Latest news with #funeralservices
SBS Australia
18 hours ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
Cremated with water. Buried at sea. There's more than fire and coffins in Australia
The first facility to offer water cremations in Tasmania opened in 2023. Source: SBS Some readers might find this content distressing. Inside a quiet Hobart warehouse, a woman's body is undergoing water cremation. For 10 to 12 hours, her body will lie inside a stainless steel chamber where a hot, alkaline solution (think the opposite of acidic) breaks down soft tissue – proteins, blood, and fat – until only bones and metal implants, if she has any, remain. The temperature is hot — 93C, but far less hot than a flame cremation, which reaches 800 to 1,000C. Colloquially, it's come to be known as a water cremation, but its technical term is alkaline hydrolysis. "It's a way of completely unmaking the chemical bonds that exist in the body," said Luke Cripps, co-director of the only facility in Tasmania offering the service. "There's usually about 20 to 30 per cent more remains when we complete a water cremation process than a flame cremation." As water streams continuously over the body, Cripps explains, it mimics what happens in a traditional burial — when rain filters down through the soil and the casket or coffin and slowly breaks a body down over time. "It's easy when we pop someone underground to go, 'That's gone now,'" he said. "But what happens beyond that point is alkaline hydrolysis. It just takes a really long time." This water crematorium in Tasmania was opened in 2023 by co-directors Brendan Cooper and Luke Cripps, who wanted to bring more choice to people. There are many reasons people choose this path. Firstly, it's undeniably more environmentally friendly, he says, explaining that there's "roughly a 90 per cent reduction in emissions" compared to flame cremation. The residual liquid, stripped of DNA and RNA but rich in salts and sugars, can be repurposed — used, he says, to help nourish overfarmed parts of Tasmania. But it's not only about science or sustainability. Again and again, families return to the same word when explaining their choice: gentle. The feeling, Cripps says, of a softer goodbye. "That's really the primary concern from all of the families that we work with. Are you somebody who's going to take care of the person that I love? And are you going to treat them gently? And there's an association for them with water that is gentle," he said. Water cremation is now regulated and available in Queensland, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and South Australia. In Western Australia, it's available, but only for pets. Most Australians, around 70 per cent, choose cremation, according to researchers at the University of Melbourne. However, this figure probably includes a small percentage of water cremations, as the numbers are lumped together, says Professor Michael Arnold of the DeathTech research team at the university. In Australia, a growing number of people are choosing a natural burial, which is allowed in some Australian states. In designated parks, you can be laid to rest in a simple shroud or biodegradable clothing. No chemicals to embalm the body. No polished casket. Straight into the ground. Instead of a headstone, there's a communal marker that holds the names of everyone resting beneath the soil. In Kurweeton Cemetery in Victoria, people are being buried upright. Some Australians are exploring the idea of a "mushroom suit". The suit is embedded with mushroom spores and microbes that aid decomposition, neutralise toxins, and return nutrients to the soil. Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW include it on their list of eco-friendly options, but the suits are still rare and not widely available. Beyond that, some Australians are starting to ask: what about composting our bodies? It's not permitted here yet, but human composting — also called natural organic reduction — is already allowed in at least 10 US states, with more expected to follow soon. It's a process that turns a body into nutrient-rich soil, which some see as a way of giving back to the earth in death. Donating your body to science is another way some people choose to leave a legacy — helping researchers or teaching the next generation of health professionals. If your donation is accepted, universities or hospitals usually cover the cost of cremation afterwards, though not burial. It's worth knowing that your family might not get your remains back for several years — and in some cases, not at all — depending on the program. Each place has its own rules, so it's a good idea to look into the details ahead of time. Others are choosing a cardboard box, which is more cost-friendly and gives loved ones a place to write a message. One of the most notable studies on the environmental impacts of funeral practices, comparing water cremation, flame cremation and traditional burial, ranked them in that order from lowest environmental impact to highest impact. In Australia, burials at sea are legal but require a permit issued by the federal government, and only certain deep-water locations are approved. Connections to the ocean—like being a fisherman or surfer—can support a sea burial application, but they're not required. Scattering ashes at sea doesn't need a permit. The body, wrapped in a biodegradable shroud and weighted to sink, is released into open water. With the baby boomer generation about to take Australia into "peak death", as deathcare experts have been calling it, many in the industry have been calling for innovation. Currently, Australia's funeral industry is facing challenges on multiple fronts. Earlier this year, a 113-hectare site in Sydney's southwest opened to tackle the shortage of burial plots in Sydney's long-standing cemeteries, which are nearing