Death is one of the few experiences every person will face, yet it remains one of the hardest topics to talk about.
That is exactly why local organisation MUD Compassionate Community is bringing the community together for a Dying to Know Day in Ulladulla this August.
Part of a national campaign that began in 2013, Dying to Know Day aims to empower people to take control of their end-of-life wishes, have important conversations with loved ones and better understand the choices and support available to them.
For one of the founders of MUD Compassionate Community, Judy, the need for these conversations is clear.
“We’re seeing a real appetite for people wanting to talk about these issues more openly,” she said.
The organisation recently launched its first Life and Death Café, expecting a small gathering. Within three days, 18 people had registered. Interest in the Dying to Know Day has been just as strong, with registrations already filling quickly before posters have even gone up around town.
“We would really love to see conversations about death, dying, grief, loss and caregiving become as normal as talking about other major life events,” Judy said.
“We plan for having babies, buying houses and getting married. Yet the one thing we can all be certain of is that at some point our lives will come to an end and too few of us are preparing for that.”
The event will bring together a diverse range of speakers, information providers and community organisations covering topics including palliative care, voluntary assisted dying, grief and bereavement, end-of-life doula care and funeral planning. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with local services, ask questions and learn more about the practical steps they can take to document and communicate their wishes.
While the subject matter can feel heavy, Judy is keen to ensure the day is approachable, informative and hopeful.
More than anything, MUD Compassionate Community hopes people leave feeling less fearful and more confident.
“We want people to walk away feeling equipped to start those conversations with family, understanding what support services are available and feeling a little lighter about their own mortality and that of the people they love.”
The event also marks an important milestone for MUD Compassionate Community, a grassroots, community-driven not-for-profit that has been operating for just four months. Despite being in its infancy, the organisation has already attracted strong community interest and support, with a growing network of people passionate about improving what Judy describes as “death literacy”, helping people feel more informed, prepared and empowered when it comes to ageing, caregiving, dying and grief.
For Judy, the work is ultimately about bringing more compassion, dignity and beauty to one of life’s most universal experiences.
And if the early response is anything to go by, it is a conversation our community is more than ready to have.
Dying to Know Day Expo
Saturday 9 August, Ulladulla Civic Centre, 10am to 2pm
To find out more or register, click here