Burstows Funerals

14/03/2026

Watch Don Burstow's talk with UK podcaster John Adams about Burstows Funerals, the Burstow family, funerals in Australia and Don's 43 years of caring for the bereaved - including a reminder that grief isn’t something to avoid, but to gently walk through with compassion and community. You can see the entire chat at https://youtu.be/K31qvPrNycA and we will share snippets over coming weeks.

Mr Adams is a former president of the UK National Association of Funeral Directors, a fourth-generation funeral director, and ambassador for the Good Grief Trust. He advocates for proactive, compassionate care, focusing on giving families control, reducing stigma, and integrating bereavement education into the school curriculum.

With 43 years in funeral service and a deep commitment to supporting bereaved families, Don Burstow shares the personal journey that led him into the profess...

09/03/2026

Connecting with nature and the outside world – whether it's a walk in the garden, around the block, through parks, or much further afield – takes you outside of yourself and calms and restores the brain and spirit.

Grief and loss expert Dr Alan Wolfelt writes that spending time in nature is "an all-round emotional tonic" allowing us to "sense that we are part of something much larger, and our own troubles, no matter how painful, seem less significant" ...

"Nature eases stress. Nature heals. Not only can engaging with the natural world help you de-stress right now, but it can also become a meaningful habit that deeply improves the quality of the rest of your life."

07/03/2026

You can feel all these emotions and still be strong as you come to terms with your grief … Your strength is in dealing with these difficult feelings and keeping on going. You are stronger than you think – give yourself credit for the little wins and reach out for help when you need support.

“Mentally strong and resilient people overcome the adversities in their lives over time, learn valuable lessons from them, and can often become enlightened by seemingly impossible setbacks” (Metzger, 2014).

At Burstows, we know the funeral is just part of your healing journey, and we offer clients ongoing grief support through The Grief Centre for up to a year. Find out more at https://www.burstows.com.au/support-and-resources/news/the-grief-centre or call us to find out more 4636 9600.

04/03/2026

"Inside you is an aspect of every person who has touched your life. These pieces are with you always …

“When someone makes it into another’s heart, a vibration is established …. This soul connection remains, even when a physical body dies, or a friendship ends …

“There is a future after grief. You will find your own way …

“Life is to be lived. It is time to move forward, mindful of your being and what makes your heart sing.

You will always remember, on some level.

You will live again.

You will cry again.

You will laugh again.

In its own time, your future is your own to create.”

– Excerpts from Moving On, the final chapter of "This is Not a Sad Book", by Elizabeth Vercoe with Kerry Abromowski and illustrations by Grace Fraraccio (revised edition: Affirm Press).

Whether for the older child, teen or young adult, this a beautiful easy-to-read guide to grief. It is not sad, but acknowledges sadness; is not heavy, but acknowledges heaviness and the pain associated with grief. Earning Honours in the Children's Book of the Year Awards, this book boasts a "bag of tricks" which help you understand, and deal with how you are feeling. "Our intention is to offer you hope, strength, inspiration, courage, and maybe even a smile or two in your time of need", the authors write.

We have previously written about the power of children’s picture books in grief, hope and healing, and recommended titles at https://www.burstows.com.au/support-and-resources/news. "This is Not a Sad Book" is another excellent resource for the next age-group. You may also find information to help teenagers who are grieving athttps://cdn.prod.website-files.com/68088e4f199ca7f97326071f/6853bb4cc4173dbe72b95741_support-brochure-being-there-for-a-teenager-who-is-grieving.pdf

01/03/2026

"Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar." — Delia Owens

Such a beautiful way to appreciate this season of change. Of course, autumn is a spectacular time of yellows, oranges and reds throughout Toowoomba.

The falling of leaves is a time of transition and begins a season of rest, before a new beginning and new possibilities in the spring. It is our attitude and resilience – how we perceive and tackle, or even learn to embrace, changes that we cannot alter (however difficult) – that make the difference in our lives and how we see this new world.