capacity. Arnold from the DeathTech research team at the University of Melbourne, who says Melbourne is facing the same problem, says being buried itself is not a problem. "The question is: 'if you have not grown up and lived and have a connection to the community, do you want to travel? Do you want your family to drive all that distance to the new cemetery, over an hour in traffic in the car?'" Arnold told The Feed. "The challenge for the industry is meeting competing demands in the market." If you have not grown up and lived and have a connection to the community, do you want to travel? Do you want your family to drive all that distance to the new cemetery? Professor Michael Arnold, DeathTech research team at the University of Melbourne In 2019, burial costs were estimated at $9,055, compared to $11,039 in 2023. Cremations cost an estimated $6,334 in 2019, whereas the estimate for 2023 is $8,045. There are some perception issues when it comes to bringing in new methods of death care, Paola Magni, an associate professor of forensic science who studies decomposition at Perth's Murdoch University, told The Feed. "There is a problem with the word 'aqua cremation'. You think the water washes but not destroys — (but) there is nothing human left," she said. Even though what remains in the liquid after water cremation moves into tanks and is no longer recognisably human — a sterile mix reduced to things like amino acids and sugars — some mistakenly believe that a body is being "flushed" into the water system. Others worry about safety risks. Cripps from the water crematorium in Tasmania said the biggest hurdle to getting the facility running was proving that the liquid posed no risk. 'We had a really long time talking with the water regulator in Tasmania about making sure that we could establish that the water that comes out the other end of this process is safe, that it's non-toxic, that it's able to be treated,' he said. Arnold says the willingness to make a big leap and break from tradition, unsurprisingly, is hard to drive. "Safer for the family to do what the family's always done, safer for the funeral industry to do what they have always done," he says. "You only get one chance. It cannot go wrong. If something goes wrong at a funeral, the funeral director can't turn to everybody and say, 'okay, everybody. Come back tomorrow and we'll start again.'" But co-director of the water crematorium, Brendan Cooper, says he anticipates growing interest. "As awareness grows about water cremation as well as the environmental benefits of it, the sustainability of it and the gentle sort of nature of it, it will become more popular as opposed to the other options," he said. "And that's all it is — another option."
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Final journey home: Community groups unite in 19-hearse convoy for UPSI crash victims
JERTIH, June 9 — Nineteen hearses were dispatched to Perak to transport the remains of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who were killed in a tragic road accident along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, early this morning. Pertubuhan Amal Komuniti Besut (Amal Besut), chairman Mohd Azizul Azli Mohd Sani, said six of the hearses were provided by the community charity organisation and one by Amal Setiu. 'The rest came from mosques in Besut, the Kuala Besut state assembly coordinator's office and several non-governmental organisations in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan,' he said when met at Masjid Hadhari today. Mohd Azizul Azli said 46 volunteers were involved in the convoy, including 16 individuals trained in Islamic funeral rites to assist with preparations before the remains were brought home. He added that Amal Besut also brought along complete funeral management supplies, including burial shrouds. 'All funeral and transport services for the victims are provided free of charge by Amal Besut,' he said. Meanwhile, Besut police chief Supt Azamuddin Ahmad said the district police headquarters had been assigned to escort the hearse convoy to and from Perak to ensure a smooth journey. — Bernama
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
NZ's first water cremation service available in Christchurch
life and society 20 minutes ago While on holiday in Bali seven years ago, at accommodation next door to a crematorium, Christchurch woman Debbie Richards started thinking about what happens when we die. She said when she came across the idea of water cremation she decided she would take the leap to get it introduced to New Zealand. Now, the first water cremation service is available in Christchurch at Bell, Lamb and Trotter funeral directors, and Debbie Richards hopes that soon the service will be available all over the country. Rachel Graham has more.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meet the family behind three centuries old funeral business
'Never go to sleep on an argument' was the sage advice Jeremy Field's grandfather gave him and his two siblings the night before their weddings. It is a life lesson the trio, whose family motto is 'Care above all', have also taken into running 10th generational firm CPJ Field, the oldest independent funeral director in the UK after the family enterprise was enlisted to make its first coffin in 1690. Field, together with his brother and sister, sit down once or twice a year with a facilitator to review their employment contracts. 'We review what we have between us, how we will behave, treat each other and how we work together," says Field. "We just keep that moving.' With revenue close to £10m, the Sussex-based business has done just that. Over 335 years, it has conducted more than 1 million funerals – from Queen Victoria to John Wayne-themed send-offs. It currently employs about 120 full-time staff and oversees burial, cremation and funeral planning options. Read More: 'I lost my mother suddenly and now I'm helping people plan for death Run by siblings Jeremy, Emily and Charles, who are now all co-CEOs, CPJ Field is seen as a leader in personalised services across 35 funeral homes in the south of England, from Bedfordshire to Brighton, and under different brand names. 