In his final weeks, 92-year-old John Lines expressed a desire for a simple farewell, requesting a “no fuss” approach to his end-of-life arrangements. This personal wish has catalysed an important transformation in end-of-life services across New South Wales.
Recently, John Lines became one of the first individuals in NSW to be cremated without a coffin, opting instead for a minimalistic shroud. This development was made possible by amendments to public health regulations in June, which allowed for shrouded cremations, a practice previously permitted only for burials within Islamic communities since 2022. Victoria and Tasmania also permit such cremations.
Lines’ cremation took place at Woronora Memorial Park, marking Metropolitan Memorial Parks as the first Sydney cemetery operator to offer this service. Victoria Spence, a holistic funeral director who organised Lines’ cremation and has advocated for these changes for years, described the event as a significant advance in providing sustainable funeral options.
Spence highlighted the importance of this shift for families seeking eco-friendly choices. Lines’ daughter, Debby, noted that a shrouded cremation harmonised beautifully with her father’s values, stating he had always preferred simplicity and thought extravagant funerals were unnecessary. Initially wanting to donate his body to science, he settled for a low-key farewell, firmly believing a coffin was superfluous.
John, a father of five and grandfather of three, lived a vibrant life, remaining active even weeks before his death. Although financial concerns were not the primary motive for opting out of a coffin, Debby indicated that this choice could help ease the financial burden on families during the grieving process.
Currently, shrouded cremation is available only at Woronora Memorial Park, but Metropolitan Memorial Parks CEO Simon Officer confirmed plans to extend this service to additional venues, including Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Macquarie Park Cemetery, and Rookwood Cemetery.
In summary, John Lines’ final wish not only reflected his personal beliefs but has also paved the way for more diverse end-of-life options in New South Wales, allowing families to choose sustainable and simple farewells.