An open conversation about death won't kill you

THERE's something about talking death and dying that might seem uncomfortable or taboo; but everyone has questions about it. The Good2Go Collective are inviting people from the North East to participate in an open and refreshing conversation on this subject at the Good2Go Expo, a free event coming to The Stage Door (4D Evans Street), Wangaratta on 1 June, with a mission to bring knowledge and, where appropriate, humour to this stigmatised issue. Highlights will include comedian Stell Muses with her show, 'Laughing with Death', emotional expression and healing sessions with art therapist Lucinda Fraser and a screening of 'In the Realm of Death and Dreaming'. Rose Sexton of the Good2Go Collective is an end-of-life "doula" - a title typically reserved for birth "doulas" who engage a non-medical role in pregnancy, bringing with them a willingness and expertise in that area. Rose's role is virtually the same; except her area of expertise is in death and dying. Her work as an end-of-life consultant at End Stage Matters and her role at the Good2Go Collective has helped promote death literacy through events and workshops, navigation and coaching and Advance Care Planning (ACP). She has an extensive history in this industry, with more than 40 years nursing experience and qualifications in palliative care. "In around 2017, it really became clear to me that people needed more support and there was a gap," Rose said. "A lot of the super-developed western cultures have managed to relegate death to the shadows. The upcoming expo, as well as the death cafes she runs every month, through the Good2Go Collective challenge this widely accepted notion and instead encourage people to be open about their experience with death and dying. "I've heard people say, ‘why didn't I do this earlier?’ and ‘oh, I wish I'd known all this five, 10 years ago’,” she said. “Sometimes we think there’s this big, scary thing chasing us and then we turn around and realise it’s just a little kitten. “Death is a part of life… if we cooperate with that, we’re going to get much better experiences.” Rose said in today’s society, we’ve lost touch with the communal aspect of death and dying; no one knows what to do or how to react to the subject. "We are all thinking that no one wants to talk about it, and yet there was a report that came out in around 2016 that actually found people did want to talk about it but thought that everyone else didn't," she said. "So we're all sitting around thinking, 'I'd like to talk about death'. “My passion is to reclaim that inner knowing and that community, the fact that the community knows how to support somebody. “I long for a world where people know how to support someone who’s grieving and how to support someone who’s dying." The Good2Go Collective is a group of like-minded people working to bring more events like this to the area. If you've been waiting to jump at the chance to ask your burning questions about death and dying, the Good2Go Expo, hosted by the Good2Go Collective, is the perfect opportunity to do so. Additionally, information about ACP, Will preparation, funeral planning and other resources about death will be available on the day. Visit https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-good2go-expo-wangaratta for more information, or scan the QR code attached to this article. See more about the Good2Go Collective via G2gproject.com.au.

An open conversation about death won't kill you

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