Death Expo Toowoomba

21/10/2026

What a wonderful day at the Death Expo Toowoomba 🧡

Thank you Toowoomba for the opportunity to be part of a day dedicated to encouraging open conversations about death, dying and grief.

It was inspiring to connect with so many organisations, services and community groups that are passionate about supporting people through some of life's most challenging experiences. Thank you to all the exhibitors for the important work you do every day and for your commitment to helping create a more compassionate and informed community.

Thank you also to everyone who attended and shared their story with us. Whether you were looking to learn more about palliative care, caring for a loved one living with a life-limiting illness, navigating your own diagnosis, or simply wanting to better understand the support available, we appreciate you taking the time to be part of these conversations.

Talking about death, dying and grief isn't always easy, but these conversations matter. Thank you for being brave enough to ask questions, share your experiences and seek information. By talking openly, we can reduce stigma, build understanding and help ensure more people are equipped to make informed decisions about their care and what matters most to them.

We were proud to stand alongside so many people and organisations working to make a difference.

Thank you to Toowoomba Region for organising this valuable event. Together, we're helping create a more compassionate community where no one has to navigate their end-of-life journey alone.

17/10/2026

And that's a wrap!

Thank you to everyone who came to demystify death and dying. It was a fantastic day and the chatter was loud!

And a special shout out to Nicole from Mindical Counselling Services (middle) who steered the small but mighty volunteer team who organised Death Expo 2026.

She's here with expo committee member Lisa from The Bottom Drawer Book: The After Death Action Plan and Sonia from Arrow Memorials (Did you feel the 🍄 mushroom urn? So soft!)

More than 500 people heard from 15 speakers and checked out 35 exhibitors while guided by 8 volunteers.

Thank you for spending your day with us! Should we do it again?

For now though, it's time for a lie down! 💤

17/10/2026

The Daisybox cardboard casket creating a lot of interest at the Rest Funerals & Death Care stall..

15/10/2026

ONE DAY TO GO!

Death Expos don't just happen on their own. Our volunteer organisers believe that no matter what road you’re on, planning ahead makes the journey easier for those left behind.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR KEY SPONSORS.

📌 Darling Downs Health (The Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network)
📌 Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park
📌 Burstows Funerals
📌 Heritage Stonecraft & Design
📌 Mindical Counselling Services

🙏 THANK YOU

See you tomorrow to Demystify Death and Dying from 10 am at HumeRidge Church of Christ for DEATH EXPO TOOWOOMBA.

Be sure to collect your coffee voucher to use at the coffee van when you walk in the door. There will be volunteers to guide you and answers any questions, and lots of welcoming people keen to share their knowledge.

15/10/2026

A great column from Greg Johnson in today's The Chronicle.

After a triple bypass last year, he considers himself lucky to be around to be able to attend Saturday's expo. He writes:

" It’s been a year since I stood eye to eye with mortality.

Fifty weeks ago, I put my life, and my heart, in the hands of incredible cardiac surgeons at St Vincents Private Hospital Northside. Three hours later, blockages in my coronary arteries were officially bypassed, and I was given a second chance at life.

Triple bypass surgery isn’t for the faint-hearted. On second thought, it actually is.

Blokes think they’re going to live forever. We’re bullet-proof, after all. Until we’re not. And it was learning that my heart’s arteries were “buggered” that finally reminded me that my time, your time, our time, is finite.

In the blink of an eye, two generations of my Johnson/Dickie/Hickey family have disappeared and my brothers and cousins are taking bets on who will be the first to exit our generation.

We may as well get prepared, right?

A recent survey by La Trobe University revealed many of us aren’t prepared; about half of us don’t have a will, 54% don’t know how to access palliative care, and 58% don’t know what end-of-life paperwork needs to be done.

For something that’s going to happen to all of us we have stuck our heads firmly in the sand. They say nothing in life is certain except death and taxes, yet we manage to lodge our tax return every year while ignoring the inevitable end.

In Toowoomba, we’ve got an opportunity to fix that this weekend. Local volunteers, who work in the end-of-life space, have put together a Death Expo. Last year’s expo attracted more than 500 people, and this year it will be bigger.

They’ve set aside a much bigger room and more time for the session about end-of-life paperwork – wills, enduring power of attorney, advance health directives. It’s a very popular subject. I know how important it is to appoint a medical decision-maker who can speak for you if you find yourself in hospital unable to speak for yourself.

To be honest, it’s not something I like thinking about, and I’m thankful my surgery and subsequent recovery were successful, but it’s important we organise these things during the good times, so we don’t have to do it when it’s too late.

We’re fortunate to have such passionate volunteers in our community. They’re dedicated to ensuring we have the guidance and resources we need to make informed end-of-life choices, whether that’s getting the paperwork right, voluntary assisted dying, funeral planning, palliative care or finding the right final resting place.

Death Expo Toowoomba is on this Saturday from 10 at Hume Ridge Church, 461 Hume Street, entry is free. I, and my unblocked arteries, will see you there!

15/10/2026

Thank you Clifton Courier & Allora Advertiser for this great article!

Oooh! I made the local papers! A big thanks to the Allora Advertiser and Clifton Courier for a great article about Saturday's Death Expo Toowoomba.

South-east Queenslanders, who is coming along? It'll be a huge day of guest speakers, Q & A panels and exhibitors. Topics such as: end-of-life paperwork, accessing palliative care, voluntary assisted dying, funeral planning, cemeteries and crematoria, cultural farewells, etc. Plus a few dozen exhibitors working in the end of life space.

See you there! I'll have a stall there plus I'm facilitating some of the sessions.

xLisa

15/10/2026

In addition to amazing speakers, Death Expo Toowoomba features a wide range of exhibitors to help you and your family plan ahead. From funeral directors and grief counsellors to cemetery managers, lawyers, and aged care providers, we bring all the essential resources together under one roof.

Check out the 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭:

15/10/2026

Planning for the future doesn't have to be overwhelming. At Death Expo Toowoomba, connect with a diverse range of exhibitors — from funeral directors and grief counsellors to estate lawyers and aged care specialists — all ready to help you and your family navigate end-of-life preparations.

👀 SEE YOU THIS SATURDAY, OCT 17.
HUME RIDGE CHURCH.

14/10/2026

The Death Expo team is on the hustle again this morning! Listen to River 94.9 at 8:50 to hear more details about the Expo with Marnie and Campo!

14/10/2026

Don't know what an Enduring Power of Attorney is or why you need one?

Death Expo speaker Amanda from Kennedy Spanner Lawyers will be breaking it down with David Iliffe after 9:30 am this morning.

Amanda will be answering your questions about end-of-life paperwork at DEATH EXPO, a free, community event. See you Saturday at Hume Ridge Church from 10 am!