It might happen to all of us at some point and rank alongside taxes as one of life’s absolute certainties, but death is not something people like to discuss or even fully understand.
That’s something the Dying to Know mini-expo in Altona on August 10 is aiming to change.
Held at the Louis Joel Community Arts (LJAC), the inaugural mini-expo at the centre is the brainchild of organiser and Hobsons Bay local Lee Smith-Moir.
“It’s aimed at increasing death literacy in the community,” said Ms Smith-Moir, who came up with the idea after attending monthly Death Cafe events at LJAC where conversations on death and dying are encouraged.
“Everyone’s afraid to speak about dying so we’re just trying to normalise it and open conversations about end of life.”
Ms Smith-Moir said this was important as the lack of knowledge and understanding about death and dying can add a lot of extra pain to what is already an emotional time.
“It can lead to family conflicts if people don’t know what you want the end of your life to be.”
As well as obvious topics like life funerals and wills, lesser known aspects of death such as digital legacies and what happens to phones, laptops and social media accounts, will be discussed, as will natural burials, home funerals and Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD).
“Our featured speaker has direct experience with VAD in her family and will share her family’s very positive experience,” Ms Smith-Moir said.
Details: http://www.ljac.com.au/
