Burstows Funerals

28/04/2026

People wishing to discuss direct cremation are welcomed just as warmly at Burstows as those who do want a complete funeral service. "Even if you are not having the full experience that a ceremony can bring, families can still have the necessary experience to be able to go on and navigate and reconcile their grief,” co-director Don Burstow says. This includes the option to spend meaningful final time with your loved one (open coffin) or to privately be in the presence of the closed coffin.

By selecting Burstows to fulfil your farewell needs, you know that your loved one is receiving the best of care prior to cremation, and that the cremation will take place in Burstows’ own cremation facility. The ashes will be kept safely for you to decide where you would like to keep or scatter them.

Talk to us weekdays at our offices at Toowoomba, Dalby, Warwick and Gatton, or go to https://www.burstows.com.au/.

In the event of a death in the family, a Burstows funeral director is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide help and guidance from the first contact. It is our honour to serve you. Call 4636 9600.

24/04/2026

We will remember them: We pay tribute to those who gave their lives, and thank our veterans and serving defence personnel and their families, for all your sacrifices. We think of you on this special day and hope and pray for peace for all.

20/04/2026

Dealing directly with local people and a family name trusted for over 125 years makes all the difference in those tough hours and days after the death of a loved one.

At Burstows, we believe that providing a supportive environment where the bereaved can feel safe to express their emotions and pain, feel cared for and understood, where they can talk about their loved one, about life and death, and have their feelings and choices acknowledged is vital.

You can trust all members of our team at each of our branches - Toowoomba, Warwick, Dalby and Gatton - to be caring professionals, committed to doing whatever it takes to serve you with excellence and help you begin healing.

Call us on 4636 9600 to find out more, or go to https://www.burstows.com.au/.

04/04/2026

Our warmest wishes for a happy, peaceful and safe Easter with those you love, from the entire Burstows team.

Original photo: Jill Wellington

27/03/2026

Funeral directors travel significant distances every day to bring loved ones into care and support families through the funeral process. Reliable access to fuel is essential to ensure these services continue without disruption.

As the peak national body, Funerals Australia is advocating to State and Federal Ministers for funeral services to be recognised as an essential service in any fuel prioritisation arrangements, helping ensure families can continue to receive care when they need it most.

Join us in advocating for recognition of funeral services in emergency fuel planning.

25/03/2026

The funeral experience slows people down, giving them time to truly understand the loss and celebrate the life that has impacted them so deeply …. to the point where they are encouraged to embrace their pain and not run away from it …. This is the road to healing, according to Burstows co-director Don Burstow, after 43 years of helping the bereaved.

Grief expert Dr Alan Wolfelt poses the question: "Couldn’t we just move from loss to shock to acceptance without all that pain in the middle?

"The answer is that sadness plays an essential role. It forces us to regroup—physically, cognitively, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. When we are sad, we instinctively turn inward. We withdraw. We slow down. It’s as if our soul presses the pause button and says, “Whoa, whoa, whoaaa. Time out. I need to acknowledge what’s happened here and really consider what I want to do next.”

Find out more about why Don says funerals are important at this podcast https://youtu.be/K31qvPrNycA or read more at https://www.burstows.com.au/support-and-resources/why-hold-a-funeral.

*Dr Alan Wolfelt is a world-recognised leading death educator, author and grief counselor, and director of the Center for Loss & Life Transition.

17/03/2026

"No matter what may come our way, there is always light waiting to embrace and illuminate us - indeed enough light to last a lifetime. All we must do is say yes to it."

We hope these words, from a lovely book "Be Here Now: Finding Peace and Joy in the Present Moment" by Meredith Gaston Masnata and Roberto Masnata, provide inspiration that there is something greater than the darkness of grief waiting for you.

At Burstows, we recognise that the funeral is a vital part of your grief journey, but that it is only the beginning. Talk to us about how we can help you through this difficult time. Call 4636 9600 or go to https://www.burstows.com.au/ to find out more.

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.