Die-alogue Cafe

Nigel Slater’s parting gift to the community he loved and cared for was his own death.  Having developed lung cancer during the shooting of a documentary on the centre’s (Port Kembla Community Project) plans to establish a not-for-profit funeral service called Community Undertakings, Nigel graciously allowed filmmakers to follow his five-month journey from diagnosis to death.  The film follows Nigel and his friends, all members of the PKCP, as they come face to face with issues surrounding end of life.  Full story at: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1929081/tender-farewell-helping-families-deal-with-dying/?cs=12

Ian Kirkwood writes about the death of his mother-in-law reporting that “in keeping with her wishes there was no funeral.” And then observes:  “… I was struck, as I know others were, by the speed with which our lives race past.”  Full story in the Newcastle Herald: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1899201/ian-kirkwood-between-life-and-death/

Director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, Joshua Slocum has some words of advice to help us all avoid funeral hassles.  He knows all about mortuary mythology.  Rather than get the low  down on death, dying, funerals and dead people from private providers i.e. the funeral industry, this article by Slocum offers an unbiased opinion:  http://lifehacker.com/you-dont-have-to-spend-a-ton-on-a-funeral-heres-why-509099464

Gerard Ryle reports on the high cost of dying and the traps encountered by the unsuspecting and unprepared, which unfortunately is most of us.  And will continue to be unless we come to appreciate that a funeral is a commercial event performed for profit by corporations intent on upselling products in the name of honouring our dearly departed loved ones.  As Ryle says: One of life’s certainties, death used to be a small, private affair. Now it’s a big business, largely unregulated and blighted by soaring costs. This story, written in 2002 should be a wake up call to us all. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/29/1033283386877.html

Cottle and Keys (UWS) writing in the Journal of Australian Political Economy No 54 reveal that the funeral industry is rapidly changing all in the name of vertical integration and increased profits. The end user is left to manage as best he/she can considering they have most probably not given the idea of arranging a funeral much thought until the last minute. http://media.wix.com/ugd/b629ee_86642c07340b3e5b5e512d64dc8eb06a.pdf

Wendy Harmer writes about caring for her 82 year old father, and contemplating all the options relating to his care.  “…we seem to be in denial about what’s up ahead”. Read the  full story here:  http://www.smh.com.au/comment/live-on-dad–but-please-go-soon-20140207-326tg.html

Larissa Ham writes about how the death care industry is gearing up for baby boomers to reach old age, when it can cash in on what will be an increasing death rate. The Sydney Morning Herald online edition, 28 January 2014 has the story at:   http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/entrepreneur/the-burgeoning-business-of-death-20131219-2zlyu.html

Kaye Duffy contributes this Opinion piece about our preferences for end-of-life care.

“This is an area of our lives and of healthcare decision-making that is too often ignored. Many Australians have a death-denying attitude towards even talking about death, particularly their own.

As Professor Sanson-Fisher observes, we need to adopt similar attitudes as we have towards birth and the education and decision-making that surrounds it.”

Full story in the Newcastle Herald, 29 January 2014 at this link. http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2051565/opinion-choosing-to-die-with-dignity-and-discretion/#slide=2