN Presents - ‘The churchyard itself is a great-nuisance. The lively burial grounds of the eighteenth century.’ Speaker Dr Dan O’Brien. Book HERE - Fri 7 Feb, 7-9pm AEDT.

IN PERSON: End of Life Practitioner Knowledge and Skills Workshops, Sat 22 & Sun 23 March 2025, 10am-4pm. Life Rites Funerals, Hurstville NSW. Submit EOI HERE by 24th Jan 2025

ONLINE: Denise Love Death Doula Course commences Feb 5, Zooms at 7pm over 10 consecutive Wednesdays. Email: gazzalove@gmail.com

HOLIDAY SEASON GRIEF: Refuge in Grief https://www.instagram.com/refugeingrief ‘How do you to help a grieving friend during the holidays?’. Grief Australia - https://www.grief.org.au

Castlemaine Community House free celebration will include lunch and dessert, music, activities, presents and a visit from Santa! Wedn 25 Dec, 12.30pm, Castlemaine Town Hall. Book online at cch.org.au or call 5472 4842.

TRACKS: Lungs on Fire - Witchsnake / Immortality Roars - Rudra / Troubled - Outright