25/02/2026

Why choose Burstows in your time of loss? We are humbled and thankful to share this testimonial in answer:

“We are incredibly grateful for the care, compassion, and professionalism shown by the entire team. During a difficult time, they made everything feel manageable and supported us every step of the way. Nothing was too much trouble, and every detail was handled with dignity and respect. Their kindness truly made a difference to our family, and we couldn’t have asked for better care. Highly recommended.” – Thank you, GEC.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements or to view our facilities at , , and . Phone 4636 9600. For more general information, go to https://www.burstows.com.au/.

13/02/2026

“… Love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking.” – Henri Nouwen

Those we love - whether it is a spouse, a partner, a family member or a treasured friend - are always in our hearts. To lose the one we love can sometimes feel like it is tearing us apart, but as Nouwen says, “if we want to avoid the suffering of leaving, we will never experience the joy of loving”. The experience of loving and being loved is worth opening ourselves up to, and working through, the pain of grief.

Happy Valentine's Day to all who love, have loved and are loved.

Photo: Alexander Mass

10/02/2026

Love is both the cause of, and the antidote to grief, according to grief expert Dr Alan Wolfelt.

"Grief is only felt when someone of great value, purpose and meaning has been a part of your life …

“To honour your grief is … life-sustaining and life-giving, and it ultimately leads you back to love again.

“In this way, love is both the cause and the antidote …”

Find out why funerals are important in helping to heal your grief, and how Burstows can help you to say farewell in the way that best suits you and honours your loved one. Funerals are important because life is important. Go to https://www.burstows.com.au/ or call us on 4636 9600 to set up an appointment.

06/02/2026

The power of connection in your healing journey after loss can never be underestimated – connection to pets, people and nature.

Even the most antisocial of us are still social creatures at heart. We need to feel part of something bigger. Renowned grief counsellor Dr Alan Wolfet tells us: “… our relationships give life meaning. In fact, our very grief is testament to that truth.

“The relationship we had with the person who died gave our life meaning. The same is true of other relationships in our continued lives … These people will never replace the person who died, but they can and will make our lives worth living again”.

Photo: Alina Kymaka

02/02/2026

February already? Have you given yourself permission to rest yet this year? The festive season, holidays and return to work and/or school, can keep you almost too busy to think. Grief is also exhausting … it impacts the body as well as the mind.

Grief counsellor Dr Alan Wolfelt says: “Among the most common physical responses to loss are troubles with sleeping and low energy …

“Good self-care is important at this time. Your body is the house you live in. Just as your house requires care and maintenance to protect you from the outside elements, your body requires that you honour it and treat it with respect.

“The quality of your life ahead depends on how you take care of your body today. The ‘lethargy of grief’ you are probably experiencing is a natural mechanism intended to slow you down and encourage you to care for your body”.

So, take the time you need to pause, to reflect, to talk, to read, to listen to music, to walk in nature, to rest and re-set … to heal.

29/01/2026

Ever wondered how you would cope working in funerals? Meet Kelvin and find out why he says working at Burstows is special.

Raised on a farm, a cabinetmaker by trade, and charged primarily with the care of the business’s fleet of cars, Kelvin puts his heart and soul into every job, and strives for perfection. "I don’t want it to be clean, I want it to gleam!” he laughs.

A family man himself, he knew that the “transfer of guests” from their place of death to the funeral home was the element of his new position which would most challenge him. It’s the area he now finds the most rewarding.

Read more of Kelvin's story at https://www.burstows.com.au/support-and-resources/news/what-makes-working-at-burstows-special

Discover what job opportunities are currently available at https://www.burstows.com.au/contact-us/employment-opportunities-at-burstows.

22/01/2026

Bringing you thoughts of peace to share on this National Day of Mourning for the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Australians are being encouraged to observe a minute of silence at 6.01pm QLD (7:01pm AEDT). We are also encouraged to spend time with family and friends of all faiths and backgrounds, and perhaps undertake a "mitzvah" - a simple everyday act of kindness and compassion that can make the world a better place for all. May we all have peace in our hearts.