Sally Cant - Civil Celebrant

This is such a good podcast. Dr Lucy Hone’s relationship with grief, and resilience.

So thrilled to catch up with friends (a group of graduates of my college that were trained by me and studied together 12 years ago). Sorry we missed you and

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family. May 2026 we a wonderful year xoxo

VAD Victoria update - These reforms are particularly important for regional and rural communities, where access to registered medical practitioners can be limited. They will help ensure that people experiencing intolerable suffering are able to access voluntary assisted dying without unnecessary delays or the burden of travel.

The amendments represent a landmark change for Victorians and are expected to come into effect within 18 months of the Bill’s passage.

As implementation progresses, we will work closely with practitioners and the broader community to ensure the legislation is translated into practice in a timely way, guided by dignity, compassion, and choice.

Enjoying some timeout from work today to enjoy Auckland. Terrific lunch with an amazing revolving view on level 52!

Great catch up with my staff in NZ to celebrate another great year. Fantastic meal

So happy to be heading to Auckland for my last trip in 2025. Looking forward to catching up with .dunn63

The ‘A’ team were together again today as we celebrated Ken’s amazing life at

Today I assisted a family as they said farewell to their beloved Ken. Such a privilege

Issues with NZ citizens living in Australia trying to access VAD. The main issue is that Australian VAD laws often require a person to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, which excludes many New Zealanders who have been living and working in Australia for years, even though they have access to rights like Medicare. This residency restriction, which was intended to prevent "VAD tourism," creates an inequitable situation for New Zealand citizens who, despite their connection to Australia, are unable to access VAD in Australia but could in New Zealand. Please let loved ones know that if they do not have Aussie citizenship and want access to Aussie VAD then they must obtain Australian citizenship first.

Natural Burials and Chemotherapy – clearing up a myth

Occasionally people hear that if someone has received chemotherapy, they cannot be buried in a natural burial ground. This is not correct.

Chemotherapy medications are processed by the body and are eliminated within days to weeks of treatment. By the time a person dies, there is no significant amount of these medicines left in the body. Any tiny traces that might remain do not pose an environmental risk.

The main restrictions in natural burial grounds usually relate to embalming chemicals (such as formaldehyde), as well as the type of coffin or shroud used and the style of grave marker permitted, to ensure all materials are biodegradable and in keeping with the natural environment. Chemotherapy, however, is not on that list of concerns.

In short: having had chemotherapy does not prevent someone from being laid to rest in a natural burial ground. Families can feel confident that their loved one’s choice for a natural and environmentally gentle burial can be honoured.