Paul Bibby
It is a question discussed in public all too rarely – how well do we ‘do death’ in our communities?
But Tweed Council will tackle this very topic next Monday and Wednesday when it hosts two discussion groups to share ideas on the local options available to mark a person’s passing.
Issues up for exploration include traditional and sustainable burial options, creative ideas for memorialising loved ones as well as ways to utilise the history and spaces of the Tweed’s cemeteries.
The discussion will assist with the development of a new business plan for managing the 11 cemeteries within the Tweed, ranging from the large recreational facility, Tweed Valley Lawn Cemetery, to small village cemeteries.
The two discussion groups are open to everyone in the community and will take place on:
– Monday 21 October, 10am to 11.30am at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre, Canvas and Kettle Meeting Room.
– Wednesday 23 October, 2pm to 3.30pm at the Tweed Heads Civic and Cultural Centre, Harvard Room.
For more information visit www.yoursaytweed.com.au/cemeterieswhere you can book your free ticket.
With limited places, bookings are essential. Refreshments will be provided on the day.
Hope they can also discuss alternative ways of dealing with the dearly departed’s remains.
eg… what really happens to a body “donated to science”? Is this THE most ethical, environmental way to deal with human remains? OR how much biofuel does one body make? OR, for those stuck on keepsakes, is it viable to make the body into a crystal? And finally, I heard from our local wise woman Zenith, that there is also a process for dissolving the body in liquid…not as devastating environmentally as all that cremation burning we’re seeming to do more and more of.