What needs to happen for cremation to take place?

An application for cremation needs to be completed when making funeral arrangements with the funeral director. This is a statutory declaration that states family members are in agreement regarding the choice to cremate and is signed by the next of kin, executor or person authorised to act on their behalf. The person signing this form is known as the applicant and hereafter is the person responsible for the cremated remains.

Additionally, a document is completed by the attending medical practitioner to indicate there would be no reason for a later examination of the deceased on any grounds. This document is subsequently referred to a specifically appointed medical referee who upon examination of the deceased either concurs and authorises cremation or objects and has the death investigated by the State Coroner. Most cremation applications are approved without any difficulties.

All papers must be in order and permission granted, in the application, for any pace maker or other electrical device to be removed from the deceased before cremation can take place.

Why does the pacemaker or other electrical devices need to be removed?

They present an OH&S risk to our staff and have the potential to cause damage to the cremation chambers.

Must there be a funeral service with cremation?

No. However, if the family wants a service, they can arrange for a religious or civil service to be held either at the crematorium chapel or at a place away from the crematorium.

What happens when the coffin arrives at our Crematorium?

The coffin is brought into the chapel and placed on the catafalque. The family elects whether the coffin is in place prior to mourners arriving or if its entry is to commence the service. The family will have also arranged whether the chapel curtains will be drawn as a part of the service, at the end of the service or after the mourners have left the chapel.

Once the family has left the chapel, and the curtains have been drawn, the coffin is moved to the committal area of the crematorium where the nameplate is checked with cremation order to confirm identity. This nameplate stays with the cremated remains until the formal identification label is placed on the regulation urn containing the cremated remains.

When does cremation take place?

Cremation usually takes place soon after the coffin comes into the committal area. In our crematorium, coffins are placed in refrigeration until staff is ready to begin the cremation process. Most cremations take place on the day of arrival. However if there has been a late afternoon service or placement in the chapel, cremation will take place the following day. The identifying information on the cremated remains will indicate the date of cremation.

What is cremation?

Cremation is a heating process that results in the production of granular cremated remains of a deceased person placed in the cremator.

Only one coffin is placed in the cremator at a time. Metal handles and fittings are removed and disposed of before the coffin is placed in the cremator. The identity name plate is placed with the cooling tray where the cremated remains are placed upon completion of the heating process.

After the remains cool, they are placed in a machine which removes any metallic material and then reduces them to light coloured granules. The name plate is still with the ashes which are now put in an urn that, from our crematorium, bears the deceased's name, date of death, age at death, date of cremation and funeral director used.

What happens after cremation?

The applicant is sent a letter notifying them that the cremated remains are available to them. The applicant then chooses to either keep the cremated remains or arrange a memorial as a lasting tribute where family and friends can visit.

It has been found that a memorial often assists the grieving process and is an ongoing source of comfort to those left behind.

The Crematorium will hold the ashes for up to 1 year, after which time if no communication has been received from the family, the cremated remains can be scattered in accordance with the Public Health Act.

How can I ensure that I am cremated when I die?

Clear instruction in writing should be given to the person who will be responsible for your funeral when you die. Instructions are not binding in law, unless written in your Will, so you should ensure that the person you instruct is someone who will carry out your wishes. The final decision rests with your executors.

Another option is to pre-arrange your funeral with instructions that you would like to be cremated. This can be done through our office by calling (02) 9661 5655.