22 JULY, 2026
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Dying to discuss death
Louis Joel Arts and Community manager and funeral celebrant Karen Ingram is excited to be discussing death with author and academic Dr Hannah Gould at Altona Library next month. (Gary Sissons) 564717_01
As a funeral celebrant, Karen Ingram is more comfortable talking about death than most people. Most people, except Dr Hannah Gould, who has written a book on death titled: How to Die in the 21st Century. To help others become as comfortable discussing death as they are, the pair will be doing just that at Altona Library on 8 August. “We’re really wanting to ignite a conversation in the community, in families and in groups to improve death literacy, so we all become comfortable in making our wishes known,” Ms Ingram said. “It’s about estate planning, end of life care, even down to funeral or no funeral, what is a funeral.” In her main role as manager of Louis Joel Arts and Community centre, Ms Ingram has been having these conversations during bi-monthly ‘death cafe’ events. She said rather than scaring people, discussing death actually gave them peace of mind. “It’s been proven the more we talk about it the more we make the most of everyday and it actually improves our wellbeing,” Ms Ingram said. Details: https://shorturl.at/7t5EY
Design under fire By Cade Lucas Opposition to the proposed removal of the Yarraville level crossing is growing, with Maribyrnong council demanding the project be paused. In a strongly worded letter to the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority’s VIDA Rail, Maribyrnong council said it had “serious concerns” about the lack of information on how the current design, which would close Anderson Street to traffic and involve digging two tunnels under the rail line for pedestrians, was arrived at. Council argued that “it is not appropriate for any further work to occur on this
project” until more detail was provided. “We request that VIDA Rail release their concept design options assessments and support technical analysis to improve the transparency and integrity of the consultation process, and to enable us to better understand the constraints and impacts associated with the design,” council’s director of planning and environment Mike McIntosh wrote. Mr McIntosh also demanded that alternative designs such as the addition of an above ground pedestrian crossing be explored, adding that the local community was concerned about the proposed location of the two underpasses and the possible demolition of nearby homes.
Among those affected is Yarraville resident Robert Price who lives next door to one of the homes that could be demolished to make way for the northern underpass near Goulburn Street that would include a ramp for cyclists. Mr Price asked why the underpass could not be located closer to the station, before answering his own question - “It would cost more money and time”. Mr Price is a member of newly formed community group LXRAY Anderson Street Champions, which has launched a campaign to have the current design scrapped. “It’s the wrong design for Yarraville,“ he said.
“Everything about this smacks of doing it on the cheap.“ The Yarraville Kingsville Business Association (YKBA) is also opposed to the design fearing it could hurt the local economy by restricting access to the village. A VIDA Rail spokesperson said the Yarraville level crossing was one of Melbourne’s most dangerous and needed to go. “The community will have two safe and accessible points of access across the busy rail line, with lift, stair and ramp underpass options catering to all different mobility needs,“ the spokesperson said.
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