Bereavement Is Bigger Than Grief
Most of us use the words grief and bereavement as though they mean the same thing – I certainly did. It wasn’t until I lost one of my closest friends, and later completed Death Walker training with Zenith Virago, that I realised they describe very different parts of the same journey. Understanding that difference changed […]
Funeral Costs in Sydney — What Every Family Should Know
Last updated: June 2026 One of the most common things families tell me is that they had no idea what a funeral would cost until they were already in the middle of arranging one. That’s not their fault. The funeral industry has historically been opaque about pricing, and families are often making decisions in the […]
Shrouded Cremation Is Now Legal in NSW – Here’s What You Need to Know
For most people in NSW, a funeral has always meant one thing – a coffin. Whether a burial or a cremation, the coffin has been the default. The assumed. The only option most families knew existed. That changed in July 2025, when amendments to the Public Health Regulation 2022 made shrouded cremation legally available in […]
How to Choose a Funeral Director: 10 Questions Every Family Should Ask
Choosing a funeral director is one of the most important decisions a family will make – and often one made under enormous pressure, in the middle of grief, with very little time to think. Most people have never had to do it before. Most don’t know what questions to ask. This guide is here to […]
What It Means to Love Someone in Death Care
Loving someone in death care is not something people talk about very often. When they think about funeral work, they tend to think about the person doing it – the funeral director, the celebrant, the person standing in the room guiding families through the hardest days of their lives. What they don’t often think about […]
The Weight and Privilege of Bearing Witness
Some months in this work pass quietly. Others change you. A reflection on five services, six lives, and what grief – in all its forms – continues to teach me.
The First 24 Hours After Someone Dies
When someone dies, the first 24 hours can feel overwhelming.
There is shock, there is emotion, and often there is uncertainty about what needs to happen next.
Many families assume everything must move quickly, that the person must be transferred immediately, that urgent decisions need to be made, that there is no time to pause.
In reality, when someone dies, there is often more space than people realise.
2025: Reflections on the Year That’s Been
As December settles in and the year begins to slow, I’ve found myself pausing more often. Not to plan the next thing, but to reflect on what this year has been, what it’s taught me, and how grateful I feel to be exactly where I am.
How Death Is Honoured Around the World
In my work as a funeral director, I’m often reminded that while death is universal, the way we honour it is anything but. Across cultures, countries, and belief systems, people mark the end of life in deeply different ways.
What they all have in common is meaning. Ritual. Presence. And the need to gather and acknowledge what has been lost.
A Gentle Guide to Funerals in Marrickville: How I Support Families Through Meaningful Farewells
Planning a funeral in Marrickville or the surrounding Inner West can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re navigating it during a time of grief. In this blog, I share a warm, first-person look at how funerals in Marrickville work, the options available, including memorials and prepaid planning, and how I’m here to support families with care, clarity, and compassion.
🕊️ A Quiet Honour: Supporting a Family Through VAD in NSW
Recently, I had the privilege of supporting a family whose loved one made the deeply considered decision to access VAD in NSW. A few weeks before his passing, I met with him at home. From our first conversation, I sensed both peace and acceptance. He was living with a terminal illness and had chosen to […]
How to Write a Memorable Funeral Tribute: 5 Essential Things to Include
Writing a funeral tribute for someone you love can feel like standing at the base of Mt Everest, staring up and wondering how you will ever reach the top. You know the journey matters, but in that moment it is hard to take the first step. The good news is that a tribute does not […]
Dying To Know Day Marrickville Recap
On 9 August, Marrickville came alive for Dying to Know Day – a national initiative to encourage open conversations about death, dying, and end-of-life planning. Our local event was warm, vibrant, and full of connection. We had live music setting the tone, plenty of delicious food, and even a lively round of death trivia that […]