tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38195881442141051502024-03-28T18:18:03.819+11:00The Other Side Of FuneralsObservations and discussions of the Sydney funeral industry.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-85174235432069749482014-08-24T16:54:00.001+10:002014-08-24T16:54:52.128+10:00Rookwood Open Day Rookwood will be having it's open day again this year on the <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.catholiccemeteries.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eDM.pdf" target="_blank">Sunday 14th of September</a></span></b>. The open day will run from <b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.catholiccemeteries.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eDM.pdf" target="_blank">10am to 3pm</a></span></u></b> and include a variety of events like historical talks, parades, crematorium tours, and more. There will also be multiple stalls and exhibitions from funeral homes and historical groups. So there's certainly plenty to do!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>When</b></i></span>: 14th September, 10am to 3pm.<br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where</span></i></b>: Rookwood Cemetery, maps to each gate below.<br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir//-33.8751321,151.0647897/@-33.8730386,151.0603283,17z/data=!4m3!4m2!1m0!1m0" target="_blank">Map to Rookwood East Gate</a></span></u>.<br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir//-33.8688296,151.0473707/@-33.8716768,151.0492727,16z/data=!4m3!4m2!1m0!1m0" target="_blank">Map to Rookwood West Gate</a></span></u>.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information:</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/thanatourism-rookwood.html" target="_blank">My post about exploring Rookwood</a></u></span>, including how to get there, notable places, and maps.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0wiPoGhu00/UFLdnTC4uTI/AAAAAAAAA_0/FvO1hrlRaf8/s1600/rookwood+map.jpg" target="_blank">Rookwood Map</a></u>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.catholiccemeteries.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eDM.pdf" target="_blank">Rookwood 2014 Open Day Flyer (PDF)</a></u></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/rookwood-open-day.html" target="_blank">Rookwood 2012 Open Day</a></u></span>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-45195746282141030202014-08-03T18:00:00.000+10:002014-08-03T19:36:59.183+10:00Joseph Medcalf Open Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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To celebrate 'Dying to Know Day' Joseph Medcalf will be having an open day on Saturday the 9th at 2pm. This is a rare chance to see and explore the inside of a funeral home, so I think it's well worth going and will certainly be there.<br />
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According to the banner the event will include a tour of the funeral home, discussions about planning funerals, and more.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Location</i></span>:</b> 447 Burwood Rd, <i>Belmore</i> NSW (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/447+Burwood+Rd,+Belmore+NSW+2192/@-33.919503,151.089649,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b12bbb592d4676f:0xa6468b3e7b93c3b2?hl=en" target="_blank">google map</a></u></span>).<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Time</i></span>:</b> 2:00pm, <b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9th of August</span></u></b>.<br />
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To RSVP and for additional information you can email <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="mailto:director@josephmedcalf.com.au">director@josephmedcalf.com.au</a></u></span> or call <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>0433 181 091</u></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph Medcalf Site</span>:</b> <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://josephmedcalf.com.au/">http://josephmedcalf.com.au</a></span></u><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph Medcalf Contact Page & Address (with google maps) </span>:</b> <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://josephmedcalf.com.au/contact-us">http://josephmedcalf.com.au/contact-us</a></span></u><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Groundswell Project (with other similar events)</span></i>: <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.thegroundswellproject.com/find-an-event/">http://www.thegroundswellproject.com/find-an-event</a></u></span></b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-45051481821992988372014-03-28T10:45:00.000+11:002014-03-28T10:51:59.870+11:00Bulls on King St Recently the funeral home where I use to work was very briefly featured on the news after two bulls ran down King St, Newtown. Here's the 7 news segment.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ky-QBqg26U" target="_blank">7News: Buffalo Roam Sydney</a></b></u></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Ky-QBqg26U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Clearly, the journalists had fun squeezing in as many puns as possible.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-82602563189539017242014-03-19T10:45:00.000+11:002014-03-19T10:45:00.054+11:00Ask an Undertaker This is a reminder about the '<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/ask-undertaker.html?showComment=1393475233082#c2284015309962946785" target="_blank">Ask an Undertaker</a></b></span></u>' post, which allows people to anonymously and publicly ask and answer questions about the Australian funeral industry. Anyone can post a question, and I or another person with experience will try and answer it.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ask an Undertaker link:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/ask-undertaker.html?showComment=1393475233082#c2284015309962946785">http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/ask-undertaker.html?showComment=1393475233082#c2284015309962946785</a></span></div>
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I also have two other sections of this blog which might be useful;<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/p/advice-for-mourners-tips-and.html" target="_blank">Advice for mourners: Tips and information to make attending a funeral easier</a></b></span></i><br />
This section gives advice for people attending a funeral, from how to design an order of service to funeral industry terminology - <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/p/advice-for-mourners-tips-and.html" target="_blank">simply click here</a></b></span></u>.<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/p/working-funerals-tips-and-information.html" target="_blank">Working Funerals: Tips and information on how to be an undertaker</a></span></b></i><br />
This section discusses and explains the work of funeral staff, from how to conduct a transfer to why feet first - <b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/p/working-funerals-tips-and-information.html" target="_blank">simply click here</a></span></u></b>.<br />
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You can also contact me privately through my email: <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com">theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com</a></span>.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-14125204336429967402014-03-12T10:45:00.000+11:002014-03-12T10:45:00.954+11:00Balancing the Price One thing I have come across is the issue of pricing. This is a big issue for all involved in the funeral industry, from mourners to staff, and one I want to discuss in more detail. So today I'll be looking at the balancing act many funeral home have to perform when it comes to pricing.<br />
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That is, the balance between getting paid enough to operate and not overcharging the deceased and/or mourners.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> A funeral is a sensitive time for most, either in planing their own or planning for others. As such price can be a serious concern for people when planning a funeral, with concerns about not paying too much or too little. This is something which has come up with several funeral staff, from owners/managers to simple arrangers. They've told me about their concern with not 'ripping off' people by charging too much.<br />
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Funerals are surprisingly labour intensive to both organise and to conduct. A lot of work needs to be done for a funeral, from organising and collecting paperwork to booking venues and celebrants or priests. Then there is also the work involving the deceased, from collecting them (which takes at least two staff) to preparing and coffining them. Then on the funeral itself three or more staff spend an average of an 40-60 minutes (not including travel time) to conduct the service.<br />
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So a funeral takes quite a few staff, which is a huge cost. Added to this is the cost of materials, such as gloves, insurance (for staff, premises, and cars), maintenance (of equipment and cars), and more. Overall a funeral service can cost the company quite a lot, even if the service is relatively basic and simple as there are a lot of hidden costs behind the scenes.<br />
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This means that funeral homes have little choice in what they charge to some extent. Their costs are high so the prices must cover the costs to remain in business.<br />
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Another common issue for funeral homes is lack of payment. It's not uncommon for funeral staff to tell me about an instance or two where the funeral was not paid for. The funeral home will provide a funeral service, pay the cost to conduct the service. Then when they ask for payment those responsible decide to dispute the cost and/or simply not pay.<br />
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An example of this was a recent discussion with one conductor, she told me about a large funeral she conducted four years ago. It wasn't a super fancy funeral, but the bill was over $10,000 all up. However, after the funeral the family decided not to pay and had to be taken to court. After almost four years and a court case it has been decided that they will pay the funeral home the full price in small instalments over a few years.<br />
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This is just one example of something I hear relatively often. Where the funeral home pays to conduct the funeral, then is denied payment or the price is disputed. One funeral home owner once described it almost as a betrayal of trust on a personal and professional level. They explained how the funeral home has to trust people off the street, the funeral home puts up thousands of dollars of money with the hope payment will be made. Then the bill is disputed or not paid and so the funeral home is out for thousands of dollars.<br />
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For a company with tight profit margins this can be quite a blow and risk the financial security of the business.<br />
