Gentle Conversations about Living and Dying

18/05/2026

Sometimes we need to give ourselves the same gentle kindness that we would give to others in our circle. Sometimes that may require stepping away from our regular people who are used to seeing us poised and articulate.
If you would like to join us for our monthly cuppa, we will be at Vines Cafe (Table 45), Limberlost Nursery, this coming Thursday from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

Image credit: Cameron Bayliss.

09/05/2026

Mothers Day is not always a day of heartfelt celebration. There are cohorts of people estranged from their Mother's. There are cohorts of women who have miscarried, or whose baby has died by SIDS. There are women who have children that have died as young adults.
Today we pause and give thought, not only to those who are fortunate to celebrate Mother's Day with their living children but to those who are feeling the loss of their little ones as well as those who have Mum's no longer on this earth. May today bring a quiet moment in which to breathe, remember and reset.

04/05/2026

We have been quiet in FB-land this year however have continued to meet on the third Thursday of each month.

We welcome anyone to our table who may be navigating grief (past or present), or who may be wanting to become more death literate with end-of-life planning, or have recently experienced a significant persons death and are looking for a respectful, non-judgemental space in which to soundboard their thoughts and feelings. We never know how many may come to share a cuppa and have seen numbers from 2 to 18 people sharing the space. There has been laughter, tears and deep discussion with no 2 afternoons ever being the same.

Please be advised we are not trained counsellors, nor do we offer medical or legal advice. We have a shared passion, through lived experience, to provide a safe space that may ease one small burden at a time; with the hope of creating ripples of open discussion out into the community.

04/05/2026

VAD (Voluntary Assisted Dying) is still a contentious topic within the community. James Valentine died recently having chosen VAD as his point of peaceful exit from this life. Australian Story are screening his story tonight.

JAMES VALENTINE’S STORY WILL BE SHOWN ON THE ABC's AUSTRALIAN STORY ON MONDAY NIGHT - 4 MAY 2026

James was a beloved Australian broadcaster and musician. He used VAD to end his suffering.

16/02/2026

We invite you to join us at Vines Cafe this Thursday for our first meeting of 2026. Attendance is free, with the exception of purchasing your beverage from the Cafe. We will be gathering in the outdoor Fernery Meeting space, which is located behind the large timber water station. Please note we are not trained professionals and cannot provide counselling, legal, or medical advice. Instead, we share our personal experiences and a collective passion for facilitating open discussions about navigating end-of-life issues, a topic that is often not openly discussed in Western culture. These conversations can be emotional, humorous, or both, and often provide a sense of relief through shared experiences.

15/01/2026

Kate Winslet succinctly describes the grief of losing her mother as being "... like losing your North star..." . The movie she directed and is speaking about is Goodbye June which is currently screening on Netflix.

USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyclarksonshow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/: https://www.face...

17/12/2025

Our last Gentle Conversations cuppa for 2025 is this week - Thursday 18th December 1:30 - 3:30pm, at Vines Cafe (Limberlost Nursery). We welcome anyone to our table that is needing to sit, talk about their grief, feel heard and supported - be it anticipatory, current or lingering grief.
You will find us to the far left of the outdoor eating area, behind the large timber water station. Please order your cuppa or beverage of choice at the cafe before coming into the space; their is cold water free of charge at the table.
We are not trained counsellors nor do we provide legal or medical advice; what we do offer is respect, a safe space in which to share your story or questions and a private area within a public space where you can openly cry and not feel judged.
We meet on the third Thursday of every month, same time and place however please note we will not be meeting in January 2026.
Thank you to all who have sat at our table over the past 2 years be it as a one time visitor or a frequent flyer; thinking of you all and hoping life is being kinder.

27/11/2025

Keep saying their name, even if it causes you a bit of discomfort to start with. It's the small things that go a long way for a grieving person.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/174vUMw6tE/

Don’t stop saying their name.
Don’t hold back because you think you’ll upset me.
I’m living with this every day.
You’re not reminding me of anything I’ve forgotten.

What hurts is when you don’t talk about them.
When you change the subject.
When you act like the safest thing to do is pretend they were never here.
That part hurts more than anything you could ever say.

Say their name when you think of them.
Say their name when a memory comes up.
Say their name even if the moment gets emotional.
I’d rather feel something real than sit in a room where we pretend they never existed.

I miss them every day, and the holidays only make it harder.
Hearing their name tells me someone else still remembers them too.

So please — don’t avoid it.
Say their name.
It’s the only thing that will actually help me get through this holiday season.

22/11/2025

Tickets are still available to this event being hosted at Limberlost this coming Tuesday. Please follow the link in the original post to secure your ticket. Direct any queries to Afterlife Love Lee .

✨ LOVE & LOSS – Holding Space at Christmas ✨

As the festive season approaches, many of us carry both love and loss in our hearts.
This gentle gathering offers a place to pause, reflect, and honour those we’ve lost — surrounded by others who understand.

Join Tania Cobham from White Lady Funerals and Lee Sedgwick from Afterlife Love Lee for an afternoon of connection, conversation, and remembrance.
There’ll be live music, shared stories, beautiful food, and heartfelt company beneath the greenery of Limberlost Nursery.

🕊️ Tuesday, 25 November
🕒 3–5pm
🌿 Limberlost Nursery, Freshwater

🎟️ All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to COUCH Cancer Hub.
👉 Tickets available via Eventbrite :

https://share.google/4q8k4lcnHAjeK31Yy

Because love doesn’t end — it just changes shape. 💛

05/11/2025

This is such a lovely experience and a way for an entire household to collectively and gently exhale before final farewells. It's something that can be done here in Australia but not many people know because death and dying is still a taboo topic.
https://www.facebook.com/share/17HQxF4dGD/

There’s a moment when a family comes to understand what it truly means to bring their person home.

Wayne had been in residential care for the past 18 months. When he died, his wife knew it was important for him to return home, to the place where the air and light felt familiar, where love lingered in the space they had created together.

With the support of a cool plate, Wayne was able to rest at home.

Over the days that followed, she and their son found their own rhythm with him again. Sitting together. Reading. Sharing tea. Letting the house feel full in a different way. Wayne’s beloved dogs were close by, their loyal presence gentle and knowing, quietly watching, quietly being.

As Wayne’s home vigil came to an end, his body was wrapped in a white shroud and a layer of 100-year-old lace, secured with silk scarves chosen by his family. Every detail held care and intention.

What unfolded in that home was simple and deeply human. A space of time, understanding and quiet healing.

🔗 Learn more about our home vigil practice and cooling plates: https://www.liferites.com.au/home-vigil-and-cool-plate