Frances Logan, Funeral Celebrant

28/10/2024

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NDAN is excited to present - Stories of connection and community in planning for end of life.

Frances Logan and Harpreet Kalsi-Smith will share their lived experiences and work as advocates by exploring the complexities of caring, communicating and connecting people in and between communities.

Death has become largely hidden in society resulting in many people being denied opportunity to discuss what is important to them in life, during illness and as death approaches. A diagnosis of a life limiting illness and or a sudden death can reveal their lack of preparedness for such an experience.

Much of the knowledge, skills and emotional readiness to meet the challenges and opportunities of caring for our people as they age, approach deteriorating capacity and death have been put aside or lost.

Fragmented, siloed health and support services often with limited access due to being situated in cities far away brings overwhelming confusion and lack of coherent information for communities.

There is an urgent need to embed conversations and tangible support about living and dying into our health and education services, indeed throughout our social fabric. This needs to happen when we are well, around a diagnosis of life limiting illness, remaining ongoing as a person dies, and afterwards as grief and loss are experienced.

This online event will be hosted on Saturday 9 November 2024, 9AM - 11AM AEST.
Bookings are essential via https://shorturl.at/uyenS

10/10/2024

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We hope you can make it to the Hobart launch of our new children’s book, ‘What Is Grief?’ next week - Monday 14 October, 10.30am-12pm at St Lukes.

‘What Is Grief?’ was written by award-winning, best-selling author Jess Sanders and illustrated by Stephanie Spartels for our Learning Through Loss Program.

‘What is Grief?’ is suitable for children aged 4 years and older. The book addresses various forms of grief beyond the death of a loved one, including family separation, the loss of friendships, and the loss of pets. It depicts the different ways grief can manifest and provides strategies to help children build resilience and navigate their big feelings.

Hard-cover copies of the book will be for sale on the day. Every book sold allows us to donate 10 soft-cover copies of ‘What Is Grief?’ to Tasmanian communities.

Book your tickets here - https://loom.ly/ucq44DQ
Morning tea will be provided.

And if you're in the north of the state, join us for the Launceston book launch on Tuesday 22 October - https://loom.ly/uOLvyEE

Learning Through Loss provides free grief education and resources to those working with children and young people. Learning Through Loss is funded by the Department of Health, Tasmania and Healthy Tasmania. Learn more about our Learning Through Loss program - www.learningthroughloss.org.au

01/10/2024

grief affects us all
We mourn and grieve our losses in our own way
this session will be informative and very special....do try to join in 💙

Our next information session will be "Exploring the Masculine Response to Death and Grief"

ABOUT: Join Ben Gibson, host of The Mourning After Podcast, as he shares the insights that inspired him to create a podcast focused on the male response to death and grief. Drawing from his experiences as an End-of-Life Doula, Celebrant, and Funeral Director, as well as the stories shared by his podcast guests, Ben offers a unique perspective on the masculine journey through end-of-life experiences.

Ben will discuss masculine grief styles and how men can respond to loss, highlighting impactful stories from various podcast episodes. He will provide practical tools, tips, and techniques to support men both in dealing with end-of-life situations and in their after-death integration back into life.

​Ben's path into this space began with a deeply personal experience, where he honoured a dear friend's life and discovered a new approach to death, grief, and healing through transformative rituals and holistic support. This journey ignited his calling to support others during their most vulnerable times, learning the landscape of end-of-life care and support. With a background spanning diverse careers, hobbies, and identity being a gay man, Ben brings a unique perspective to his roles as a Funeral Director, Celebrant, and End-of-Life Doula. He believes in the transformative power of informed choices and breaking norms, fostering community support and transformation through life's transitions.

​This information session will take place on 4 December 2024 from 7pm to 8.30pm, register your interest via https://shorturl.at/FrHcu

10/09/2024

A day today of significance
Su***de Prevention 😘🌻
Life brings suffering for many
For some their suffering is pain that takes them to a world of darkness
Su***de is for many we love and care about a way to end their pain.
We then experience grief, distress, wishing “if only we might have prevented this”.
To all who struggle you are thought of.
To those who have died by su***de you are remembered 💜🌻🙏
My hope is that as we care, communicate, connect and collaborate we can keep people safe as they experience suicidal ideation. 🕯️

27/03/2024

This Easter, we honour the remarkable life of Cosette Mae Verdu, a young girl whose bravery and resilience inspired all who knew her.

