Guides
Guides for families
Plain answers to the questions families actually have. Written for Far North Queensland, without jargon and without pressure.
30 September 2026
Arranging your own direct cremation ahead of time
What planning your own direct cremation in Cairns and Far North Queensland actually involves: the difference between pre-arranging and pre-paying, the one page worth writing down, where to keep it, who to tell, and what it costs today.
Read the guide21 September 2026
Where we come to, and what 'any hour' actually means
Where Ashes to Ashes brings people into care across Cairns and Far North Queensland, from Port Douglas to Innisfail and up to the Tablelands, and the honest version of 24/7: the phone is answered any hour, only the transfer cost changes after hours.
Read the guide14 September 2026
The paperwork after a death: what we handle, and what is left for you
The honest split for Cairns and FNQ families: the certificates, permit and registration we handle inside a direct cremation, and the notifications only the family can make, to Centrelink, the bank, super and the estate, in the order they come up.
Read the guide7 September 2026
What happens on the day of a direct cremation
The day itself, explained plainly: what happens before it can go ahead, the private transfer to the crematorium, why nobody needs to attend, and what comes back to your family afterwards.
Read the guide31 August 2026
How long does a direct cremation take in Cairns?
From the first phone call to the ashes coming home: the step-by-step timeline of a direct cremation in Cairns and FNQ, what sets the pace, and what happens if the Coroner is involved.
Read the guide18 August 2026
Direct cremation vs a traditional funeral: what is actually different
What separates a direct cremation from a traditional funeral in Cairns and FNQ: what each involves, what each costs, and how to choose what is right for your family.
Read the guide10 August 2026
Holding a memorial after a direct cremation
A direct cremation does not mean no farewell. How Cairns and FNQ families hold their own memorial after the cremation: when, where, and what it can look like.
Read the guidePractical guide
What to do when someone dies
The first hours and weeks after a death in Queensland: who to call, what gets verified, and who you need to notify.
Read the guideTalk to Shane, any hour
There is no cost to ask a question and no pressure to book anything. If you are not sure what to do next, that is exactly when to call.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for transfers. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm