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Facts and statistics One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of many people. Australia is a world leader for successful transplants. Australia’s donation rate has more than doubled in recent years. Did you know? Around 1,400 Australians are currently waitlisted for a transplant. A further 11,000 are on dialysis, many of whom would benefit from a kidney transplant. In 2017, 1,675 lives were transformed by 510 deceased and 273 living organ donors and their families. In 2017, more than 9,600 Australians benefited from eye and tissue donation. The majority of Australians (69%) are willing to donate their organs and/or tissue when they die. In Australia, 90% of families say yes to donation when their loved one is a registered donor. This compares to the national consent rate of 59%. If our national consent rate reaches 70%, Australia would be in the top 10 performing countries. One in three Australians are registered donors despite the majority (69%) believing that registering is important. While the majority of Australians (71%) think it’s important to talk a with their family/partner, only half (51%) of Australians have discussed whether they want to be a donor. Of the 36% of Australians who feel confident they know if their loved ones are willing to be a donor, 93% say they would uphold their wishes. Would you like to know more? https://donatelife.gov.au/about-donation/get-facts/facts-and-statistics

Funeral poems or memorial verses are a common part of a funeral service. When it’s so hard to express your loss in your own words, beautiful poetry from famous writers can convey what it feels like to say goodbye. 1. Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep “Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on snow.” This uplifting bereavement poem was written by Mary Elizabeth Frye in the 1930s. 2. She is Gone “You can shed tears that she is gone Or you can smile because she has lived.” This short verse is a popular funeral poem, based on a prose poem by David Harkins. It’s about being grateful for time spent with a loved one. 3. Farewell My Friends “Farewell, my friends. It was beautiful As long as it lasted, The journey of my life.” Writer and musician Rabindranath Tagore penned this beautiful funeral verse giving thanks for a life well-lived. 4. Afterglow “I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.” This short remembrance poem by Helen Lowrie Marshall is about how you’d like to be remembered after you are gone. 5. Let Me Go “When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom filled room Why cry for a soul set free?” Famous 19th Century poet Christina Rossetti wrote many different poems about death and grief, but perhaps none more beautiful than this short memorial verse. 6. My Journey’s Just Begun “Don’t think of me as gone away, My journey’s just begun. Life holds so many facets, This earth is but one.” This short funeral poem by Ellen Brenneman is an uplifting verse about life after death. Although not explicitly Christian, it does convey a sense of peace in another place after death, making it appropriate for someone who was spiritual, but not necessarily of a particular faith. 7. To Those Whom I Love and Those Who Love Me “When I am gone, release me, let me go. I have so many things to see and do, You mustn’t tie yourself to me with too many tears, But be thankful we had so many good years.” This funeral poem acknowledges the need to say goodbye to a loved one, letting them go and learning to live without them – but it also offers the comfort that love lives on in your heart. 8. Remember Me – I Will Live Forever “Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby’s face or love in the eyes of a woman. Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.” Robert Test penned this modern remembrance poem as a eulogy for someone whose organs or tissue has … Read More

Death is the one great certainty in life. Some of us will die in ways out of our control, and most of us will be unaware of the moment of death itself. Still, death and dying can be approached in a healthy way. The primary course of action when death is near is to fulfil the dying person’s wishes. If the person is dying from an illness, ideally, they will have participated in decisions about how to live and die. If the requests made do not seem practical to the caregiver, options should be raised with the dying individual to try to accommodate his or her request and still provide adequate care. If the dying individual has not been able to participate in formulating final plans, you should strive to do what you think this person would want. If you find yourself in these circumstances and you do not know how to approach it, then please give us a call and speak to us.

