15/10/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/14rBypWYpPy/
Amazing work, congrats everyone
Well, look at me, all fancy pants! It’s been a great day of learning at the Cemeteries and Crematoria Association of NSW regional seminar in the Hunter Valley.🍷🪦
Some interesting facts to ponder: In 2023/24, NSW’s cremation rate increased. 72.5 % of people who died were cremated. In 2021/22, that figure was 68.4%. 🔥
Cremation rates vary from region to region. For example, on the Central Coast, the percentage is 85.4%, but in the state’s Orana and central west region (includes Dubbo, Bourke, Cobar) the percentage is just 53%. (This probably has a fair bit to do with logistics. Simply, there aren’t a lot of crematoria in outback NSW. If you died in Bourke, for example, the closest crematorium is in Dubbo, almost 400km away. Also, culturally, burial is often a preferred option in outback indigenous communities.)
For a long time, we’ve been saying that generally two thirds of the population is cremated. We’re getting close to be able say ‘three quarters of the population’. (Well, in NSW anyway.)
⚰Something else that was up for discussion was decomposition rates in a coffin vs a shroud burial (wrapped in material). There are significant variables though - that is, the material that the coffin is made of and the soil type. A clay, water-logged soil will preserve remains longer than a well-drained sandy soil. That’s got to do with oxygen levels and a lack of active bacteria. (Also acid vs alkaline soil properties.) One seminar participant mentioned that she exhumed a shrouded (coffinless) burial after 10 years at a standard depth in a heavy soil and the shroud still held all the remains. ‘The shroud’s material just looked like it was muddied cloth.’
Another participant mentioned an exhumation after just one day and a night of torrential rain, and the composite coffin was broken into a bazillion pieces.
This got me thinking: when you hear talk about natural burial at a shallower soil depth and it being better for decomposition, question the soil type. There are a lot of variables at play, in particular, soil type.
And it was great to hear from the NSW Government acknowledge something I’ve been thinking for ages – we simple don’t have any Australian burial studies to provide data about all this stuff. We have to look at overseas data and even that isn’t comprehensive.
🐦🐱🐦 🐦 (See what I've done there - putting the cat among the pigeons. 😉) I’ve been looking for evidence that natural burial is better for decomposition because of all the aerobic microorganisms, oxygen, and warmer soil temp, but I can’t find it. (It doesn’t mean it’s not true – I just want to see the data that proves it.) If you've got some proof, can you send it to me?) Declaration - I failed soil science at uni 🙃 (true story ***ss).
Oh, the NSW government policy makers are looking at human composting/natural organic reduction from a legislative point of view. They’re trying to work out if the current law would accommodate it or if the regulations would need to be changed. So, while human composting may be a while off yet, the NSW Govt is on the front foot. Hooray.
A question was even asked about any possible pathogen risks to the operator from the bones remaining after human composting (that are then ground down mechanically like fire cremation). No-one had an answer for that, but I thought it was a curious question.
Phew. It's been a big day. Another big day tomorrow. I'M SPEAKING! I'm really looking forward to sharing my thoughts on how cemetery and funeral operators can contribute to community death literacy by changing their current approach. Will they agree with me? Probably not. But if we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always got. Wish me luck!
For now though - TIME FOR A DRINK! 🍷
Lisa
https://thebottomdrawerbook.com.au/