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So for a funeral home setting the price isn't necessarily a simple thing. They have to charge enough to make a profit and survive. Added to this is the ever present risk of a disputed payment, or a non-payment. Yet at the same time funeral staff are often conscious of the high cost for mourners and the deceased.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-69697714222946734532014-03-05T10:45:00.001+11:002014-03-05T10:45:00.181+11:00Honours Thesis - Abstract<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W63oSlNnFm0/UwrcT_Hk9aI/AAAAAAAACnM/LJJqFbvkySg/s1600/Thesis+coverpage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W63oSlNnFm0/UwrcT_Hk9aI/AAAAAAAACnM/LJJqFbvkySg/s1600/Thesis+coverpage.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Honours thesis cover page.</i></td></tr>
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I've recently been asked a few times where my honours thesis is available to read, or if I can give out copies. Unfortunately my thesis is not, and never will be, publicly available for three main reasons. Firstly, there are concerns for participants who gave their consent to be involved in the research, but not to be involved in the blog. And secondly, because UNSW also has some claim to the thesis and making it publicly available could raise concerns. The third reason is that simply put my thesis is not appropriate for a public audience. That is, it's boring for most people and bogged down in academic jargon.<br />
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So instead every now and then I'll summarise and explain a few select aspects of the thesis which would interest people. For now I'll put up my abstract as it summarises my whole thesis. I might put up extracts from the thesis, but no quotes from participants and nothing more than a few lines. This is a summary and explanation of what it was about and why I employed certain methods.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Social Expressions of Public & Private: Australian Understandings of the Funeral Industry</span></b></div>
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The notion of public and private is often presented as a dichotomous opposition. This is demonstrated with the Australian funeral industry as it is often argued that the funeral industry operates in a private sphere which is distinctly separate from public accessibility and understanding. This research critically unpacks the application of public and private to the funeral industry with the aim of analysing how notions of ‘public’ and ‘private’ are articulated through the social space of the Australian funeral industry. Surveys and interviews were conducted with funeral staff, celebrants, and members of the general public along with participant observation at two funeral homes, exploring the themes of public and private. Through this it will be argued that public and private does not operate in a clear dichotomy. The research found an overlap in public and private, and unclear boundaries between the notion of ‘public’ and ‘private’, particularly with the perceived reasons and responsibilities for this separation. As such I argue that the dichotomous presentation of public and private does not accurately represent the complex interrelationships and dynamics involved. This thesis provides a unique understanding of how the concept of public and private is articulated in social spaces.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-54149860100564449572014-02-26T10:45:00.000+11:002014-02-27T15:16:30.554+11:00How to Complain About a Funeral Over time various people have contacted me through this blog to complain about something related to the funeral industry. These complaints are quite rare and often varied, yet one thing remains common between them. That the majority of people don't know who to complain to or how to complain.<br />
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Many are not really much asking for my advice so much as who to contact. As such here is a post on how to complain. Remember, I am based in Sydney so this information is aimed for the Sydney funeral industry.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> It should be noted that while I strongly recommend complaining if there is an issue, however minor, the complaint should be justified. Not enough people lodge legitimate complaints about the funeral industry. That is, many complaints made are due to unrealistic expectations due to a lack of understanding about the industry. Yet at the same time mistakes are made (and often not noticed by the general public) that should be made known.<br />
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The first place to send a complaint is always with the the responsible company or companies. An email or phone call to the company directly is the best first step. This will allow the company to directly address the issue and hopefully fix the problem.<br />
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However, if contacting the relevant company doesn't fix the issue in a satisfactory way then the next thing would be to send a complaint to the organisations which oversee the funeral industry. The <b><i>Australian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association</i></b> oversees both cemeteries and crematoriums (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://accaweb.com.au/">ACCA, website <b><u>here</u></b></a></span>). Both the <b><i>Australian Funeral Directors Association</i></b> (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.afda.org.au/">AFDA, website <b><u>here</u></b></a></span>) and <b><i>Independent Funeral Directors Association of Australia</i></b> (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ifdaa.org/">IFAA, website <u><b>here</b></u></a></span>) oversee funeral homes.<br />
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Membership for these organisations is completely voluntary, as in a company does not have to join these groups to operate. However, these organisations hold members to a decent standard and would look into any serious issues raised about their members. Admittedly there is a debate about the effectiveness of these organisations in terms of enforcing regulations and investigating issues. Yet this is still an important step in any serious complaint about a funeral company.<br />
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If the funeral company is owned by InvoCare then another possibility is to contact <b><i>InvoCare</i></b> directly (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.invocare.com.au/driver.asp?page=/contact+us">contact details <b>here</b></a></span>). InvoCare is the largest funeral company in Australia, owning several crematoriums, cemeteries, and funeral homes. This means complaints about an InvoCare company can be sent to InvoCare directly. I know from experience InvoCare does actively enforce a respectable standard across the board, so a complaint will be taken seriously and investigated. You might not see or hear about any changes made due to your complaint, but behind the scenes something will almost certainly be done, even if only to prevent the issue arising again.<br />
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The final option is to contact the government if the concern or issue is serious enough. Unfortunately the funeral industry doesn't fall under any one government department, so all departments seem reluctant to get involved with the industry. When contacting the government you will need to contact the department most relevant to that specific issue. For example issues of pricing and quality of service would fall under consumer affairs. While issues of mismanagement of a body or poor hygiene are under the state health department. Then anything to do with the physical building itself (in terms of maintenance, layout, etc) are under the local council.<br />
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As such contacting a government body can be both tricky and difficult when deciding and finding which department is most relevant.<br />
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Having said all this, I have seen and heard of relatively few issues which should be complained about. Rather, it is the lack of knowledge about what the funeral industry does that is a bigger issue. Some practices, while standard and harmless, might not be what is wanted or appropriate for some people and thus request not to have them. More information about the industry could prevent potential issues and complaints.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-47061188043733108082014-02-19T10:45:00.000+11:002014-02-22T12:48:30.340+11:00Recommended Funeral Homes Several people have asked me what funeral homes I would recommend and why. I find this a tough question to answer as personally I feel it is hard to find a 'bad' funeral home because the vast majority are to a respectable standard.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> Rather than looking for a "good" funeral home I feel people would be better looking for the "right" funeral home. That is, every funeral home I have personally seen or directly interacted with is to a high standard. The staff genuinely care about the mourners and the deceased, and the service offered is often great. So instead of looking for a good funeral home I believe time would be better spent finding one that 'felt' right, that suited what the deceased and/or mourners wanted.<br />
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So having said that I have put together a list of various funeral homes I recommend, and attempted to describe their style and atmosphere.<br />
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It should be noted that this list is in alphabetical order, so there is no preference. Also, this is a list of funeral homes that I personally know, just because a funeral home is not listed here does not make it bad. For example Olsens Funerals and Concept Funerals are good companies that I would recommend but don't know enough about to describe accurately.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Divinity Funerals</i></b></span><br />
This is a relatively new funeral home, while it specialises in Greek funerals Divinity is more than capable with any service. Divinity is one of the smaller funeral homes, with just a handful of staff, meaning a personal and quality experience is almost guaranteed.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.divinityfunerals.com.au/" target="_blank">Divinity website</a></u></span><br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.divinityfunerals.com.au/index.php/contact-us" target="_blank">Divnity <b>contact</b> page</a></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Eastern Suburbs Funeral Home</span><br />
Eastern Suburbs Funeral Home (ESFH) is part of Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park (ESMP). So it is set in a nice location, making it a somewhat picturesque and practical location for a funeral home. ESFH has a great mortuary with some innovative equipment and designs (which you can see in <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/esmp-open-day.html" target="_blank">this post</a></u></span>). I've found ESFH to be quite modern in approach and attitude, yet it still has a traditional atmosphere.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/esmp-open-day.html" target="_blank">My post and photos of ESFH during their open day</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Eastern Suburbs Funeral Home website</u></span><br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Eastern Suburbs Funeral Home <b>contact</b> page</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>InvoCare</i></b></span><br />