Despite facing a rare and life-limiting condition, Cosette's spirit remained strong, bringing light and laughter to those around her. Her mother, Jodi Adams, has partnered with Knight's Roses to create the 'Cosette Mae Verdu Rose,' a beautiful symbol of her daughter's courage. For every purchase of a rose, $5 will be donation to Syndromes Without A Name - SWAN Australia, supporting families facing similar challenges.

"She was the bravest, most courageous warrioress and had the best sense of humour, touching everyone’s hearts," says Jodi.

Read the full story and see how you can purchase a rose - https://ow.ly/JKVr50R2SRp

27/03/2024

Love creates beauty...this bloom is a symbol of Love in Action...Thank you Jodi Adams and your precious daughter Cossette 💗

This Easter, we honour the remarkable life of Cosette Mae Verdu, a young girl whose bravery and resilience inspired all who knew her.

Despite facing a rare and life-limiting condition, Cosette's spirit remained strong, bringing light and laughter to those around her. Her mother, Jodi Adams, has partnered with Knight's Roses to create the 'Cosette Mae Verdu Rose,' a beautiful symbol of her daughter's courage. For every purchase of a rose, $5 will be donation to Syndromes Without A Name - SWAN Australia, supporting families facing similar challenges.

"She was the bravest, most courageous warrioress and had the best sense of humour, touching everyone’s hearts," says Jodi.

Read the full story and see how you can purchase a rose - https://ow.ly/JKVr50R2SRp

17/03/2024

💜

15/03/2024

words of comfort from John O'Donohue for those who grieve

BEANNACHT

On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.

And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The gray window
And the ghost of loss
Gets into you,
May a flock of colors,
Indigo, red, green
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
In the curragh of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life.

JOHN O'DONOHUE

From his books, To Bless the Space Between Us (US) / Benedictus (Europe)
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store

Cliffs of Moher - 2024
County Clare, Ireland
Photo: © Ann Cahill

11/03/2024

Caring....Connecting ....Communicating...Compassion ....💜

A passionate group of bereaved parents and health professionals have come together to create a self-guided, eLearning program to support better communication at the end-of-life in paediatrics.

“Bereaved parents co-designed this course with us sharing their experiences and wisdom – speaking into a future where our communication is better," says Sara Fleming, Senior Clinical Project Officer, PCA.

The Paediatric End-of-Life Care Communication modules are available free via the new Paediatric Palliative Care Education Hub and have been written for health care professionals who provide varied levels of care.

More ➡️ https://ow.ly/f4BJ50QOnen

04/03/2024

Grief is multi faceted, complex, however most of all unique for each of us ....patience, perseverance and compassion are vital as we offer empathy and our listening skills to each other 🙏 as we grieve.

Grief is raw, complex, often fraught — and "moving on" from a loss is rarely straightforward or linear.

02/03/2024

Thank You seems insufficient...such a courageous, fierce, tenacious advocate ....caring best wishes for all who love and care about Terri, Brian and their precious family

Cancer awareness advocate Terri Grosser is being celebrated as a local hero and a "special" soul who died too young.

19/02/2024

Palliative Care ...compassion and skill offered for people during many and varied phases of life.

Palliative care is focussed on making the most out of the life people have left, and when you are dealing with the tragedy of children and young people with a life limiting illness every moment is precious.

Dr Anthony Herbert, Paediatric Palliative Care Specialist and adviser to the National Action Plan spoke with The Wire - Independent Current Affairs on radio around Australia, listen ➡️ https://ow.ly/S8sh50QEKn9

More on the Action Plan and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare - AIHW data ➡️ https://ow.ly/n03v50QEKna

18/02/2024

Thank you ...superb music soothe the soul

A group of Gold Coast medical students are performing as string quartet in an oncology ward to bring joy to people going through the darkest of times.

08/02/2024

NO WORDS can express how much the compassionate,skilled, steadfast care provided by those who serve with Karina is appreciated .Thank you one and all 🙏

Buddhist-inspired practices are common among those who identify as spiritual but not religious. Now they are being adopted for end-of-life care too