Dipping into the Blogpond

We got a mention today in the SMH icon section in an article titled “Lest we Forget” by Lia Timson. The article is about the state on online memorials in Australia, and how they are simply not as popular as in the US.

“In fact, Australians have been reluctant to adopt the overtly sentimental public online memorials so popular in the US, except for high-profile deaths such as those of racing car driver Peter Brock, wildlife warrior Steve Irwin and actress Belinda Emmett. Emmett was still attracting fan messages four months after her death.”

In regards to the point above, we are still receiving messages for Peter Brock, Billy Thorpe (383 messages) and Belinda Emmett (just under 1,000 messages). We do receive messages for other notices, and whilst this does seem to be increasing some what, it is certainly more popular for young people, and those with relatives overseas.

About Obits, Lia writes:

“…The year-old http://www.obits.com.au is an online funeral notice board endorsed by the Australian Funeral Directors Association. It lists paid death notices as advised by funeral parlours, much like an online classified service. It includes a free link to a condolence message board when requested by the family of the deceased. But a survey by Obits of 1000 clients found only 5 per cent of families wanted the option.

At Obits.com.au, we have in fact stalled development of a full memorial product due to the belief that this technology is “ahead of its time”.

Phillip Armstrong from the Australian Counselling Association spoke about the therapeutic benefit of posting online, making a very valid case for online memorials.

“When a person puts something in writing, it is far more valid than spoken verbally, he says. “It has more strength and meaning and it’s tougher to do. It can also be very therapeutic.”

Online condolences can be particularly effective for people who missed funerals but still want to express their sentiments. “It can be very powerful to acknowledge your grief and let the family [of the dead] know how you feel,” Armstrong says.

Lia also writes about Obituary.com.au;

“The only national competitor to Obits, obituary.com.au, gets its funeral notices without asking the families. It posts the notices free as they appear in newspapers – each one is keyed in as papers arrive daily at the site’s north Queensland office. “

However general manager Henry Glennie says “In Australia, some copyright restrictions still apply, preventing the direct use of newspapers’ published text”.

This seems a contradiction to me. On the one hand they claim to be keying in the details from the paper (a fact which I query), and on the other saying there are copyright restrictions (which he would, in fact, be breaching).

Anyway, it’s up to the newspapers to battle that one.

Incidentally, we typed up a notice for a family the other day, who subsequently changed their mind and decided that they DIDN’T want it online. But there it in on the obituary.com.au website. Included unless the family jumps through the hoops to get it removed.

Lia also mentions myspace profiles becoming defacto memorials, as well as mydeathspace (not affiliated with myspace).

In all, a very balanced well written article, in my opinion.