Books about the Australian Funeral Industry

    Here are three good books which look at the history and changes to the Australian funeral landscape.   These books have been an invaluable source for my thesis, and generally understanding the industry as it is today.  The books look at social changes with death, in terms of attitudes, customs, demographics, and so on.  Through knowing how dying and grieving have changed we can understand the funeral industry and funerals in general.

    Anyone studying (or simply interested in) the funeral industry ro funerals anywhere in the world should have a look at these books.

Griffin, G.M., & Tobin, D. (1997). In the Midst of Life: The Australian Response to Death: Melbourne University Publishing.

Jalland, Patricia. (2006). Changing Ways of Death in Twentieth Century Australia : War, Medicine and the Funeral Business. Sydney: Sydney University of NSW Press.

Kellehear, A. (2000). Death and Dying in Australia: Oxford University Press Australia.

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The InvoCare Investigators

    Quite a while ago I was at a funeral and noticed someone rather odd.  Someone I believe to be an 'InvoCare investigator'.

Children, Funerals & Death

    Children and funerals are a touchy and controversial topic.  Many are hesitant, reluctant even, to combine the two.  Choosing to keep children as far from funerals and death as possible.

    However some companies like Macquarie Park Crematorium and Eastern Suburbs funeral home are making a deliberate and conscious space for children.

InvoCare

    Not too long ago I wrote an article 'The InvoCare Share' about how much of the industry InvoCare really owns.  After much research, questionable numbers and a bit of guessing and discussing it with others I came to the conclusion that InvoCare does about 25% of all national funerals.  Not the giants people think them to be.  However InvoCare does about 50,000 SpY (services/funerals per year) while the next biggest company does about 6,000 SpY.  Thus while InvoCare does not own as much of the industry as people think they are by far the biggest single company.

    This then lead to a few questions from people about InvoCare, how good they are, how they treat bodies and funerals as commercial objects and so on.  So I decided to write a little post on what I think of InvoCare.

Working Funerals - Handy Tools of the Trade

Over the year I have found some surprising tools useful as an undertaker.  Something to remember is never keep anything above your waist that has a chance of slipping off when you bend.  I have seen a mourner drop petals into the grave, as he bent over his glasses fell out of his top pocket and down the grave.  There are other numerous stories about dropping phones into decaying bodies on transfers.  Either way, anything above the waist should have little to no chance of falling out or not be missed if it is lost.

• Elastic bands - keeping about four elastic bands in a pocket is always handy.  You can bind papers together, tie flowers to the top of coffins, etc.
• Gloves - a pair of gloves is great to keep.  And I keep a whole box in the vehicle.  Gloves are just so handy in all aspects of this industry.  For example on a funeral family may want the coffin opened and something changed, and the deceased may have an infectious disease.  Or you may have to do something dirty, like change a tire.  Either way keeping a pair on your person so they are quickly and subtly accessible is always good.
• Sunscreen - funeral directors spend a surprising amount of time in the sun. Sure, we wear a three piece suit, but it does not cover our faces or hands. I personally saw three people get melanomas removed while I was at W.N.Bull. And I was only there for one year.
• Lighter - a lighter is perhaps the most surprisingly useful tool.  not only can you light candles but you can use it to melt wax off your suit or burn lose threads off.  It may sound odd, to burn lose threads off, but it is quicker and easier than scissors and will do a better job.  Same with removing wax, it is the best way to get it off without too much fuss.
• Pen - one to two pens is useful for obvious reasons. Make sure they work and look nice. This way if a pen on the condolence book fails you can replace it quickly and easily.
• Tissues - these are incredibly handy, such as using them to clean and/or dry your hands. I recommend small sealed packets of tissues. This stops them breaking appart in your pocket and you can just give people the packet if they ask for a tissue. It looks good and is nicer than giving them a lose tissue from your pocket.
• Paper clips - not all that useful but good little tools. Not only can you keep papers together but you can bend them to any shape and use them for other things if needed. One or two should be enough.
• Mints - a few mints, Tic Tac’s, Menthos or whatever, are very nice to keep.  Not only are they good for keeping your breath fresh but the sugar hit is also nice after a long day with no food.
• Snacks - you can easily find yourself on the road all day in this industry.  And often with no time to stop for anything.  This means you may often miss lunch.  Some biscuits, lollies or other such snacks are great for long days.  Only thing is to make sure it is something you can keep in a pocket quietly and discreetly and that it will not be affected by heat.
• Water - much like the food you will need this on those days where you for a long periods without breaks. And not just in hot weather. Driving in air-conditioned cars for a while is really de-hydrating and can leave you with a headache. So keep a small 250ml bottle of water hidden somewhere.

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Introduction

I have decided to put together a little blog of my experiences from inside the industry for anyone to read.  It should be noted that I have only worked at one funeral home and only for about one year.  Thus I am not the most experienced person in the field.  And yet I have seen and heard so many interesting and even surprising things.

Funerals and death in general is something that many people see as a taboo topic.  I have heard about how it is something not many want to talk or hear about.  This is what most people believe, and what we all see in the media.  Death is talked of as dirty and upsetting.  However this is mostly untrue.  Almost everyone I have talked with does not mind talking about death or this industry.  In fact the majority of people are quite interested in it.  The older people often say how it use to be ‘taboo’ or “kept quiet” but how society has changed and it is now “acceptable”.

While funerals and death itself is more acceptable not everything is fine to discuss in public.  And not everything is for everyone.  As such I have not included everything in this blog.  Yet i also do not hide anything and will discuss some ‘questionable’ topics nor have I skipped certain details.  So read this at your own discretion; I warn you that you may find some topics discussed here unappealing.

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