“Really enjoyed your presentation this morning - thank you!”
Understand Death Better Q&A, 3 October 2023
"Thanks for the excellent talk on 'Understanding Death Better' last week. I thought it was very informative and made me think further about advance care directives.”
Understand Death Better Q&A, 1 September 2023
"It was lovely to meet you and be part of the workshop."
Understand Death Better Q&A, 22 May 2023.
“Margaret was warm and engaging and made us all feel comfortable and included…”
“I appreciated hearing from other people’s personal journeys & perspectives including lay people affected by grief...”
“Excellent.”
Participants – Living with Grief seminar - Calvary Bereavement Counselling Service.
Guest Speaker and Facilitator – Margaret Rice.
Kogarah September 10, 2022
“Thank you again for speaking at the Saturday gathering at St George League’s Club.
You are a wonderful presenter.”
"At my father’s funeral the Celebrant put to us that dying was one of every person’s most important tasks. In "A Good Death: a compassionate and practical guide to prepare for the end of life” Margaret Rice sets out what you need to know to get it done, and in doing so helps us on that difficult road."
Paul McClintock AO
Chair – St Vincent’s Health Australia Group of Companies
“You are doing such good work with Good Grief.”
Sue Brayne, author of Living Fully, Dying Consciously: the path to spiritual wellbeing and The D-Word: talking about dying.
“I’ve used and recommended your book Margaret. It’s a very useful resource for people finding their way through the landscape of grief.”
Petrea King
Founder and CEO, Quest for Life Foundation.
“Thank you, I have signed up to the newsletter and I will go back to the website to get a copy of your book! Keep spreading the word!”
Dennis R.S. Gardener F.I.S.P.W. CeMAP
Principal,
Saltire Will Solutions and
A Vice-President of the Institute of Professional Willwriters
"Having met at a recent virtual forum, I sought out Margaret’s book. It shares the wisdom of palliative care nurses, everyday Australians, and Margaret’s own experiences of companionship to dying loved ones.
In our “death denying culture” reading this book is like a warm embrace and conversation with a close friend. It intimately details what actual happens when someone is dying and what you can do to make that experience for them as triumphant as possible."
Danielle Robertson, Founder and CEO DR Care Solutions.
"This book has been of great use to my family as we reorganised mum (aged 90 years) and dad’s (aged 91 years) affairs over the past year. Their will was over 10 years old and several things had changed for them over the past few years such as selling their family home and moving into a retirement home.
As we think about the next few years and several different possible scenarios, we realised we needed to get them to re-do their will. Some of my siblings did not think this was necessary or was it too much trouble? I realised mum is losing capacity and there was urgency to get this done as soon as possible. The definitions of ‘frailty’, ‘the frailty index’ and ‘capacity’ in this book, enabled me to have these conversations with my siblings. It wasn’t just me (as the ‘bossy’ older sister) suggesting these things, but many times I could quote the book.
We used the book to go through the checklist: will, enduring power of attorney, advanced care directive and a substitute decision maker. I lent the book to a work colleague who was having trouble with her siblings as they navigated putting her mother into a nursing home. Similarly, she found the book was most helpful in assisting her to raise sensitive topics with her siblings and she could show them suggestions in the book.
I also lent the book to a 50 year old friend who has been diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition and needs to get his affairs in order while he still has ‘capacity’. The book enabled me to have a difficult conversation with him and his wife and make some suggestions to them of what they need to do. Chap 9: to organise his will, enduring power of attorney, advanced care directive, and a substitute decision maker.
I am sure as we do navigate the years ahead with the inevitable death of our parents, the book will be ‘worth its weight in gold’."
Sue, Sydney
March 24, 2020
Letter sent to Margaret Rice
How refreshing to see an open and honest discussion on death. As a critical care nurse I am unfortunately exposed to death often.
The concept of a "good death" and quality palliative and end of life care is something that I believe is cruical. This book is an interesting, practical and informative guide to the dying process.
In particular I love how the chapters were set it so it can be used for quick reference. I would encourage everyone to read and have a think about your preparations for the end of life.
Sarah (Wallsend) (internet book review)
September 12, 2019
This book was easy to read and well balanced. I really appreciate that is written by an Australian about our system! And in the last pages I found a story by a colleague from my short stint in a funeral home (Clearly I have an interest in end of life matters). It’s a book I’d like to ask my parents to read, and I anticipate referring back to in the future.
Sarah Nosworthy, (Sydney) (internet book review)
August 14, 2020
This was a great guide to elements of companioning death or dying yourself. Left me with lots to think about from the vantage of middle age. Great that it was Australian and was clear about the cloudy difficult conversations.
Sam (Melbourne) (internet book review)
September 7, 2020
This is a great book for anyone helping a friend or family member through their final journey. It’s full of very helpful information, given in a very respectful way. Not always an easy read, but very helpful indeed.
Roxy, (Melbourne) (internet book review)
September 6, 2020
I really enjoyed your book, thanks so much for your huge contribution to this important area of life, death. Sending good wishes from the East Coast of NZ.
Annie (East Coast New Zealand)
Linkedin, April 18, 2021
"Margaret was excellent in establishing the training needs of the group in the consultation stage. Margaret delivered the training in a professional yet personal manner and made all the participants of the training comfortable as the subject matter could be confronting at times.
Margaret was very supportive and made sure all participants were heard and their feedback was validated in the training. Margaret is very knowledgeable and the group came away with many resources that are useful to support all stakeholders be it personal or ona professional manner.
I would recommend her highly to deliver training."
Vanessa Vale | Manager Macarthur Disability Services Training