Ashes

In Australia there are no health regulations regarding the cremated remains, or ashes of a person.

The ashes are usually available 24 hours after cremation, once they have been cooled and placed in a container.

You can provide your own container. It can be made of timber, ceramic, metal, glass, etc.

It may be a familiar container, or one specifically acquired for that purpose.

There are many options for ashes, amongst them are:

  • kept in the container,
  • placed in a wall niche,
  • scattered into the ocean, river or to the winds,
  • used to nourish a tree or plant,
  • they can be kept all together,
  • they can be divided between people,
  • some to keep, some to scatter

It can be particularly kind to allow children to keep some of the ashes of someone close to them, like a parent or a sibling. In that way as they grow they can make a decision for themselves when they are ready to let the ashes go.