Power of attorney A power of attorney is a formal document giving another person the authority to make personal and/or financial decisions on your behalf. Personal decisions relate to your care and welfare, including your health care, (e.g. deciding where or with whom you live or consenting to medical treatment). Financial decisions relate to the management of your finances (e.g. paying your bills and taxes, selling or renting your home, using your income to pay for your needs or invest your money). There are 2 types of power of attorney: 1. general power of attorney 2. enduring power of attorney. Do you want to know more?  Then follow this link:  https://www.qld.gov.au/law/legal-mediation-and-justice-of-the-peace/power-of-attorney-and-making-decisions-for-others/power-of-attorney

Advance health directive An advance health directive (AHD)—sometimes called a living will—is a formal way to give instructions about your future health care. It comes into effect only if your cognitive health deteriorates and you become unable to make your own decisions (i.e. lose capacity to make decisions). For further information, please visit:  https://www.qld.gov.au/law/legal-mediation-and-justice-of-the-peace/power-of-attorney-and-making-decisions-for-others/advance-health-directive

The Five Stages of Grief is a widely accepted model for how we deal with grief. Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross developed the theory while working with terminally ill patients. She introduced her model in the 1969 book, “On Death and Dying. The Five Stages of Grief”. Since the book was published, “The Stages” theory has helped many people understand their feelings after the loss of someone close to them. Of course, everyone experiences grief differently so you may not feel each of the Stages as they are defined in a “textbook” way. The important thing is that you recognize that the feelings you may be having are normal. Denial  — At first, you may feel numb or as if you are in shock. It’s hard to believe that your loved one has actually died and will no longer be a part of your life. You may find yourself thinking that “it cannot possibly be.” During the denial stage, many people withdraw and isolate themselves from others. Anger —You may be angry at the person who has died, the situation, your family members, the doctor, or even yourself. Most experts recommend that you recognize your anger for what it is and you allow yourself to work through it. Bargaining — You may try to make a deal with a higher power so that your loved one will not be ill or die. Understandably, you want things to go back to the way they were. Your mind may also be filled with a lot of “only ifs” and “what ifs.” Only if one more procedure is done, only if we had done…  Going through this stage can help you deal with the aftermath of the loss. Depression — You may feel overwhelming sadness and emptiness. It may be hard to go about daily activities. This is a very natural reaction to a loss. While it is not unusual to feel depression after a loss, you may be concerned about these feelings. If you are worried about how you feel, do not hesitate to seek help. Acceptance — After some time you will begin to feel that things will be OK. You may never get over missing the person you have lost, but you feel ready to move on. For more information on this topic, please visit:  https://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/

Grief is a natural reaction to the loss we experience when someone we care about dies. As painful and difficult as it is, the grieving process is an important step in healing. There are no quick fixes but there are things you can do to help make coping easier. 1) Don’t rush yourself: Working through grief takes time. While you may be anxious for things to return to normal, you should give yourself time to mourn. 2) Stay connected: Spend time with friends and family. Being around people who care about you and that you care about can help. Resist the urge to isolate yourself. 3) Take care of yourself: Eat properly and get enough sleep. Staying active can help you stay strong and put you in a better position to deal with your feelings. Exercise has been shown to cause metabolic changes that can help relieve sadness. 4) Do what you enjoy: If you have a hobby or activity that gives you pleasure, by all means, take part in it. Doing the things we enjoy can provide a welcome relief. For some people, listening to music helps. For others, spending time outdoors, taking in a play, or reading a good book can be an escape. 5) Get help if you feel you need it: Sadness is perfectly normal, but if you feel you cannot attend to your normal activities or you are worried that you are not coping well, reach out. Talk with friends or family members, consult with your doctor or call a hotline.

Is there such a thing as a good funeral? After all, someone has died. We believe that a good funeral is a meaningful one. A life is commemorated, friends express their condolences, and a grieving family is comforted. The ceremony can take many forms, there is no right or wrong way to do it. There could be music and prayers, tears and laughter. At its conclusion, there is a general feeling that it was a fitting send off. Acknowledge the reality of the death. It is often hard to accept the death of a loved one, but a meaningful funeral service acknowledges the reality of the death. Move toward the pain of the loss. The funeral helps us express and embrace the pain of our grief enabling us to begin to heal. Remember the person who died. A meaningful funeral enables us to share memories of the person who died. This enables us to change from their physical presence to one based on memories. Develop a new self-identity. Loss of a loved one often changes our role. We may no longer be a husband, or a daughter, or a parent except in memory. The funeral serves as a “rite of passage” that begins the process of developing a new self-identity for the bereaved. Search for meaning. A funeral provides an opportunity to explore the meaning of life and death. This may help to reinforce our faith and provide comfort. Receive ongoing support from others. Our attendance at a funeral demonstrates support for the bereaved and provides a venue for them to accept support in their grief.