This is by far the biggest company in Australia and certainly Sydney. They own several funeral home brands, most notably Guardian, Simplicity, and White Ladys. This size of the company is both good and bad in terms of recommending the company. On one hand being so large means InvoCare can offer rather competitive pricing (if that is a concern) and a very streamlined and efficient funeral service. Yet, due to the size there are so many variables to this company. InvoCare employs about 1,500 staff across Australia, so while the bulk of staff are great you could potentially end up with one or two who aren't so good. Despite this I have no hesitations with recommending InvoCare to anyone.<br />
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The three main brands for InvoCare are:<br />
- <b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Guardian Funerals</span></i></b> - a more traditional style of service (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.guardianfunerals.com.au/" target="_blank">Guardian website & contact details</a></u></span>).<br />
- <b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Simplicity Funerals</span></i></b> - a simple and more efficient service focused on lower prices (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.simplicityfunerals.com.au/" target="_blank">Simplicity website & contact details</a></u></span>).<br />
- <b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">White Lady Funerals</span></i></b> - the flagship of InvoCare, this is a modern all female funeral home (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.whiteladyfunerals.com.au/" target="_blank">White Lady website & contact details</a></u></span>).<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.invocare.com.au/driver.asp?page=/cemeteries+and+crematoria/locations" target="_blank">List of InvoCare owned cemeteries and crematoria</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.invocare.com.au/driver.asp?page=/about+us/our+brands" target="_blank">List of InvoCare owned funeral homes</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.invocare.com.au/driver.asp?page=%2Ffuneral+homes%2Ffuneral+home+search" target="_blank">InvoCare funeral home search by postcode</a></u></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Lady Anne Funerals</i></b></span><br />
Lady Anne is a place I have always found inviting and friendly. They strive to offer a personal and individual service for everyone under their care. For example, one time while I was there an arranger discovered the deceased was a very keen gardener of native Australian plants. So she found some nice images of Australian plants for the order of service. Lady Anne is a modern style of funeral home with an wonderful mortuary (<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/inside-funeral-home-lady-anne-funerals.html#more" target="_blank">photos of the mortuary</a></span></u>) and an ever present personal touch to everything it does.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/inside-funeral-home-lady-anne-funerals.html#more" target="_blank">My post and photos of Lady Anne</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://ladyannefunerals.com.au/" target="_blank">Lady Anne website</a></u></span><br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://ladyannefunerals.com.au/contact-lady-anne/" target="_blank">Lady Anne <b>contact</b> page</a></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Mannings Funerals</i></b></span><br />
Mannings funerals manages to be both relaxed and professional at once. This is a company with a friendly and traditional feel. It's also an open funeral home with an upfront and transparent attitude to how it operates and what it charges.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.mannings.com.au/" target="_blank">Mannings website</a></u></span><br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.mannings.com.au/contact.php" target="_blank">Mannings <b>contact</b> page</a></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>The Walker Group</i></b></span><br />
The Walker Group is a relatively large funeral company which owns several funeral homes, including; Albert & Meyer, No Flowers No Fuss, Joseph Medcalf, Max Perram and more (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-walker-group.html" target="_blank">full list available <b>here</b></a></span>). While I know relatively little about the Walker Group what I have heard is good and that the standard of care is high. So while not having a lot of information this is a company I would happily recommend.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.albertmeyer.com.au/" target="_blank">Albert & Meyer website</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.bernardlaverty.com.au/" target="_blank">Bernard Laverty website</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.jamesmurray.com.au/" target="_blank">James Murray website</a></span></u>.<br />
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- <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://josephmedcalf.com.au/" target="_blank">Joseph Medcalf website</a></span></u>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.nonono.com.au/" target="_blank">No Flowers No Fuss website</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.maxperram.com.au/" target="_blank">Max Perram website</a></u></span>.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Walter Carter Funerals</span></i></b><br />
Walter Carter is one of the most modern and unique funeral homes I have had the pleasure of interacting with. This company doesn't model itself on funeral companies, but instead looks to high end restaurants and retails shops for inspiration. As such Walter Carter provides a service unlike many other funeral homes.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/inside-funeral-home-lady-anne-funerals.html" target="_blank">My post and photos of Lady Anne</a></u></span>.<br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://ladyannefunerals.com.au/" target="_blank">Lady Anne website</a></u></span><br />
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- <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://ladyannefunerals.com.au/contact-lady-anne/" target="_blank">Lady Anne <b>contact</b> page</a></u></span><br />
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~~<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-81644434897207071972014-01-17T10:45:00.000+11:002014-01-19T21:22:49.364+11:00The Walker Group The Walker Group, as I call them, is a growing funeral company in Sydney, and it's about time I discussed them. So this is a post describing what I know of this growing company.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> The Walker Group Pty Ltd was established in 1995, yet it has grown considerably in recent years through acquiring existing funeral homes (similar to the method used by InvoCare). Currently the Walker Group owns; Albert & Meyer Funerals Funerals, Bernard Laverty Funerals, James Murray Funerals, Joseph Medcalf Funerals, Max Perram Funerals, and No Flowers No Fuss Funerals. There might be more companies under the Walker Group yet this is all I know of.<br />
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Unlike InvoCare the Walker Group does not own any cemeteries or crematoriums, however not long ago the Walker Group bought a large place opposite Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium (MCP). So while the Walker Group does not directly own any cemeteries or crematoriums I suspect there is a strong relationship between them and various cemeteries/crematoriums around Sydney.<br />
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There has been some debate about how and why the Walker Group is able to grow as it has in recent times. The more reliable (yet still questionable) rumour is that the Walker Group is backed by financiers who are looking at a long-term plan. That is, these financial backers will spend money now to establish a solid business which will be profitable in the future.<br />
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From everything I hear the Walker Group sounds like a company with high standards, I have not heard anythings much in the way of negative rumours yet have heard a lot of good things. This is an organisation I would not hesitate to recommend to people looking for a funeral home based on what I know.<br />
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It should be noted that I have never worked with the Walker Group or its staff, furthermore not a lot of people know of or discuss the Walker Group yet. So my information about the Walker Group is limited and not necessarily accurate.<br />
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<b><u>References:</u></b><br />
<a href="http://transition.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=968767&nodeId=f518dab2107d8d79c3e10cc1e0e7a6e3&fn=InvoCare%20Limited%20-%20proposed%20acquisition%20of%20Bledisloe%20Group%20Holdings%20Pty%20Ltd%20-%2019%20January%202011.pdf">http://transition.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=968767&nodeId=f518dab2107d8d79c3e10cc1e0e7a6e3&fn=InvoCare%20Limited%20-%20proposed%20acquisition%20of%20Bledisloe%20Group%20Holdings%20Pty%20Ltd%20-%2019%20January%202011.pdf</a><br />
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~<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-11626140312379149902013-11-29T10:45:00.000+11:002014-01-19T21:24:47.170+11:00The 2013 Events This is a collections of past events from this year. It has been a great year and I look forward to 2014!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Rookwood Picnic</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">18th Jan, 11:00</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimage.org/rp04a81pz/IMG_5448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s5.postimage.org/rp04a81pz/IMG_5448.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
A small and casual picnic in Rookwood Cemetery for those interested in the funeral industry.<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/the-rookwood-picnic_28.html" target="_blank">Post about the 2013 Rookwood Picnic</a></span></b></u>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/picnic-in-rookwood.html" target="_blank">My blog post with more information</a></span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>UNSW Museum of Human Disease</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">18th Feb, 12:30</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimage.org/d8z00om9j/IMG_5855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s5.postimage.org/d8z00om9j/IMG_5855.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
