Complete Guide To Cremations In Australia

In the 1950s, only around one out of every 28 individuals who died was cremated; nowadays, about 40% of people choose cremation when organising funeral and last preparations. However, why is cremation becoming such a popular option for Australians?

The reasons are straightforward and they make great sense in the context of today’s reality.

Considering that a cremation interment takes up less than half the area required by a typical burial; for individuals with little greenspace or family plots, cremation may be the most practical option.

Why are cremations growing in popularity in Australia?

• The rise of pre-planned funerals: The first reason for the increase in cremations is that people are starting to pre-plan; more individuals are pre-planning to save their loved ones the agony of arranging funeral preparations after they pass away.

• Cremations cost less: Many individuals are opting for cremation as the cost of a cremation package is generally half that of a basic burial. This alone should persuade you to choose cremation over a more conventional, if antiquated, burial. Expenses are a huge factor for the ones who have a foresight to pre-plan their services and arrangements.

• A More Sustainable Option: The globe is becoming more environmentally conscious, and many customers are concerned about their carbon footprint. Cremation is a cost-effective and ecologically friendly alternative to resource-intensive funerals and interments.

• Cremations offer more flexibility: Cremation provides for less funeral home interference and more choice in terms of how, where, and when your loved one is interred or laid to rest, allowing you to be more creative when organising cremation service in Melbourne. Many modern funeral rituals occur outside of the funeral home, at places like favourite pubs, sites, residences, or even at sea. Furthermore, many people are opting to memorialise their loved ones by encasing a little portion of them in commemorative jewellery, artwork, and even tattoos, which give a unique option for mourners and loved ones to pay respect to their departed.

What is a cremation, exactly?

Cremation is one of the most frequent ways in Australia to dispose of a deceased person’s body. This is accomplished by putting the body for 1-2 hours in a specially designed cremator and subjecting it to extremely high temperatures. The last ‘ashes’ are then gathered and delivered to the family in a container.

Cremations should always be performed by a recognised crematoria that meets the state government’s requirements/guidelines/regulations. They should have rules and processes in place to ensure that the deceased’s identity and ashes are known at all times during the process.

What are the stages involved in a cremation?

A cremation has several phases and it can take several hours to complete. The remainder of this article covers the entire procedure from beginning to end.

1. The Funeral Service (Optional)

Before the cremation procedure, a funeral ceremony of some type is organised, depending on the option chosen. Following the funeral service, the corpse is taken for the cremation (whether close by or far away) where preparations can begin. The cremation must take place within 48 hours following the service, according to the legislation.

2. Identifying the body

Following the service, the identity of the dead is confirmed. The personnel commences the formalities of looking over the individual after receiving an application to have the deceased cremated. Flowers from the service are kept, dried, and placed at the memorial location where the cremation ashes are to be dispersed or deposited. Before the cremation, all mechanical things such as pacemakers, rings, watches, or other mechanical objects are removed.

3. Final cremation preparations

The cremation procedure commence after everything is in order from a logistical standpoint. In most cases, the corpse is placed in a coffin and transferred or lowered into a room below. This, of course, is contingent on the location and amenities of the funeral ceremony. If the body is placed in a casket, it will be transferred as the decoration of the coffin will hinder the cremation process. The name plate identifying the individual being cremated will be placed outside the cremator where the casket will be placed after it has been installed.

4. Cremation

The casket and the corpse are then placed in the cremator’s high-heat chamber with a temperature over 2000 degrees. The process can take up to three to four hours and once completed, leaves bone pieces behind.  These bone pieces are placed through cremulator which  grinds them down into a fine sand texture.  The resulting ashes are placed straight into an urn or similar container.

5. Collecting the ashes

The deceased’s ashes can typically be retrieved 24 hours after the cremation, although it’s best to confirm with the Crematory beforehand.

6. Selecting a final resting spot

Choosing what to do with your loved one’s remains is the final stage in the cremation process. This is an extremely personal and emotional choice that should not be taken lightly. If you require assistance, contact a close friend, relative, or the funeral director with whom you are dealing.

Many families do not think of memorials until after the burial ceremony and cremation. Most people select one of three options: divide the ashes among family members, scatter the ashes, or bury the ashes in a memorial. Or they combine all the options. It is totally up to your family to decide which option is best for your loved one.

When spreading your loved one’s ashes, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you want to do this in a public location, such as a beach or park, you may need to seek permission from the local government. It’s also important considering the place you pick, as it may or may not always be a public space. The reason why many people prefer a memorial garden for dispersing ashes than elsewhere.

You can disperse the ashes in a chosen area or set them in a permanent monument such as a wall niche or a memorial garden that family and friends can visit in future.