“At-Need” funeral arrangements are made at the time of death, usually by surviving family members or by a trusted friend on behalf of the deceased. Making funeral plans at the time of death are particularly difficult because the time frame is short and emotions are high as family members and friends are dealing with their grief. Not only is there much planning to do, there are also imminent financial concerns. “Pre-Need” plans (also known as “Preplanning”) are the funeral plans that people make for the living. Pre-Need funeral plans can be made at any time and offer many advantages. Top 5 Reasons to Preplan Your Funeral If any of the following statements describes you, then you are probably someone who will appreciate the benefits of preplanning your funeral. You want to ease the burden on your family. If your wishes are unknown when you die, they will be faced with making difficult decisions at a trying time. Will they know if you wish to be buried or cremated? Will they agree on a coffin? Will they agree on how much to spend? Confusion and disagreements are common occurrences when there is no plan to follow. You can avoid this by leaving behind a plan. You want to assume the financial responsibility for your funeral. Planning ahead enables you to make financial arrangements to cover your funeral costs. Even if you are leaving behind sufficient money, will your survivors be able to access it? You want your family to have the benefit of a meaningful funeral. A funeral is an important event for a grieving family. Psychologically, it provides a sense of closure and enables the family to begin the healing process. Families benefit emotionally and socially by honouring the lives of their loved ones with a fitting ceremony and by giving them a proper send off. It is difficult to make the funeral the best it can be when planning it in a short time. You want your final wishes to be followed. If you have specific preferences for the disposition of your remains and the nature of your funeral services, you can clearly express them in your funeral plan. You may have a preference for burial or cremation, or the music and readings at your funeral. Or you may not want a funeral ceremony. Whatever your wishes, they need to be set forth in your funeral plan. You want to be self-reliant and have your affairs in order at the end of your life. Taking care of your funeral arrangements is a thoughtful and caring thing to do for your family. It is comforting to know that you have done all you can do to ease their burden. Contact us today to help you preplan your funeral or alternatively, download our eBook from this website  to assist you with this.  

One of the best ways to honour the memory of your loved one is by playing a song or songs that they loved or the ones that you love that remind you of them. The following is a list of songs that you could choose from.  Take the time to have a listen and then write it down somewhere for easy reference. Enjoy! When September Ends – Green Day Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton Keep Me in Your Heart – Wayne Zevon, Album “The Wild” is said to be full of good songs for funerals The Show Must Go On! – Queen Go Rest High On That Mountain – Vince Hill I’ll be missing you – Puff Daddy and Faith Evans The Living Years – Mike and The Mechanics (might be a bit too melancholy, even for a funeral about irreconciled father and son) Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air – Paul Kelly – Religious Connotations See You Again – Whizz Khalifa Courtney’s Song – James Blunt   Dance with my Father – Luther Vandross Old Hat – Clare Dunn Talk Is Cheap – Alan Jackson When I get where I’m going – Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton Perfect – Ed Sheeran True Blue – John Williamson The Gambler – Kenny Rogers Angel – Sarah McLaughlin The Carnival is Over – The Seekers Travellers Prayer-Slim Dusty Leave Him in the Long Yard- Slim Dusty Lights on the Hill- Slim Dusty Looking Forward, Looking Back – Slim Dusty Never Tear Us Apart – INXS The Day You Went Away – Wendy Matthews You Decorated My Life – Kenny Rogers The Man in the Picture –  Ian McNamara Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel K I will Always Love You – Whitney Houston I will Remember You – Sarah McLaughan You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins To Where You Are – Josh Groban Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler Forever Young – Bob Dylan One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men Yesterday – Beatles The Prayer – Celine Dion and Josh Groban Always On My Mind – Elvis There Goes My Everything – Elvis Time to Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers Danny Boy – Jim Reeves/ Foster & Allen