This is the only museum of its kind that is open to the public in Sydney, and the staff were very nice, offering to do a presentation and will have someone there to chat with us as part of our visit.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>When </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">18th</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> February, <b>12:30 </b>(<b><i>lunchtime</i></b>).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Cost</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span>$11 per person (free for UNSW staff and students).<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Where</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span>Samuels Building, UNSW Kensington campus.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/museum-of-human-disease-day.html" target="_blank">Post about the 2013 MoHD visit</a></u></span></b>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> <a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/event-unsw-museum-of-human-disease.html">My blog post with more information</a></b></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Museum of Human Disease Website</i>:</span></b><br />
<a href="http://medicalsciences.med.unsw.edu.au/community/museum-human-disease/home">http://medicalsciences.med.unsw.edu.au/community/museum-human-disease/home</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Rookwood By Night</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">19th March, 19:00</span></span></b><br />
A visit to Rookwood cemetery at night, to take advantage of the late open hours and to experience it in another light. This was a great event, fun and different, yet impossible to take any decent photos due to the darkness.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><u style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Woronora Open Day</u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">13th April, 10:00</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimg.org/ndxp7u59z/IMG_3787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s5.postimg.org/ndxp7u59z/IMG_3787.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
A strangely unknown yet anual event as part of Heritage Week, very few from the funeral industry (that I spoke with) knew anything about it. But it looks like fun and I will certainly be there.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/woronora-open-day-2013.html" target="_blank">My blog post about the 2013 Woronora open day</a></span></b>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pinegrove Memorial Park Open Night</u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">30th April, 18:00</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimg.org/fom9563sn/IMG_7621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s5.postimg.org/fom9563sn/IMG_7621.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
I don't have much information about this just yet, so check back closer to the date. This is the only InvoCare only open evening that I know of, so could be fun!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.pinegrovecrem.com.au/driver.asp?page=/our+services/our+events" target="_blank">The Pinegrove Events page</a></b></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/pinegrove-open-night.html" target="_blank">My blog post about the 2013 Pinegrove open day</a></span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Rookwood Picnic</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">18th August, 12:00pm</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://livingwithourdead.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/XO8F4573-765x510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://livingwithourdead.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/XO8F4573-765x510.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
Time for another picnic at Rookwood. This is a casual event open to anyone who might be interested.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>When </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">18th</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> August, <b>12:00 </b>(<b><i>lunchtime</i></b>).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Where</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">The </span><u style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?daddr=-33.869117,151.054973&hl=en&ll=-33.869509,151.055424&spn=0.002768,0.003487&sll=-33.879163,151.061518&sspn=0.022143,0.027895&t=h&gl=au&mra=mr&z=19" style="color: #5b0899; text-decoration: none;">Elephant House</a></b></span></u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> just off Haslem Drive, in Rookwood Cemetery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/event-rookwood-picnic.html">My blog post with more information</a></b></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Hidden Art Exhibition at Rookwood</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">21st Sept - 31st Oct</span></span></b><br />
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Every year there is an art exhibition in Rookwood Cemetery, it is <b><u>free</u></b> and quite fun, seeing the different exhibits on display among the graves. I particularly like how some incorporate that specific place of the cemetery within their artwork.<br />
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On the last day they hold a little closing ceremony with videos and food, which was very fun and informative last year.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hidden.rookwoodcemetery.com.au/" target="_blank">Hidden homepage with more information</a></span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />ESMP Open Day</u> --</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 26th Oct</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimg.org/4qu3glgl3/IMG_3919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s5.postimg.org/4qu3glgl3/IMG_3919.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
The 2013 ESMP open day was great fun, well worth the trip. It's also the only funeral home open day I know of, making it a rare opportunity.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/esmp-open-day.html" target="_blank">My post about the ESMP 2013 open day</a></b></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/esmp-open-day.html">My past post about the ESMP 2012 open day</a></b></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)</u> -- 2nd </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">November</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://cdn.eventfinder.com.au/uploads/events/transformed/252098-76824-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.eventfinder.com.au/uploads/events/transformed/252098-76824-14.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
This is a new event, or at least one I have not heard of in Sydney before. It's a celebration of things related to death and the way life and death are so entangled. There will be a skull painting competition and more.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>When </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2nd</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> November, <b>9am </b>to<b> 5pm</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Where</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Gore Hill Oval/Park</span>, <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Gore+Hill+Park&hl=en&cid=1081283275369122224&gl=AU&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A">Corner of Pacific Hwy and Reserve Rd</a></span></u>, St Leonards.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.eventfinder.com.au/2013/dia-de-los-muertos/sydney/st-leonards">Day of the dead event page</a></span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Living with Our Dead</u> -- 10th </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">November</span></span></b><br />
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Living with our dead is an event organised by a Sydney celebrant to remember and honour the deceased and bring the idea of death into an acceptable and public setting. I don't have any other information at this stage, so if you're interested follow the link below.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://livingwithourdead.com/">Living with our dead site</a></b></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_212558995425791&ap=1">Living with our dead FaceBook page</a></b></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Macquarie Park Open Day</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not held in 2013</span></span></b><br />
I have been asked about this, and the Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium (MPC) open day will <b><u>not</u></b> be held in 2013. The open day is only held every two years according to the website. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.maccem.com.au/Home.php">Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium website</a>.</u></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Rookwood Open Day</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not held in 2013</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhIzV_V4rbA/UF6r8f3JefI/AAAAAAAABeA/HKFe8kbH9s8/s1600/IMG_2921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhIzV_V4rbA/UF6r8f3JefI/AAAAAAAABeA/HKFe8kbH9s8/s200/IMG_2921.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Rookwood is a huge place with a few different organisations working out of it. As such they have a wonderful open day, from parades to displays and tours.<br />
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<i>Unfortunately this event is only held every second year, so the next one will be in 2014.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/rookwood-open-day.html">My post about the Rookwood 2012 open day</a></span></b>.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-47806803980857126722013-11-28T21:07:00.003+11:002013-11-28T21:09:14.556+11:00ESMP Open Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I finally have time to write for the blog again, so I'll start with the 2013 Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park (ESMP) open day. As expected it was a great day and included a variety of things from free food to an Aboriginal dance, needless to say I had a blast.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> Every year ESMP holds an open day, as far as I know it's the only time a funeral home is accessible to the general public. So the ESMP open day is rare and insightful opportunity. I won't upload many photos of the 2013 open day as <u><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/esmp-open-day.html" target="_blank">I've already discussed the 2012 open day in detail here</a></span></b></u>.<br />
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My favourite part of the day were the little Frankenstein monsters. They were soft like stress balls, and very unique and fun.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frankensteins' monster.</td></tr>
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I've seen a lot of different funeral home marketing things, including seatbelt cutters and even a cheese grater but these monsters are one of the best so far, especially as Halloween had just pass by.<br />
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The large reception room had several stalls, some had ESMP crematorium and funeral home information as expected.<br />
