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Considering Cremation?
Land shortages. Spiralling funeral costs. Environmental fears. What’s
a body to do?
By Jackie O’Neill
When I die I certainly don’t wish to pollute the earth so I’ve
decided I’ll be cremated. Never mind the fact that most of my family
are buried along the coastline, I’ll set a new trend, tradition
be damned. Families are now more fractured than at any time in my memory.
My offspring live interstate or offshore! Who would tend my grave? You
may ask what cremation is all about, what are the advantages and are
there good reasons to discard the concept? Australians have been cremated
since 1903. The first crematorium was built in the West Terrace Cemetery
in Adelaide, South Australia, with the first service conducted in May
of that year. Initially however, cremation was not favoured by the Adelaide
community with less than 30 cremations occurring annually between 1903
and 1925.
In NSW the first crematorium was built in the grounds of the Necropolis
of Rookwood in 1925. The Rookwood Crematorium operates to this day,
carrying out fewer than 3,000 services each year. In the late 1920’s,
The Cremation Society, then a non-profit organisation, proposed the
construction of a crematorium in the Northern Suburbs (North Ryde).
The first cremation took place at the Northern Suburbs Crematoria on
October 31, 1933. The Trusts at Woronora Cemetery (Sutherland) and Botany
Cemetery also built their crematoriums around this time.
Today there exist privately owned (approximately 55%), as well as State
Government Trust and Council run (approximately 45%), crematoriums throughout
Australia (Source: ACCA News, Autumn 1998). Ownership varies from state
to state. Not all crematoria are represented by the Australian Cemeteries
& Crematoria Association (ACCA), thus variations to these figures
are plausible. Most states are approving newer facilities to meet the
increasing demand for cremation. New crematoriums were opened in 2002
at Centenary Memorial Garden in Sumner, Qld and Pinnaroo Valley Memorial
Park in WA, while approval was granted for Macquarie Park Cemetery in
Sydney, NSW, to proceed with a new facility.
Religion or Ethnicity
Post 1950, cremation began to find strong acceptance in Australian Society.
Today 60% of deaths in Australia result in cremation. Catholics were
against cremation early in the 20th century but the practice is now
acceptable. No Orthodox religions such as that of the Jews, Greeks and
Russians, allow cremation. However, nearly all Indians cremate, depending
from which area they come it's part of their religion to witness the
committal to the oven. Otherwise, due to potential emotional distress,
viewing of coffins into the furnace is discouraged.
Medical
OHS scrutineers ensure that any foreign ‘pieces’ such as pacemakers,
IPGs, ICDs and drug pumps, are separated from the deceased prior to
preparation of the body. Anything with a battery, including hearing
aids, is removed. Failure to do so could result in an explosion of the
device, causing potential harm to operators or damage to the cremator.
No prosthesis such as rods or hip replacements need be detached. However,
after the event, any rods or metal pins will, in fact, remain as residue
in the oven. In NSW, legislation necessitates two doctors’ signatures
on documents prior to cremation. Note though that in NSW if a person
states in their will that they wish to be buried, it is against the
law to cremate. Only one signature is required for burial. The inability
to exhume the body generates significantly more paperwork for cremations,
unless a coroner is involved. Then, only the coroner’s papers are
necessary. Interstate and overseas paperwork, unfortunately, is not
readily exchanged.
Occupational Health and Safety
Certain objects cannot be cremated with the coffin. The silver-coloured
plastic handles go into the fire, but expensive metal handles are removed.
Floral tributes constructed with wire won’t go into the furnace,
nor should photo frames, bottles of wine or many other sentimental objects.
Great swathes of inflammable cloth are banned. All these objects pose
potential hazards to man and machinery. A couple of roses or a bunch
of fresh flowers may remain with the coffin if requested. Wreaths are
discarded.
Emotional
My goodness, if there is life after death, do I jeopardize my stepping
stone to it by being burned rather than buried? It’s a comfort
to know that State Health Departments are working to develop an Accreditation
Scheme for Funeral Directors, and that operators of all mortuaries and
crematoriums will be required to provide their details for a public
register. Will this reduce the risk of my ashes being mixed up with
someone else’s? Only one coffin is ever loaded into a cremation
chamber at a time. It’s attendant ID remains with it until the
ashes are sealed.
Equipment
Now, I can imagine grave diggers preparing the earth for my burial,
but what type of equipment is used for cremation? The first cremation
furnace was wood and coal fired. Today, the vast majority of cremators
are gas fired. Modern cremators operate from 660ºC to in excess
of 1000ºC with the process taking 70-90 minutes. Crushers are used
to produce an ash, not unlike kitty litter, but today’s models
convert the residue to a finely processed powder. Cremators, coffin
trolleys and ash processors are manufactured and maintained by companies
such as Austeng Pty Ltd, Major Engineering Pty Ltd, Industrial Equipment
& Engineering, and R & Y Engineering.
Environmental concerns
The products made by these companies meet Australia’s most stringent
emission control standards and health regulations. It is a high-tech
business with newer equipment being fully computer controlled and their
processes, including emissions, are extensively analysed and documented.
Ashes options
When I consider resting places I remember my Uncle Cecil and how his
ashes were tossed into the Derwent River one moonless September evening.
They tell me ashes don’t sink. Is this another environmental dilemma?
Ashes scattered at sea are likely to make their way ashore unless sealed,
weighted and safely submerged to rest on the ocean floor.
Do I want to end up in a wall? This option has not been greatly accepted
by Australians. Rose gardens look pretty but I believe the ash does
not promote spring blossoms. Perhaps my ashes could be closeted amongst
the children’s jewellery? Maybe they’ll be buried on the family
estate, under a tree, in a rockery, or behind a plaque on a kerb. So
I have considered and accepted cremation in my demise. Will be there
a wake? That depends on the crematorium itself. I found a vast range
of amenities on offer.
Facilities
What might the customer expect in the 21st century? Newer crematoriums
boast their own chapels. Gardens, rainforest atriums, gently flowing
waterways and bridges are common enough but I’m surprised how techno
and customer service oriented these facilities are. Features to look
for include:
• Provision of a cuppa and biscuits, or even a fully catered wake
• Loud speakers and plasma screens for PowerPoint presentations
to celebrate a life
• State-of-the art audio/visual gear; CD players, video recorders
and webcam, allowing remote viewing of services for the incapacitated
or overseas friends
Behind the scenes you’ll find:
• Condolence lounges
• Viewing rooms
• Private chambers for the clergy
• Funeral directors lounge
• Arrangements rooms
• Mortuary area
• Stainless steel refrigeration units
• Transport corridors
It is common these days to hold services at the crematorium. With regard
to duration, three-quarters of an hour is standard, but cycles range
between thirty minutes and two hours and you pay accordingly.
The Cost
In Queensland prices range from $450 to $800. These are representative
of prices Australia wide. Cremation is usually cheaper than burial.
Additional charges may apply for the use of a chapel or reception rooms.
Some crematoriums offer discounts for services conducted before 9.30
am. Nil service, nil attendance may also attract discounts. Lengthy
reports are available on all aspects of cremation, the ACCA located
in William St, West Melbourne hold many resources for interested parties.
Researching this topic is a good idea, I now feel better informed on
this subject and confident in my choice.
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