Today a Mexican Cross to remember Chris by, because later this morning, Sydney time, his family who are dear to my heart will bury him. They are a large Catholic family just like the one I grew up in and now he, one of the six siblings, is gone. If … Read more
Today, like most of the world, I’m thinking about Christchurch in New Zealand where 49 people died because of an act of horrible violence. It’s a beautiful city and I’m determined to hold on to recent memories of all that is good about it: great people, wonderful walks, innovative architecture … Read more
“Have you been around during the last months of someone’s life, either a friend or a relative?”
Thanks to the wonderful people at Murdoch Books A Good Death: a compassionate and practical guide to prepare for the end of life is now published. To pre-order just follow this link: https://bit.ly/2XeRU9p or this one: https://bit.ly/2X8MNYF What the publishers say: This is a guide to facilitate much needed conversation … Read more
Beautiful Fran Brodie died of ovarian cancer this week at only 72. Here she is on her wedding day. She trained at St Vincents Hospital, Sydney, and then went on to work as a community based palliative care nurse with Neringah Hospital, Wahroonga, where ironically she died this week only … Read more
It’s all about the radio today. Aubrey de Grey is a researcher who believes the first human being who will live for 1000 years has already been born. This morning I was reminded of de Grey when ABC radio interviewer Cassie McCullagh interviewed Professor John Rasko. Tonight, Professor Rasko will … Read more
How do you do what Australia’s ABC radio announcer Jill Emberson is doing and live knowing you will die? No, no, no – I don’t mean how do you live with that terrible truth in the background, that we all have to face. I mean how do you live knowing … Read more
Nearly 80,000 words later and close to completing my ‘life affirming book about death’, I’m back. With more ideas, challenges and stories of people’s experiences to share, as we talk about death. This is one: what if better architecture makes better goodbyes? Here’s something wonderful – thank you to the UK’s … Read more
It’s been quiet around here for a little while because I’ve been working on an exciting project with Murdoch Books. Murdoch Books will be publishing my life affirming book about death in 2019. We agree that dying well is part of the brand’s mission to help people ‘live life well’. … Read more
Music reaches into the souls of the ill and dying. Soft yet powerful comfort can be transported that way. It’s a short cut that music therapist Jenni Sawell is very familiar with. As a harpist who plays for weddings, funerals and special events, she’s expanding her audience to include the … Read more
Could an end of life doula, or amicus mortis help to midwife your death? ‘Doula’ is a Greek word for a woman who gives support, help, and advice to another woman during pregnancy and during and after birth. The word has now spread to cover the same style of care for someone who is dying.
Other expressions which cover support at the end of life are “midwife to the dying” and the Latin term “amicus mortis”, the friend of the dying.
Pauline looked as though she was just doing the ordinary things: just getting on with it because, as she said, you’ve got no choice. But she was being absolutely extraordinary.
When Jenny Briscoe-Hough brought back the idea to her Port Kembla community centre of starting their own not-for-profit funeral service, the idea resonated.She’d wondered whether the loyal stalwarts who attended the centre, seeking support and succour, would be offended. But she was overwhelmed by the way they embraced it. “I … Read more
Australian-born Peter Walsh, who’s made it in LA with blessings from Oprah, has written the ideal gem for those at that difficult time of dismantling their parents’ home. Even though Let It Go, like many of Walsh’s books, is about decluttering generally, it shows what a cleansing experience this can … Read more
The Grieve Project is great because everyone who participates is a winner. When your reader connects with something you’ve said, something powerful is shared. But the best thing is, even if no-one else ever sees it, when we write about our grief, it’s easier to understand. When we write our … Read more