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There was a stall from the '<i>Cape Banks Family History Society INC</i>'. This is a volunteer society who focus on preserving the history of Pioneer Memorial Park which is a small section within the ESMP grounds. They are a nice and enthusiastic group who were more then willing to discuss the history of Pioneer Memorial Park as well as the rather interesting methods used to gather information.<br />
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Another stall I stopped by was one which offered information regarding bereavement and counselling services. This stall had information from a local counselling centre, as well as a very educational section on grieving. I thought this was a very good addition to the ESMP open day, something a bit different and another perspective on mourning and grieving.<br />
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This year I decided to go on the bus tour rather than the funeral home and crematorium tours. I wasn't disappointed as the bus tour was informative and fun, first showing off the old sections which included a stop at Pioneer Memorial Park (and free icecream).<br />
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Then we went to the new areas which were still under construction in some spots. It was good to see this combination of new and old at once.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-27464843500205294832013-11-07T22:55:00.000+11:002013-11-07T22:55:01.850+11:00Thank You For Participating It's been a while since I had the time to write a post, as many know I've been tied up in my honours thesis. However, the thesis will be submitted in just a few days, so yay! It's been a long and difficult road, but it has also been incredibly rewarding and worth every step.<br />
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I would like to thank the <u>wonderful</u> organisations and individuals who participated. This includes <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ladyannefunerals.com.au/">Lady Anne Funerals</a></b></span>, <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mannings.com.au/">Mannings Funerals</a></span></b>, and the <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.funeralcelebrants.org.au/" target="_blank">Funeral Celebrants Association of Australia</a></span></b>. These organisations were amazingly helpful and supportive of this project. Furthermore, I also want to thank the numerous unnamed individuals who participated in the study.<br />
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These organisations and individuals didn't just provide valuable information, they made the project mean something and turned it into something truly special. I will always be grateful to those who participated. You have been a big part of making a long and difficult path worth it.<br />
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Several people have asked where this thesis will be available, so I'll answer this quickly:<br />
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- No, the thesis will <i><u>not</u></i> be posted on the blog, this blog is not the right audience so there is no point putting it here. However, a short summary will most likely be posted in the future.<br />
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- The thesis <i><u>will</u></i> be archived in the honours room at UNSW, this is not exactly something to boast. Those that have seen the honours room or know how universities operate will understand.<br />
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- I <u><i>will</i></u> submit the thesis to various conferences and other places.<br />
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- Those that participated in the study '<i><u>may</u></i>' receive a copy if they ask, simply email me at <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="mailto:theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com">theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com</a></u></span> to receive a PDF.<br />
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I will write some more posts before the end of the year, but generally there will not be much content until next year. This is because I will be relaxing, but mainly because I will also be organising some fun things for next year. There will be more on this later if it works out.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-49001096410711051322013-10-25T23:13:00.000+11:002013-10-25T23:13:44.748+11:00Hidden at Rookwood (2013) I went to Hidden at Rookwood Cemetery this year but haven't had time to put together a post about it, and won't be able to for a while at least. So in the mean time I've uploaded some photos to my Facebook page. So head over to <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.554732351266488.1073741834.391662667573458&type=3&uploaded=70">my Facebook page</a></span></u> for the photos and other fun stuff!<br />
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Hidden really is an amazing art exhibition, so check it out if you can! The closing ceremony will be on the 31st of October, check <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Other-Side-Of-Funerals/391662667573458?ref=tn_tnmn">my Facebook page</a></span></u> and <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hidden.rookwoodcemetery.com.au/">the Hidden website</a></span></u> for the details.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Other-Side-Of-Funerals/391662667573458?ref=tn_tnmn">The Other Side Of Funerals Facebook</a></u></b></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.554732351266488.1073741834.391662667573458&type=1">Hidden photo album</a></u></b></span>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-91075349099679224592013-10-21T10:45:00.000+11:002013-10-22T21:32:34.328+11:00Guest Post - Girl Problems in the Mortuary A female mortician and I were talking about mortuary work and the topic of fingernails came up. How she managed to wear glove and perform mortuary duties despite having relatively long and elaborate fingernails. So she has decided to write a post about being a woman in the mortuary. Here it is:<br />
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Don't get me wrong it's not all bad, but being a female certainly does have its disadvantages. Allow me to elaborate.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Female mortician Cons:</i></b><br />
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You can't have your nails too long. The reason being that you constantly need to hold on to things tightly and long nails often get in the way of this, making it difficult to do things like roll a deceased person and dress them by yourself. I recently had fabulous nails put on for a week, however I must admit that some of my usual tasks within the mortuary suddenly became a 2 man (or in my case 2 women) job.</div>
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I'm no body builder. Or at least not in the '<i>I go to the gym</i>' sense of the phrase. I am without a doubt a weakling compared to my male counterparts. This once again can make it difficult to roll and a dress a deceased person of a larger frame. In this case refer back to point one.</div>
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My personal protective face mask wipes makeup off my face in patches. Fortunately the recently departed don't mind so much, but I sure look silly when I go out on lunch.</div>
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When I get to a certain point in mortuary preparation I will sometimes take off my face mask. In accordance to Murphy's law, when I have contaminated gloves on, my face will get itchy so I use my shoulder and forearm to try and get the itch. Apart from looking like a fool while I do it, I once again wipe off patches of my makeup, only this time I also get patches of foundation on the shoulders and sleeves of my mortuary scrubs... which are black.</div>
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Speaking of personal protective equipment when I'm working in the mortuary I am wrapped in disposable plastic gowns, sleeves and gloves. Not to mention my gumboots and face mask. It is with this in mind that you can see how having a smaller bladder would also prove to be a disadvantage. I'm forever gowning up and ungowning to go to the bathroom!</div>
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Personal grooming. As a feminine mortician does, I have long hair. So long in fact that simply having it in a pony tail means I still am gambling with the chance that it will be dipped into the face of a deceased person. As a result I have to put it up in a bun to avoid unsightly new hair pieces. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Female mortician Pros:</i></b></span></div>
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I wear makeup almost everyday, and over the years have become very good at applying it, and during my earlier years covering blemishes as well. This has made me very good at applying makeup to the lady's that find themselves on my table</div>
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And finally, I get to enjoy the little things like... bejewelling my safety glasses</div>
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Anyway as you can see most of the problems are medial little things, but thats life. Full of first world problems. And apparently so is death.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-11049216025297591922013-10-20T20:29:00.001+11:002013-10-20T20:39:41.728+11:00Forest Lawn Open Day Apparently <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.forestlawn.com.au/en/CommunityandEvents/Events/Upcoming%20Events/2013/10/Open%20Day.aspx">Forest Lawn Memorial Park</a></u></span> will be having an open day this Saturday (26th of Oct), it's a shame this is the same day as the <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/event-esmp-open-day.html">Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park open day</a></span></u> and I won't be able to go.<br />
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I'd recommend going to the Forest Lawn open day as InvoCare, who manage Forest Lawn, organise decent events. The Pinegrove Memorial Park open evening was fun and informative so I expect the Forest Lawn one would be fun to.<br />
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InvoCare are doing a good job of slowly opening their side of the funeral industry to the general public, they tend to be honest with any questions asked. Making the Forest Lawn open day a great chance to get a get some decent information and answer any questions.<br />
