Burstows Funerals

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.

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.