2021 Dying to Know day events page
Welcome! You’ll be able to find a mixture of events and gatherings, some from the GroundSwell Project and others from communities around Australia who want you to know about their event. Some events will be online (via zoom or other platforms), many will be in person again (pending COVID restrictions). We will be showcasing many events so stay tuned to our Facebook page.
We always encourage events to be held anytime during August and it’s also okay if you decide to hold your event during any other month. Please register your event so we know what’s happening around the country.
It’s important to note that The GroundSwell Project does not endorse or represent all the events you find here, these are events designed by the community, and The GroundSwell Project recommends you attend based on your own judgement..
Covid information and Update as at Thursday 22 July
As we near the month of Dying to Know Day it’s important that everyone continues to monitor the ever-changing landscape of restrictions in place. Whether you are hosting an event or attending an event, please be sure you understand current conditions and restrictions relevant to your location via the Australian Government Dept of Health website.
Events are being held through to the end of the year to accommodate the uncertainty of restrictions happening State to State. If you would like support to convert your event from face to face to online (virtual) please just reach out to our campaign manager. via cherelle@thegroundswellproject.com.
Check out our events below.
We have many communities in the process of organising events throughout the year. We will be updating the events page most days.
Whether your event is public for others to attend, or you simply want to share what you’re doing, you decide if you want it posted or not, click on the link to the left and we can add it to our events page or simply record it on our events register.
Dying to Know @ Kidogo | A conversation
“I am not afraid to die, but frankly I care very much how it will happen.” Laura Henkel.
Join our community conversation, set in the rustic charm of the large gallery at the Kidogo Arthouse, as we unpack Laura’s Manifesto and explore what really matters at end of life. Experiencing a sudden drop in her ‘joie de vivre’ in her late 80’s, Laura decided that ageing and the increasing frailty that came with it was not something she wanted to live for. A determined and outspoken woman, she wished to end her life on her own terms. Commandeering the help of her daughter, Cathy Henkel, and granddaughter, Sam Lara (both filmmakers), she planned a fitting farewell and a trip to Switzerland where she could end her own life safely.
Laura’s Choice is an award-winning two-part documentary showcasing the legal, moral, ethical and emotional issues along the journey. It is highly recommended viewing ahead of this event. A stellar panel will unpack the key themes in Laura’s Manifesto, a document she prepared explaining her wish, and her right to die her way, including:
The distinction between pain and suffering
The labour of dying • Ageing and frailty
Choice, control and dignity
Preparing and planning for the end of life
Safeguards and protection against exploitation.
For more information, and to register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dying-to-know-kidogo-tickets-162504371951
Dying to Know Day
LJM Memorial Hospice bring D2KD to Yanchep and surrounding areas. Presenting at the event will be PCWA providing information on Advanced Care Planning, what it is, what it will do for you and where you can find it, Bowra & O'Dea our event sponsors intend regale the limitless possibilities when it comes to planning and celebrating a life and invite you at a choosen date to attend a walk round their facilities to clarifiy the misconceptions .
Silver Chain will take the stage to discuss their services in the community and to support our Yarning session on how palliative care services support different cultures in the community. With hope more to be confirmed!!
Face painting and seed sowing will be the activities provided for the children attending to help support their knowledge on life cycles and local primary school Yanchep Beach Primary are providing the children's art based around life cycles or a meaningful piece created through the loss of a loved one.
GOLD COIN DONATION for prizes provided by Local Businesses @SpinalAlignment @Mooibytheocean and @Sellsis
for more information or to get involved please send us a message via our Facebook
Let’s build a compassionate and connected WA
Let’s build a compassionate and connected WA.
Save the date, more information to follow. If you would like to know more about the work we do you can find us here.
Death Cafe
At a Death Café, people drink coffee (or tea), eat cake, and discuss death. The aim of a Death Café is to increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their (finite) lives. We welcome you to Pinjarra’s inaugural Death Café and hope we can join together for some stimulating, informative, and free-ranging discussion about death, dying, and bereavement. Please come along to Jarra Infusion, order your cuppa and cake at the front counter, state you are with the Death Café, and join us out the back. No bookings required | Contact Fiona on 9531 7636 for further information. Proudly supported by; Pinjarra Connect Shire of Murray Please note that a Death Café is not a bereavement support or grief counselling setting. #DeathCafe #GroundswellProject #Dying2KnowDay #PinjarraConnect.
Community Conversation
In the spirit of the 2021 ‘Dying to Know Day’ theme, Conversations… An opportunity to listen and ask questions with two local Denmark people who have practical experience and heartfelt knowledge of matters relating to death and dying. Local Denmark woman will share her story about how she and her family organised her husband’s funeral themselves, and built their own coffin. Local Denmark lawyer will share his working knowledge about which end of life documents are which, why they are important and what is needed to get them in order. WHERE: Denmark (WA) Community Resource Centre - The ‘Garden Room’ COST: Gold coin donation Tea/coffee and cake provided RSVP: kitbewley@gmail.com, by Thursday 15th July
The Remembrance Project
Live-Die-Well (Helen Seiver, Christopher Young and Julieanne Hilbers) is a newly formed artist group created to produce insightful, complex arts projects that facilitate important conversations addressing end-of-life issues. All three co-leaders have considerable death literacy and experience with supporting community conversations around death, grief and loss.
“‘The Remembrance Project’ was an opportunity to reflect on how death shows up in our lives and how our friends among the dead clothed us in weave after weave of blessing.”
(1) Over a series of workshops in Margaret River, Balingup and Bunbury, Live-Die-Well explored how art can support us in life and in death. Together with participants, they sat and made string, experimented with natural dye pots and wove together a communal casket/coffin of memories and experiences. “These creative activities fostered and enabled conversations along the way about living and dying well, and provided an opportunity to honour and remember those who have died. We would like to thank all of those involved for their extraordinary trust, energy and support.”
(2) To honour those collective efforts, the casket and a related short film will be on display in The Archive Room at Bunbury Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) from July 6 to August 22. Bunbury Regional Art Gallery 64 Wittenoom Street Bunbury WA 6230
Open daily, 10am to 4pm. www.brag.org.au T: 08 9792 7323