Jeff Zhu has been working at Macarthur Memorial Park, Sydney’s newest greenfield cemetery for several months and has seen firsthand the benefits of pre-planning. He has quickly learnt that while many people may feel uncomfortable talking about end of life, once they start talking, they find it worthwhile and rewarding.
With only one in three Australians having made plans for their end of life, it has never been more relevant or critical to have these conversations. Jeff enjoys talking with people, learning more about their life stories and answering any questions they may have.
The conversations around how each of us approach death in our society of differing cultures, religions and backgrounds may vary, but it is still considered one of our last taboos. People often don’t know where to start, but they want to be prepared for when the time comes.
Jeff understands that everyone is unique and have their own individual requirements. He keeps this front-of-mind when communicating with customers, so he can better understand them and provide them with what they are after.
One client interaction that left its mark was a couple that were pre-arranging because the husband had a terminal illness. It was a daunting task, but after talking things through with his wife, the atmosphere lightened. The couple were open and generous, even though they were discussing his end of life arrangements.
A typical day for Jeff sees him meeting with customers who are interested in pre-arrangement at the new memorial park. This can be done at the onsite sales office via appointment or in the comfort of their own home.
What stands out about Macarthur Memorial Park for Jeff is that “it has been designed from the ground up, with a clear vision in mind.” The memorial park has a landscape masterplan, whereas design came second with other older cemeteries.
“We have modern design elements and facilities, and all the different areas of the cemetery are allocated, it will look uniform and beautifully planned.”
Jeff originally believed that pre-planning was a way to take financial burden off a spouse or family members. However, after speaking with people, he has also seen the mental stress it alleviates off loved ones.
He acknowledges “It is a big burden when you lose someone in your life, and you are grieving. By pre-planning you have one less thing to worry about, it is a crucial stepping stone for families.”
As someone from a Chinese background, his mother told him not to tell his grandmother what he does for a living. This is because a lot of south-east Asian communities do not like to talk about death, and it is still considered taboo.
When Jeff speaks to families about the importance of pre-organising how they would like to be remembered and their final resting place, they see the benefit and realise that financial stress can also being avoided for their families.
Much of the feedback from customers and the public has been positive. Those that did not want the memorial park originally, have changed their viewpoint and purchased there. When they visit, they are impressed by how green the site is and how the bushland is being preserved.
Large areas of land in southwest Sydney have been built-out with development. One resident said that Macarthur Memorial Park will be the last green belt left in the scenic hills. With 35 hectares designated as open green space for everyone to enjoy.
Jeff likes to be open and transparent in discussions with families and it is something our customers appreciate. The new cemetery provides people with choice, something many existing cemeteries cannot offer.
At Macarthur Memorial Park, individuals can choose the location of their final resting place and have flexibility with a payment plan, so they have the time to pay it off before it is required. The park also has a multi-faith chapel and function centre, so everything can be done at the one location.
While Jeff enjoys spending time with his young family, motor sports and watchmaking, he has found his role has brought peace to many people including himself. By talking about end of life arrangements, it has opened his mind about death and made him less anxious about it.
He is heartened by how the younger generation are favouring simple farewells. They are planning touching tributes, that are positive celebrations rather than sad.
Jeff firmly believes that by tackling end of life planning early, you can get on with living your life to the fullest.
