Crematorium

Each cremation is conducted under precise and clean conditions for your peace of mind.

People often have a lot of questions and ask things like:

• What really happens at the crematorium?
• Do they cremate all of the bodies at once?
• Do they re-use the coffins?
• Do you really get the right ashes back?

We've put together a walkthrough of the cremation process, which will hopefully answer many of your questions. If you still have any concerns or queries, please don't hesitate to contact us.

After the Memorial Service

Each cremation begins after a funeral service (at the Weeroona Chapel or elsewhere), when the funeral director delivers the coffin to the crematorium. At Bunurong this is a separate building within the memorial park grounds.

Identities are Carefully Checked

Upon arrival at the crematorium, a crematorium operator will meet the funeral director to check over the appropriate paperwork. This involves:

• Ensuring the death certificate (or coroner's report) and an application for cremation have both been signed off by an authorised doctor.
• Checking the name on the coffin corresponds to the documentation.
• Placing an identification tag on the coffin, which indicates a surname and a unique reference number. This identification plate will stay with the coffin from its arrival through to the final storage, ensuring that each cremation is kept entirely separate.

Once all checks are cleared, the coffin is moved to a temporary storage area within the crematorium to await cremation.

The Cremator

The cremator is a highly advanced piece of machinery that is heated to between 800°C and 1000°C, because of this intense heat, the coffin is placed on a 'charge' trolley and loaded automatically into the cremator.

The entire coffin is placed into the cremator including all handles and fittings unless they're made of metal or other non-burnable items, in this case they're removed prior to cremation and melted down separately.

The Process

The furnaces (built by Major Engineering Group) are fully computer controlled and gas fired, using a highly efficient, low emission, two stage combustion process that emits virtually no smoke or environmental pollution.

People who wish to view the coffin entering the cremator, for personal or religious reasons, are able to do so via a special glass fronted viewing room located near the cremators. A fee is charged for this service.

Stages of Cremation

In the first stage of the cremation, the coffin remains in the intense heat of the primary chamber for approximately 75 minutes. After this time, the cremated remains are transferred into a separate chamber, where they rest for another 75 minutes. This second stage ensures that the cremation of the coffin and all remains is complete. At this point, the calcified remains are removed from the cremator and placed in a room for cooling.

After the remains have cooled, a magnet is used to remove any non-burnable objects including screws and nails from the coffin. Items such as jewellery are not usually identifiable after being in the intense heat.

The calcified remains are then reduced to dust using an ash processor and transferred into a storage urn. The urn is then sealed, labelled and placed into safe storage.

The Final Step

Dolphin Feature click to view enlarged

There are many options to choose from to memorialise your loved one's ashes, such as a Genesis Garden or Rock Garden memorial. For further information on such services, please click here.