A 'no fuss' farewell: Grandfather leads the way for simpler cremations in NSW

In the final weeks of John Lines' life, the forward-thinking and progressive 92-year-old told his family he wanted a "no fuss" farewell.

His wish has now helped usher in a significant shift in end-of-life options across New South Wales.

Last week, Lines became the one of the first people in NSW to be cremated without a coffin; instead, he was wrapped in a simple shroud.

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The shrouded cremation was made possible after changes to public health regulations in June, which enabled NSW Health to approve shrouded cremations. 

Shrouded burials, popular amongst Islamic and Muslim communities, have been permitted in the state since 2022. 

Victoria and Tasmania also allow shrouded cremations.

Metropolitan Memorial Parks became the first Sydney cemetery operator to receive approval for shrouded cremations, carrying out Lines' cremation last Tuesday morning at Woronora Memorial Park in Sydney's south.

Victoria Spence, a holistic funeral provider, arranged Lines' cremation and has been lobbying for the change for years. 

Spence said the progress was a "huge step forward" in making sustainable choices available for families.

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"We're proud to have collaborated with both NSW Health and Metropolitan Memorial Parks to achieve this important milestone for our state," Spence said.

Lines' daughter, Debby Lines, said a shrouded cremation was very much in line with her father's ideals.

While her father initially wanted to donate his body to science, his fallback was always "no fuss", Debby said.

"He was very clear all his life that he did not agree with high-expense funerals."

"Dad would not have seen the need for a coffin. He would have seen that as an unnecessary layer."

A father to five and grandfather of three, Lines was a former military and police officer, who later became involved in anti-terrorism work as a senior public servant.

Debby painted a picture of her father as a vibrant and curious 92-year-old, who just weeks before his passing was still on his treadmill, marching to his own Spotify playlist. 

While the family's decision for a shrouded cremation was not driven by cost, Debby said choosing to forgo a coffin could help make funeral arrangements more affordable for grieving families.

Metropolitan Memorial Parks CEO Simon Officer said while shrouded cremations were currently only available at Woronora Memorial Park, the service would be progressively introduced to other facilities that offer cremation services, including Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Macquarie Park Cemetery, and Rookwood  Cemetery.

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