'The local trading names have high levels of brand recognition,' says Field. 'Let's take Heritage & Sons in Buckinghamshire. It is etched in the windows and says CPJ Field once you come into the funeral home and you transact with CPJ Field. 'We are as upfront and transparent as we can be about it, without taking off a 150-year-old brand name from the outside of the building and getting everyone to think that we've just become a new business.' The company has been subject to several 'hostile' takeover bids from US conglomerates in the last 70 years and a 'bump in the road' in the mid-90s when the old business, JD Field & Sons, which was partly listed on the stock exchange, lost family ownership. Field's father, Colin, then started a new firm in 1994, before Jeremy approached the owners of the old family business. 'I asked them if they would consider letting us reconnect to our history? And they said yes,' recalls Jeremy, who joined the firm aged 29. 'I was touring the funeral homes with my father in my early teens,' he adds. 'I was learning the ropes and I realised just how much had gone in via osmosis all those years ago when we were going around in the car. So, it's not just about funerals, it's family business. 'I always had a line that I was going to go and do something first. I tried to join the army, they weren't keen and I'm not bitter. But I didn't like the idea that somehow my future was preordained for me.' Today, the firm continues to innovate — it used a glass-sided hearse to take coffins to funerals back in the 19th century — and is billed as the leading provider of funeral management software to the sector since 2014. 'We were looking at the way we talk to families of deceased people about funeral arrangements and the tools that we had to support the administration of what we were doing,' says Field. Read More: Meet the company that finds 'must-haves' to make everyday life easier 'We established that we didn't really feel there was a product out there that really supported that, so we began the process of designing our own funeral management software.' Pre-COVID, CPJ Field decided to offer the multi-million pound platform as cloud-based technology business for funeral arranging, with over 75 UK and European FD clients. 'I think we've got a pretty spectacular piece of software that it's hard to imagine the business without now,' admits Field. It was, says Field, during COVID when resilience was tested as a business and its ability to operate from sites with internet connections. 'It was like nothing I'd ever encountered before,' he admits. 'We were telling our colleagues to do exactly the opposite of what the prime minister was telling everybody to do. 'We needed to lean on the trust that we have as a family business, that we know the people in the company and we know each other, know their families, and to keep being able to provide funeral services for those that needed them most. I think we did that to a very successful degree. 'I was very conscious that I was asking people, for all intents and purposes, to put themselves in harm's way and trust that I would keep them safe. I'm not going to aggravate it by drawing a parallel to it, but it's like nothing I'd ever experienced in commerce before.' Read More: 'Why we set up a sustainable mobile operator to save people money' Field received an OBE in 2022 for services to the funeral profession during the pandemic and leads by the phrase posed by Thomas Lynch, the US poet and funeral director: 'By getting the dead where they need to go, the living get where they need to be'. Meanwhile, the company remains members of the Tercentenarians Club for 300-year-old family businesses, of which CPJ Field is the ninth oldest in the UK. 'We were 12th when we first stuck our head above the parapet on that one,' adds Field, who also followed his father as one of the youngest presidents of the National Association of Funeral Directors. 'We might meet up, talk about the challenges of life and family business, but the difference is we only do it once a year. It's a very jolly club.' How to run a successful family business There's all sorts of stuff about trying to leave the baggage at the door and trying to forget those squabbles you had as kids. Just be honest about how you're feeling. Be honest about what's on your mind. Be honest about what you want to see happen as it's a bit like not going to sleep on an argument. Everybody needs to know where everybody stands, and sometimes that can be painful, and you've got to remember to be kind in the way that you try and have these honest conversations. Pent-up frustrations lead to tension and so family business or otherwise, it's vitally important to always have an employment contract. Read more: Meet the 'jokers from London' who sold 100,000 blocks of butter in first 10 weeks 'My sofa took six months to arrive — so I built a £20m business' 'I paid myself £4 an hour to get my Rollr deodorant off the ground'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The life lesson behind a 335-year-old funeral business? 'Never sleep on an argument'