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Unfortunately I won't be going due to the <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/event-esmp-open-day.html">ESMP open day</a></span></u> and being busy with thesis work. So if anyone goes let me know how it was!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>More information: </i><a href="http://www.forestlawn.com.au/en/CommunityandEvents/Events/Upcoming%20Events/2013/10/Open%20Day.aspx" style="text-decoration: underline;">Forest Lawn Memorial Park open day link</a></b></span>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-78871292346344874662013-10-05T10:45:00.000+10:002013-10-08T10:59:24.498+11:00Event - ESMP Open Day<a href="http://s5.postimg.org/4qu3glgl3/IMG_3919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://s5.postimg.org/4qu3glgl3/IMG_3919.jpg" width="200" /></a> The Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park (ESMP) open day will be held on the 26th of October. The <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/esmp-open-day.html">2012 open day</a></span></u> was great fun, so I'm looking forward to it this year.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>When </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">26th</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> October (Saturday), <b>11am </b>to<b> 2pm</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Where </b></i></span><b> - </b><a href="http://www.esmp.net.au/contact-us/map.aspx" style="background-color: white; color: #5b0899; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Military Rd, Matraville</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Cost </b></i></span><b> - </b>Free.<br />
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This is the last open day for the industry that I know of, and It's a fun day. Based on last year there should be free sausages, tours (of the funeral home, crematorium, cemetery), face painting, cars and hearses on display, stalls, and more! It's well worth a say out, I'll certainly be there and look forward to seeing some of you.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/esmp-open-day.html">My post about the ESMP 2012 open day</a></b></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/inside-look-eastern-suburbs-memorial.html">A post about ESMP including contact information & how to get there</a></b></span> - although this needs updating.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/thanatourism-eastern-suburbs-memorial.html">My guide to some interesting places in ESMP</a></span></b>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-56642481989109064892013-09-30T10:45:00.000+10:002013-09-30T10:45:00.209+10:00Honours Writing If you'd like to help in my honours thesis you can do so by completing a survey (it should take 5 minutes). <b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/reminder-honours-surveys.html">You can find information about the surveys, and links to the surveys here</a></span></u></b>. It will be appreciated!<br />
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As some might have noticed my posts have dropped off recently, and I'm taking a while to reply to emails. This is due to a combination of not having time and simply being tired.<br />
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My honours thesis is at an important writing stage, I'm analysing data and putting everything together. Basically I'm writing a few thousand words a day and reading a lot. This isn't actually as big a task as it sounds. Or maybe I've simply become use to it. However, by the time I'm done writing for the thesis I am tired of writing, and so I don't feel like writing even more for the blog.<br />
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So between being busy and being drained I'm simply not generating content for the blog for a while. The thesis is due in November, so everything should be back to normal by December.<br />
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As for where the thesis will be available; <u>any</u> individual or organisation who has participated will be eligible to get a copy, simply email me. I will also look to get it published and submit it to conferences next year, when I finally have time for that. A summary will also be put on the blog, however this will only be short and essentially a long(ish) abstract. Other than that I have no idea at this stage, but I know the full thesis will not be put on the blog. This is simply not the right audience or place for it, a 20,000 word academic article is never going to many (if any) people reading it here.<br />
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Thank you again to those who have participated. This project would not have been possible for a large number of people and a few organisations.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-80454352356975980902013-09-27T10:45:00.000+10:002013-09-27T10:45:00.122+10:00LifeArt - Making Coffins This is an interesting video about how LifeArt make their cardboard coffins. Unfortunately it's only 240p and a low quality video. But it is definitely worth a watch, especially for those not familiar with LifeArt.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dls4Mwyh37o"><b>LifeArt Clean Coffin Technology</b></a></span><br />
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You can read more about <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lifeart.com.au/"><b>LifeArt coffins via their website</b></a></span>. Essentially they're cardboard coffins, which are environmentally friendly. Personally I like them for their customisation abilities and how light and practical they are. You can get any image or design printed on them, or simply get a plain one and decorate it in person as I have seen some people do.<br />
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LifeArt recently released an online design tool, allowing people to design coffins themselves. It's a fun tool to play with, <u><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thelifeartcompany.com/designs/">LifeArt Online Design</a></span></b></u>.<br />
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However, a huge drawback is that they are not available directly to the public. To me this is a bit of a shame as LifeArt would make a wonderful art medium. I've seen families paint, write poems, and stick collages on the coffins. Opening this up to a wider community could be good.<br />
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My personal belief is that LifeArt could be a great product and used in a great way, but often gets dismissed or ignored too soon. The environmental benefits, the costs, and the quality are not as important as the customisation. The very option and notion of being able to completely customise a coffin like this is great and should be given more credit. So I think it's wonderful to see LifeArt running with this through things like the <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thelifeartcompany.com/designs/">online design tool</a></span>. The ability to interact so directly with the coffin, and to change it so dramatically, is a very powerful thing. I've had the pleasure of seeing some amazing things mourners have done with LifeArt coffins.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-67205470203807541592013-09-25T10:45:00.000+10:002013-09-25T10:45:00.021+10:00Guest Post - Pros & Cons of Cremation vs. Burial Here's a short guest post about the positives and negatives of both cremation and burial. It is an interesting debate, to go with cremation or burial.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Death is an aspect of life that most people fail to understand. Even though everyone is going to experience it eventually, it’s often a topic of discussion that doesn’t come up. But, regardless of how far and fast you run away from it, there is always the stunning realization that at some point in the future you will cease to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">One way to cope with this is of course to be prepared for when it comes to fruition. This may be a thought you’d like to keep out of your head, but as you ease into your inevitable demise, you can start with simple questions such as: should I be buried or cremated?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">If you’ve never taken the time to ponder this thought, here are a few pros and cons to consider as you draw nearer to the infinite beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Burial</span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Being buried is one of the oldest, most widely-practiced funerary tradition s in the entire world. One of the first human burials, discovered thus far, is over 100,000 years old, although instances of intentional human burial are thought have existed long before. Since then, it has grown into a wildly popular convention in the religious and secular world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">In other words, the entombment of deceased individuals is a tried and true method for disposal, and here are a few reasons why:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">It provides a permanent installation for memorial and mourning.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">I</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">t gives visitors a fixed location to pay their respects whenever they please.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">It adheres to countless religious traditions.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Being buried, for lack of better words, is the way to go for many people and the benefits are apparent. But, for every reason why, there’s always a reason why not:</span><br />
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<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">Without proper </span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="http://www.gio.com.au/personal-life-insurance/funeral-insurance"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">funeral plan insurance from GIO</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;"> or other similar companies, burying a loved one can cost over $6,000.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">Cemeteries around the world uphold different rules and regulations and some even prohibit the use of cameras while on the grounds.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">Burials aren’t mobile, making it difficult for far away loved ones to come and visit.</span></li>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cremation</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Cremation isn’t quite as dated as traditional burial, but it has been a worthy alternative for about 20,000 years. The remains of the </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Mungo_remains"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Mungo Lady</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">, discovered by Jim Bowler in 1969, are considered some of the oldest anatomically human remains found in Australia. According to the burn marks on her bones, her corpse was burned after she died, then smashed and then burned again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">The act itself may sound gruesome but there are definitely advantages to being turned to ash. At the very least, it’s a great alternative to traditional burial, and here’s why:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">Cremations can cost as little as $1,000, making them a viable option for families without the means to have their loved ones buried.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">Ashes in an urn can be taken, stored, hidden or scattered anywhere you please.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; text-indent: -18pt;">Being cremated wastes far less resources than a burial.