Death and Dying A collection of stories exploring the most inevitable part of life.

These stories aim to break the taboo of talking about death and dying, through sharing the real experiences of West Australians who have experienced it first-hand.

Moving, raw and at times, astounding, Death and Dying is a new collection of stories recorded by the Perth-based arts and cultural organisation, Centre for Stories, that explores death as both the most inevitable part of life, but also a topic that many shy away from. Despite our rapidly ageing population, the COVID pandemic constantly reminding us of the fragility of life and the clear necessity to consider our own deaths more carefully, death is often swept under the rug, particularly in the Western world.

Presenting a diversity of topics, cultural perspectives and ideas, these 13 stories unpack complex issues such as end-of-life care, the eternal journey of grief, and voluntary assisted dying.

You can also listen to the playlist on Soundcloud.

This oral history collection was commissioned by the State Library of Western Australia and produced by Luisa Mitchell from the Centre for Stories. Narration by Luisa Mitchell, editing by Mason Vellios and special thanks to executive producer and interviewer, Rita Alfred-Saggar.

Abdul-Rahman interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Abdul-Rahman Abdullah

Sculpting Spaces for Grief
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Abdul-Rahman discusses how he uses art and sculpture to create open spaces that encourage conversations around death, reflects on the death of his grandfather to suicide and how the Western world has ‘sterilised’ death.
Sheryl Blanksby interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Sheryl Blanksby

A Mother’s Pain
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Sheryl’s baby boy Thomas was diagnosed with a rare cancer. She decided to not proceed with treatment – choosing quality of life over quantity.
Natalie Bogoias Trish Owen interviewees for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Trish Owen & Natalie Bogoias

Death on the Streets
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Natalie and Trish discuss why people are dying on the streets, what happens to them when they do, whether a homeless person’s life is valued less than others and what government’s need to do to solve the homelessness crisis in Australia.
Graham Helen Bullock interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Graham & Helen Bullock

My Death, My Way, Together
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Graham and Helen discuss what it’s like to live with a ‘ticking clock’, caring for each other, and why having a choice in deciding to end your life is paramount to having a “good” death. In the end, it’s the little things in life that matter most.
Jaya Dantas interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Jaya Dantas

Those Who Get Left Behind
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Jaya Dantas is an expert in the health of vulnerable populations. When the COVID pandemic hit Australia, she believes at-risk communities here, such as Indigenous people and migrants, were let down in the government’s handling of its health response.
Amber Dennis interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Amber Dennis

A Wheelie Good Life
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Despite being close to death herself on many an occasion, or perhaps because of it, Amber Dennis embraces life with a passion.
Betty McGeever interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Betty McGeever

Finding Meaning at the End
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
At 84 years old, Betty has no plans of slowing down, and discusses the lessons she has learned over her lifetime toward death and dying, why we shouldn’t grieve for those we’ve lost, how staying fit at any age keeps us sane, and why helping others less fortunate than yourself doesn’t need to start or end when you’re coming to your own end of life.
Marilyn Metta interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Marilyn Metta

The Bliss of Knowing How I’ll Die
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Marilyn is a trauma counsellor and founder of the Metis Centre, a social justice and human rights organisation. She talks about ending her mother’s life according to her wishes, her own near-death experience, spirituality, faith, and why trauma influences our views on death.
Sandy Mitchell interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Sandy Mitchell

Dementia and Daily Rituals
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Sandy discusses losing her dad to dementia, her newborn baby to a heart defect and her mother to cancer – all in a small country town in southwest WA. She shares how people reacted to these different losses in different ways, and why community, ritual and celebration are so important in the healing process.
Leanne OShea interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Leanne O'Shea

The Eternal Journey of Grief
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Leanne discusses how grief is made up of a million tiny moments, why our communities need to better support people in their mourning, and how our values and self-awareness are key to healing and moving forward after loss.
Leon Ruri and Adrian Momber interviewees for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Leon Ruri & Adrian Momber

Choosing Life, Communication and Haka
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Lifeline WA and suicide prevention ambassadors Leon Ruri and Adrian Momber discuss men’s mental health, dance and haka as a medicine, suicide prevention and why our society is making people mentally unwell.
Maya Shioji Judy Edgar interviewees for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Judy Edgar & Maya Shioji

Sorry Business
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Karijarri and Yawuru woman Judy Anne Edgar and her daughter, Japanese Yawuru woman, Maya Shioji, discuss how much is to be gained by doing death and dying the traditional way.
Lena Van Hale interviewee for the Centre for Stories Death and Dying project

Lena Van Hale

Defying Trans and Sex Worker Stereotypes
Death and Dying
12 January 2022
Lena is a sex worker activist and trans woman, and in this interview she breaks down the misinformation around violence and death for sex workers, why (and when) suicide is actually prevalent among trans people, and how deaths from the HIV pandemic affect everyone today.
You Only Die Once - Death and Dying panellists

You Only Die Once

Audio recording of the panel discussion on death and dying
Podcasts
Death and Dying
What does a “good death” look like? Listen to four experts in a panel conversation - aiming to break taboos, ask and answer some important questions about death and dying.
Topic
Podcasts