Reflecting on the Coffs Coast Death & Dying Expo 2025

It's been one week since the Coffs Coast Death & Dying Expo, and it's taken me that

long to fully process the experience. The event left me on a high, and I'm just now

finding my way back to equilibrium after the crash.

Where to even begin? The day was a vibrant gathering of 37 diverse stallholders,

including doulas specialising in everything from ceremonies to legacy art, and even

Swedish Death Cleaners. We were also joined by major organisations like the NSW

Palliative Care Council and one of our key sponsors, the Coffs Coast Women’s

Health Centre.

I was captivated by the range of offerings, from artisans who crafted beautiful urns,

painted coffins to therapists and guides who use cannabis and psychedelics to

ease end-of-life pain and mental anguish. I had my own little stall, where I was able

to talk with people about communicating with children about death using a selection

of children's books.

The atmosphere was buzzing all day. Our two local food vendors sold out early, and

the stage area, which hosted a full program of talks, was packed for most of the day.

The lineup was incredible, featuring KC a local estate lawyer who debunked

common myths and a last minute fill in, Nikki, who spoke on therapeutic cannabis

use. I also got to give my talk on how to discuss death with children.

A particularly moving part of the day was the cultural panel, which explored death

and dying from different cultural perspectives—a topic that truly deserves its own

blog post. We also had a powerful Poetry Unslam, where poets shared their original

works on death, dying, and grief.

To close out the day, we held a beautiful dove release outside, a serene and

meaningful end to such an impactful event. It was a day filled with connection,

learning, and open conversation about a topic so often avoided.

Three Highlights from the Expo

The Coffs Coast Death & Dying Expo was a huge success, and I've been reflecting on what made it so special. Here are my top three highlights from the day.

1. Community Engagement

This was our second year running the expo, and it more than doubled in size, not

just in the number of stallholders, but in attendees as well. People of all ages

showed up for a variety of reasons—from the simply curious to seniors actively

planning, and even families and professionals. It was incredible to see such a

diverse and engaged community come together to discuss these important topics.

2. Positive Feedback

I'll be honest, I was so moved to see so many people attend my talk. It was

especially meaningful to see so many grandparents and parents in the audience.

After my presentation, people approached me to say thank you and ask for more

resources. I already know the work I'm doing is important, but seeing so many

people engage with the topic was incredibly affirming.

3. Seeing It All Come Together

Last year, Wendy and I supported Rani in bringing the inaugural expo to life. This

year, we formed a committee of five. For six months leading up to the event, we met

monthly, dividing up tasks and collaborating on everything from marketing and

logistics to program and exhibitor coordination and fundraising. I also want to give a

special shout-out to our volunteers who helped on the day, especially our regular

Death Café attendees, Mark and Michelle. It was a true team effort, and seeing it all

come together so seamlessly was my greatest highlight.