'Never go to sleep on an argument' was the sage advice Jeremy Field's grandfather gave him and his two siblings the night before their weddings. It is a life lesson the trio, whose family motto is 'Care above all', have also taken into running 10th generational firm CPJ Field, the oldest independent funeral director in the UK after the family enterprise was enlisted to make its first coffin in 1690. Field, together with his brother and sister, sit down once or twice a year with a facilitator to review their employment contracts. 'We review what we have between us, how we will behave, treat each other and how we work together," says Field. "We just keep that moving.' With revenue close to £10m, the Sussex-based business has done just that. Over 335 years, it has conducted more than 1 million funerals – from Queen Victoria to John Wayne-themed send-offs. It currently employs about 120 full-time staff and oversees burial, cremation and funeral planning options. Read More: 'I lost my mother suddenly and now I'm helping people plan for death Run by siblings Jeremy, Emily and Charles, who are now all co-CEOs, CPJ Field is seen as a leader in personalised services across 35 funeral homes in the south of England, from Bedfordshire to Brighton, and under different brand names. 'The local trading names have high levels of brand recognition,' says Field. 'Let's take Heritage & Sons in Buckinghamshire. It is etched in the windows and says CPJ Field once you come into the funeral home and you transact with CPJ Field. 'We are as upfront and transparent as we can be about it, without taking off a 150-year-old brand name from the outside of the building and getting everyone to think that we've just become a new business.' The company has been subject to several 'hostile' takeover bids from US conglomerates in the last 70 years and a 'bump in the road' in the mid-90s when the old business, JD Field & Sons, which was partly listed on the stock exchange, lost family ownership. Field's father, Colin, then started a new firm in 1994, before Jeremy approached the owners of the old family business. 'I asked them if they would consider letting us reconnect to our history? And they said yes,' recalls Jeremy, who joined the firm aged 29. 'I was touring the funeral homes with my father in my early teens,' he adds. 'I was learning the ropes and I realised just how much had gone in via osmosis all those years ago when we were going around in the car. So, it's not just about funerals, it's family business. 'I always had a line that I was going to go and do something first. I tried to join the army, they weren't keen and I'm not bitter. But I didn't like the idea that somehow my future was preordained for me.' Today, the firm continues to innovate — it used a glass-sided hearse to take coffins to funerals back in the 19th century — and is billed as the leading provider of funeral management software to the sector since 2014. 'We were looking at the way we talk to families of deceased people about funeral arrangements and the tools that we had to support the administration of what we were doing,' says Field. Read More: Meet the company that finds 'must-haves' to make everyday life easier 'We established that we didn't really feel there was a product out there that really supported that, so we began the process of designing our own funeral management software.' Pre-COVID, CPJ Field decided to offer the multi-million pound platform as cloud-based technology business for funeral arranging, with over 75 UK and European FD clients. 'I think we've got a pretty spectacular piece of software that it's hard to imagine the business without now,' admits Field. It was, says Field, during COVID when resilience was tested as a business and its ability to operate from sites with internet connections. 'It was like nothing I'd ever encountered before,' he admits. 'We were telling our colleagues to do exactly the opposite of what the prime minister was telling everybody to do. 'We needed to lean on the trust that we have as a family business, that we know the people in the company and we know each other, know their families, and to keep being able to provide funeral services for those that needed them most. I think we did that to a very successful degree. 'I was very conscious that I was asking people, for all intents and purposes, to put themselves in harm's way and trust that I would keep them safe. I'm not going to aggravate it by drawing a parallel to it, but it's like nothing I'd ever experienced in commerce before.' Read More: 'Why we set up a sustainable mobile operator to save people money' Field received an OBE in 2022 for services to the funeral profession during the pandemic and leads by the phrase posed by Thomas Lynch, the US poet and funeral director: 'By getting the dead where they need to go, the living get where they need to be'. Meanwhile, the company remains members of the Tercentenarians Club for 300-year-old family businesses, of which CPJ Field is the ninth oldest in the UK. 'We were 12th when we first stuck our head above the parapet on that one,' adds Field, who also followed his father as one of the youngest presidents of the National Association of Funeral Directors. 'We might meet up, talk about the challenges of life and family business, but the difference is we only do it once a year. It's a very jolly club.' How to run a successful family business There's all sorts of stuff about trying to leave the baggage at the door and trying to forget those squabbles you had as kids. Just be honest about how you're feeling. Be honest about what's on your mind. Be honest about what you want to see happen as it's a bit like not going to sleep on an argument. Everybody needs to know where everybody stands, and sometimes that can be painful, and you've got to remember to be kind in the way that you try and have these honest conversations. Pent-up frustrations lead to tension and so family business or otherwise, it's vitally important to always have an employment contract. Read more: Meet the 'jokers from London' who sold 100,000 blocks of butter in first 10 weeks 'My sofa took six months to arrive — so I built a £20m business' 'I paid myself £4 an hour to get my Rollr deodorant off the ground'
