Dancing With Death (CMTO)

Chelsea Deeley of Eastside Radio and the CMTO reflects on what it's like to work around death and dying every single day.

Supervising production from Sharon Davis. Training from the Community Media Training Organisation. Distributed by the Community Radio Network.

Produced for the 2021 CBAA National Features and Documentary Series.

Christmas lunch with the family, 2020. We’re having a delicious roast dinner when all of a sudden - my mother, a palliative care nurse, says “Do you know what I think we should do? Have a funeral planning party!”.

This documentary is inspired by her flagrant embracing of the subject of death, unwrapping the personal experiences and views of 2 people, including my mum, who effectively ‘dance with death' on a daily basis.

What effect does their work have on their view of their field, themselves, and what is their own personal relationship with death?

Special Thanks

• Sharon Davis - Supervising Producer
• Janine Lundie - for her early support and guidance around this topic.
• Renee Adair - thank you for being so open to my random email and so giving with your answers.
• Thanks also to the wonderful people at the Australian Doula College for their work, and for Liz Di Qual for being such a wonderful help in organizing this interview.

• And of course, to Jane Brown. My incredible mother, who I have been lucky to have since the beginning. Thank you for agreeing to this, despite all of your nerves, stress and general “is it done yet?” attitude about it. Your dedication to this work over the years, and your general candidness around it, is inspiring and has made me feel a little less afraid. You’re a one in a million, boston wench.

Credits

• ‘CEG DRINKING WINE INSTRUMENTAL’ by ITheRealGooglekatClaire

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