</span></li>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">For those that don’t want to spend a small fortune on having someone buried, cremation is definitely something to consider. But, like anything else, it’s not a perfect solution:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Crematoriums do release a considerable amount of CO2 and pollution into the atmosphere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Cremation is looked down upon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3819588144214105150" name="_GoBack"></a>in some religious circles by the church and other officials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Some parts of the world don’t offer cremation as an option at the time of death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">As you can see, both cremation and burial have their advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing one over the other, convene with your family and decide which is best for not only you, but the person on their way to the other side. It may be an uncomfortable discussion, but for the costs and potential squabbles at stake, it’s worth opening a dialogue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><u>Author</u></b>: <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/103560199320077767592?rel=author" style="font-style: italic;">Chris Jensen</a></span><i> is a former life insurance adviser and current writer for Australian insurance company, </i><a href="http://www.gio.com.au/"><span class="s1"><i>GIO</i></span></a><i>. </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-72973952180934310612013-09-14T08:40:00.000+10:002013-09-14T09:27:44.085+10:00Event - Hidden Sculpture Walk at Rookwood<a href="http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/q77/s720x720/1234035_530181043721619_943886403_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/q77/s720x720/1234035_530181043721619_943886403_n.jpg" width="200" /></a> Every year Rookwood Cemetery is host to a sculpture walk called 'Hidden'. Sculptures are scattered throughout the Anglican section of the cemetery, using their surroundings as part of the sculpture itself in many cases. <br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where</span></i></b>: All Saints Chapel, on Hawthorne Ave, Rookwood Cemetery. Near <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b><a href="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Rookwood+General+Cemetery+Trust&hl=en&cid=14680761822842801451&gl=AU&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A">the Anglican office</a></b></u></span>.<br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When</span></i>: </b>11:00am Saturday, on the 21st of September.<br />
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The event is completely <u>free</u> and good fun, the path to follow is no always perfectly clear and sculptures can be hard to find (hidden in a sense). Which creates a fun feeling of exploration and adventure, and because of this every time you go you'll have a very different experience.<br />
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Below I have photos from Hidden last year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the markers used last year to show where the path was.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another marker from last year on the grass.</td></tr>
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You can follow this event on <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/617166051648137/"><b>the blog facebook page here</b></a></span></u>.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.hidden.rookwoodcemetery.com.au/" style="color: #5b0899; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hidden homepage with more information</a></span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">.</span><br />
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Below are some photos of various sculptures I took at Hidden last year. I can't include a photo of every sculpture as there were too many, and I never found every single one even after going several times.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-4603748442736609692013-09-06T16:29:00.004+10:002013-10-05T17:40:48.793+10:00Reminder - Honours Surveys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>UPDATE</u><i>: <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surveys are now CLOSED and interviews are no longer being conducted, thank you to those who participated!</span></i></span></b></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">HREA Panel B approval no. 13 031</i></div>
Just a quick reminder, in addition to the <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/research-participants-needed-reminder.html"><b>interviews</b></a></u></span> and fieldwork I will be conducting two short surveys as part of my honours thesis. Each surveys should take 10 minutes or less, and all answers will be kept anonymous. Your participation will be greatly appreciated and will really help my study!! :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sp6_muhcGpNX4MU05eQg3CG6t9iK94sXn9od1pEGtWA/viewform">The Public Survey</a></span></b></u><b>:</b></span><br />
This survey is open to <b>anyone from the general public</b> and has never worked in the funeral industry. Answer honestly and do not worry about a 'right' or 'good' answer.<br />
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<b><i>Direct link:</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sp6_muhcGpNX4MU05eQg3CG6t9iK94sXn9od1pEGtWA/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sp6_muhcGpNX4MU05eQg3CG6t9iK94sXn9od1pEGtWA/viewform</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nAa04xdAv9EJdQhIlwIi4DYmjCEmzd3qiQ2GLoBtYY4/viewform">The Funeral Staff Survey</a></u></span>:</span></b><br />
This survey is open to <b>anyone who has worked in the funeral industry </b>in any capacity or role. Answer honestly and do not worry about a 'right' or 'good' answer.<br />
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<b><i>Direct link:</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nAa04xdAv9EJdQhIlwIi4DYmjCEmzd3qiQ2GLoBtYY4/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nAa04xdAv9EJdQhIlwIi4DYmjCEmzd3qiQ2GLoBtYY4/viewform</a></span></div>
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<u><b>Feel free to share the surveys with anyone</b></u> who might be interested. You are also welcome to participate in interviews, follow the link below for more information:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/research-participants-needed-reminder.html">Click here for information about the interviews & how to participate</a></b></u></span>.</span></div>
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All participation in this project is appreciated, if there's any further questions or comments feel free to email me via <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="mailto:theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com">theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com</a></b></span>.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">This project is part of honours in anthropology at the University of New South Wales and has received ethics approval (approval no. 13 031) from HREA Panel B at UNSW. If there are any questions or issues you can contact me via </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="mailto:theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com">theothersideoffunerals@gmail.com</a></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> or my supervisor Dr </span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-amanda-kearney/publications">Amanda Kearney</a></span></u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> at the University of New South Wales.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAiT910mWpQ/UYxqsTImv0I/AAAAAAAAChc/6aM3Eo7haTk/s1600/UNSW+Logo+LONG+-+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAiT910mWpQ/UYxqsTImv0I/AAAAAAAAChc/6aM3Eo7haTk/s400/UNSW+Logo+LONG+-+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-59447336018294108862013-09-01T21:00:00.002+10:002013-09-06T16:23:46.580+10:00Upcoming Events There are many funeral industry and death related events held around Sydney each year. These are a few that I know of and think look particularly interesting or relevant.<br />
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<b> </b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/p/events-2013.html">For more information about past and future events check out the 'events 2013' page</a></span>.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Hidden Art Exhibition at Rookwood</u> -- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">21st Sept - 31st Oct</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimg.org/5m9ej09mf/IMG_4551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://s5.postimg.org/5m9ej09mf/IMG_4551.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Every year there is an art exhibition in Rookwood Cemetery, it is <b><u>free</u></b> and quite fun, seeing the different exhibits on display among the graves. I particularly like how some incorporate that specific place of the cemetery within their artwork.<br />
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On the last day they hold a little closing ceremony with videos and food, which was very fun and informative last year.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hidden.rookwoodcemetery.com.au/" target="_blank">Hidden homepage with more information</a></span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>ESMP Open Day</u> --</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> 26th Oct</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimg.org/4qu3glgl3/IMG_3919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://s5.postimg.org/4qu3glgl3/IMG_3919.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The 2012 Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park open day was a blast, I really had a great time and there was such a variety of stuff to see and do. This is also one of the only funeral home open days I know of.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>When </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">26th</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> October, <b>11am </b>to<b> 2pm</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Where </b></i></span><b> - </b><a href="http://www.esmp.net.au/contact-us/map.aspx" style="background-color: white; color: #5b0899; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Military Rd, Matraville</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/esmp-open-day.html">My post about the ESMP 2012 open day</a></b></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)</u> -- 2nd </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">November</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://cdn.eventfinder.com.au/uploads/events/transformed/252098-76824-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://cdn.eventfinder.com.au/uploads/events/transformed/252098-76824-14.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
