SAVES is not affiliated with Exit International / Dr Philip Nitschke and opposes the public availability of a 'peaceful pill'.

We were fortunate to have Vanessa Hume as our guest speaker at our July General Meeting. Vanessa, founder and former Managing Director of White Lady Funerals, spoke on the above topic. Set out below is a handout prepared by Eric and Val Gargett summarising the essential features and approved by Vanessa for distribution after her talk.

Is an undertaker essential? No - but DIY is usually too difficult, due to lack of facilities for storage of the body, and because the supply of coffins is restricted within the industry.

Must undertakers be qualified or registered? No - anyone can operate a funeral business, but the premises must be council-approved and meet the requirements of the State health authorities.

What does a funeral cost and what does that include? Can one dispense with specific services? What is the minimum? Costs vary considerably. A very basic non-attended cremation can be negotiated with most funeral directors, some charging only $1,500. A moderate figure for a "total cost" funeral, covering everything except press notices and flowers, would be about $3,500. There is no upper limit: it depends on what is required. If you are quoted a "service fee", ask exactly what this covers. Some funeral homes have an all-in fee that covers mortuary use, transport of the deceased in normal working hours, obtaining documentation, and all other arrangements. Others will quote a service fee and then charge a separate fee for transportation, and yet another for mortuary facilities. Ask for an itemised total cost. You may dispense with items you prefer to handle yourself, or which you do not require, such as flowers, press notices, a service, or memorial book. If it is to be a non-attended funeral there are no minister's or celebrant's fees to pay.

What are the options for coffins? What materials are legal? A plastic-lined container is obligatory. In S.A. a pyrocapsule of cardboard and chip board is legally allowed for cremation, but no funeral director in S.A. uses them any more. The very basic coffin is a "flat top" - plain and simple, polished veneer, which need not have handles. A wide range of wooden coffins is available. They vary greatly in quality and cost and you may face considerable sales pressure to take an expensive model. If you are thinking of making your own coffin, you should be aware that it is unlikely that an undertaker would be prepared to use it, in case it proved inadequate.

Where can you be buried - at sea? - on private land? In S.A. you can be buried on private land only if it is more than 50 miles outside the metropolitan area, and subject to local Council approval. You can be buried at sea more than 20 km off-shore, but it is a complicated and expensive process. (In S.A., it is off the coast of Robe).

Who controls cemeteries? Cemeteries may be privately owned, or managed by a local authority. Most are for general use, but some have areas for different faiths.

What are the facilities for prepayment? A funeral director can arrange this for you, or you can enquire of an insurance or trustee company. You will be expected to pay the full cost of your chosen funeral at present prices, either up-front, or by instalments, and you will receive the chosen funeral in due course without extra payment, however much prices have risen in the meantime. (The extra cost is covered by the interest the company has earned on your payment).

What happens if there is no one to meet the cost of your funeral? Centrelink is responsible for what was formerly called a pauper burial. But there is a strict family means test and the next of kin will normally be expected to pay. There is much useful information in the free Centrelink publication "What to do when someone dies", with details of payments that may be made on behalf of Social Security to help with costs.

What about cremation? What does it cost? What happens to the ashes - are there restrictions on disposal? A cremation is slightly cheaper than a burial. The cremation fee is about $450-$550, half the cost of a grave, but a $30 permit and extra doctors' certificates are required. Cremation can be private, in the presence of family, or after a full service. The ashes are returned and may be scattered almost anywhere the family chooses, but not over a reservoir. Alternatively they can be memorialised, which is very costly; or they can be interred in an existing family grave, usually at less cost than a traditional burial.

What if death is unexpected? Unexpected death means a coronial enquiry, (not necessarily a coronial inquest) and the police contract funeral director takes the body to the State Mortuary for the autopsy. It is then released to the funeral director chosen by the family, who need not be the one who transferred the body from the place of death.

What if I am an organ donor? An organ must usually be taken within about two hours of death, so it is essential to know the exact time of death and to tell the attending doctor and anyone who is taking charge of the body. The information can be engraved on a Medic Alert emblem as well as being marked on your driver's licence. But even though the driver's licence is endorsed, the next of kin must sign consent forms unless the deceased had listed with the Donor Registry.

Do most people make prior arrangements and discuss their wishes with the family? Most people do not tell the family what they want. This is particularly embarrassing when the relatives have to decide between burial and cremation. Those who care most are very vulnerable at this time and you can help by talking it over with them in good time. When talking within the family let them know your preference for burial or cremation; for a public, (notice in the paper), or private funeral; the type of service, if any, and - if you desire a service - whether it is to be conducted by a minister of religion or a celebrant. While you may wish to depart this life with the least ceremony, remember that a funeral service is for the comfort and grieving of those needing to say goodbye.