General News
24 October, 2025
Event to celebrate life and death
A safe space to speak openly about all things death and dying, Maryborough’s upcoming Death Cafe event is a chance for locals to explore, share and learn.
The unique and thought-pro-voking event facilitated by pro-fessional celebrant Noelle Mason and co-organised by Rachel Nagy, is an informal gathering where people can enjoy free food and snacks while participating in free-flowing conversations about death, dying, end-of-life-planning and anything else related to death.
It functions as a side project to compliment The Maryborough Advertiser’s ‘Dying To Know feature’, an initiative encouraging open conversations about death, dying, and end of life planning.
Ms Mason, who has extensive experience in designing and leading memorial services for local families, said the purpose of the event is to give the locals the chance to discuss death-related subjects in a safe, inclusive and welcoming space.
“It’s to ensure their wishes are adhered to, to make the arrangements that they wish to have, not being mislead or not having the details of their life overlooked, some people don’t want a funeral or they might want to have a party beforehand,” she said.
“It’s giving the individual the right before hand, more support within the family, and even getting the family thinking of it, instead of ‘oh no, we don’t discuss things like that in our society’.”
Ms Mason said the objective of the Death Cafe is to increase awareness of death, break the taboo of death and acknowledge fears of dying, and prepare for what they want after they have died.
“People are becoming more open and more aware of the choices they can make. It also looks at the things you need to be prepared for. Is there a will? is it clear? Is it concise? Is it current? but also your about property, animals, technology, who is going to be responsible for ensuring those things,” Ms Mason said.
Part of a broader global movement, topics at Death Cafes can include terminal illness, legal matters and medical information.
“As a registered nurse, I have dealt with sudden death, baby death, and sometimes, in my experience has been this there is this gaping hole of who this person used to be and quite often the conversation with the family can create friction, and it is all very emotional,” Ms Mason said.
“It gives the person complete control of how they want things done. While they are here, not afterwards.”
A representative from Maryborough District Health Service’s palliative care team and local counsellor, John Warner, will also attend to share his knowledge.
While Death Cafes provide a valuable opportunity to explore a subject often considered taboo, Ms Nagy said attendance is generally not advised for those who have recently experienced a bereavement, or attendees under the age of eighteen.
“It’s also important for prospective attendees to know that a Death Cafe is not a grief-counselling session, although the topic of grief does often emerge,” she said.
If community interest is strong, more Death Cafes may run in 2026.
The Death Cafe will be held at the Mill House on Wednesday, October 29 from 3 to 4 pm.
With bookings essential, those who are interested in attending are advised to email goldfieldsside projects@gmail.com to reserve a seat.