This is a new event, or at least one I have not heard of in Sydney before. It's a celebration of things related to death and the way life and death are so entangled. There will be a skull painting competition and more.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>When </i></b></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2nd</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> November, <b>9am </b>to<b> 5pm</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Where</b></i></span><b> - </b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Gore Hill Oval/Park</span>, <u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Gore+Hill+Park&hl=en&cid=1081283275369122224&gl=AU&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A">Corner of Pacific Hwy and Reserve Rd</a></span></u>, St Leonards.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.eventfinder.com.au/2013/dia-de-los-muertos/sydney/st-leonards">Day of the dead event page</a></span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Living with Our Dead</u> -- 10th </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">November</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://livingwithourdead.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fb-group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://livingwithourdead.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fb-group.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Living with our dead is an event organised by a Sydney celebrant to remember and honour the deceased and bring the idea of death into an acceptable and public setting. I don't have any other information at this stage, so if you're interested follow the link below.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://livingwithourdead.com/">Living with our dead site</a></b></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_212558995425791&ap=1">Living with our dead FaceBook page</a></b></span>.<br />
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<b> </b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theothersideoffunerals.blogspot.com.au/p/events-2013.html">For more information about past and future events check out the 'events 2013' page</a></span>.</b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-69216268064205140412013-08-28T10:45:00.000+10:002013-08-28T10:45:00.855+10:00Guest Post: Top 10 Tips for Planning a Funeral<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's a guest post by Tom Reynolds, a co-owner of <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.memorialsofdistinction.co.uk/headstones">Memorials of Distinction</a></span> with 10 tips when planning a funeral. It's an interesting read with some good points. Normally I don't look at how to organise or plan a funeral from a family/mourners/deceased perspective. But a lot of people want this and find it helpful, plus it's great to get a more diverse perspective on the blog.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Arranging a funeral can be a stressful time
in a persons' life especially if it needs to be done unexpectedly. Although
many people try to put off making plans for when they or a loved one passes
away, there's a lot to be said to having things in place just in case. However,
it's human nature to avoid thinking about it, but if you do make plans, it will
make things that much easier at a difficult time when you have lost a loved
one. Below are 10 tips for planning a funeral.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Organise poems or songs for the funeral
service</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Image source:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> <a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5122/5258046273_64e7f88ed8.jpg">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5122/5258046273_64e7f88ed8.jpg</a></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">1 Avoid Panicking</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There's absolutely no reason for you to be
rushed into making any decisions at a time when you need to think about things,
and sort out feelings. If you think things are moving too fast for you, then
slow them down so you are able to take stock of the situation and your
feelings.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">2 Take Time to Say Goodbye</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Take your time to think about the person
who has just passed away so you have the time to say goodbye to them. Although,
the funeral parlour may want to take over and organise everything for you, try
not to let them unless you really feel you cannot cope on your own.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Attendants at the graveside</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Image source: <a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/43/87284804_f6760a6e1a_z.jpg"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">http://farm1.staticflickr.com/43/87284804_f6760a6e1a_z.jpg</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">3 Be in Control</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Being involved in the arrangements and <a href="http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/portals/0/checklistsandforms_funeralplanningchecklist.pdf">time-table</a>
of the funeral means you are more in control of how fast or slow things are
done – remember, you need to take your time and do things when you feel
comfortable about doing them.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">4 Concentrate on Things That Matter</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Concentrate on the things that matter to
you and avoid wasting any of your money on the things that are just not
important to you. When it comes to contacting the funeral home, make sure you
do not just accepted the first one you came across – you need to feel happy
with the people who will be taking care of your loved one.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">5 Do Your Research</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Organising and planning a funeral is an
expensive business, so you need to treat the whole process as you would buying
or organising any other important event in your life. When you do decide on a
funeral home, make sure they provide you with an itemised list of their costs –
this is something funeral parlours are obliged to do.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">6 Choose Aspects of a Package</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If you are not happy with a complete
funeral package you are offered, choose the aspects you do like and go with
them because you do have the right to do this. A reputable funeral parlour
would accept your choices – if you want to keep things simple, you can.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">7 Organise Songs for the Funeral</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A good idea is to organise and sing songs
at your loved one's funeral. This will help everyone who attends to be part of
the ceremony. If you know someone who sings well, ask them to take the lead in
the singing.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">8 Ask For Help</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If you feel you need help with anything, you
should never be afraid of asking people to give you advice or a helping hand.
If people offer help, you should accept because people do love to give a
helping hand whether physical or just moral support when times are difficult.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">9 Understand the Cost</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If there is anything you don't understand
about the <a href="https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-much-does-a-funeral-cost">costs</a>
and services a funeral parlour will be charging you for, then ask for it all to
be clarified in writing so you can then discuss it with family and friends.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">10 Understand What You Are Paying For</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The sort of services you would expect to be
offered and therefore charged for by a funeral parlour includes the following:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Wingdings 2;">- </span>Embalming and any other preparation of the body.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Wingdings 2;">- </span>The use of the funeral parlour for viewing, memorial service,
funeral ceremony or a graveside service.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Wingdings 2;">- </span>Hearse and limousines.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Wingdings 2;">- </span>Casket or urn.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Wingdings 2;">- </span>Burial or cremation.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Wingdings 2;">- </span>Flowers.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Conclusion</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There is a lot to organise when it comes to
funerals which is why it is that much better to plan things earlier. Although
it is always hard to talk about death, it is something everyone does have to
face up to sooner or later. Being prepared does make it that much easier for
all concerned at a very difficult time.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i>Author bio</i>: Tom Reynolds is one of the
co-owners of Memorials of Distinction - a long established, family owned <a href="http://www.memorialsofdistinction.co.uk/headstones">headstones</a> and
memorial specialists serving the public and memorial trade in the UK</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Image credits:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46123010@N04/5258046273/sizes/m/"><span class="InternetLink"><span lang="EN-US">themostinept</span></span></a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/87284804/sizes/z/"><span class="InternetLink"><span lang="EN-US">blmurch</span></span></a><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-71985004487112975502013-08-21T10:45:00.000+10:002013-08-21T10:45:00.183+10:00The TAFE Mortuary Sciences Course Recently someone sent me this link, it's the information for the '<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.sydneytafe.edu.au/coursefinder//29004#.UhFC6mSSCuN">Mortuary Theatre Practices</a></u></span>' at TAFE. It looks like an interesting course, and while not essential for the funeral industry it could certainly be useful or at least informative.<br />
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For more information follow the link below:<br />
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<a href="http://www.sydneytafe.edu.au/coursefinder//29004#.UhFC6mSSCuN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.sydneytafe.edu.au/coursefinder//29004#.UhFC6mSSCuN</span></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819588144214105150.post-38357154051887771692013-08-20T23:24:00.000+10:002013-08-25T21:14:02.337+10:00Mortuary Station Graffiti I was on the train a while ago and noticed some graffiti on the poster memorialising Australia's first female architect, Florence Mary Taylor.<br />
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<a href="http://s5.postimg.org/lfyrg1buf/IMG_8320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://s5.postimg.org/lfyrg1buf/IMG_8320.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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Mortuary station itself is covered in graffiti, so it's interesting that this poster/memorial lasted so long without any graffiti considering the area.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1