I received a call recently from an associate in the industry from another state. A family member was approaching EOL and they were wanting some guidance as to how they could handle the funeral themselves as a family here in Queensland.
Of course I offered my support and am glad to say that they were able to achieve what they wanted in the end, however, there were some obstacles. The biggest one facing Queensland residents is the lack of legislation, the lack of clear guidance. There is so much misinformation out there that it could have easily gone the other way.
You have the right to collect your person from a hospital morgue, but what would you do if they won’t listen? What would you do – knowing it is your right – if a government run cemetery told you a funeral director needed to be involved?
When Mum died, we used the Brisbane City Council run crematorium in Mt Gravatt. They even provide a booklet for families wanting to DIY. It outlines all the things to consider and makes it clear that a funeral director is not required.
We will work with others in the industry to get the message across to hospitals and cemeteries. At their most vulnerable, families should not need to deal with this added and completely unnecessary stress.
If you haven’t read our story, please do here => https://zurl.co/Qx8n
