But it’s exactly the setting where a special forum on death will take place in Ballarat on Saturday.

Let’s Talk About Dying brings together experts in palliative care, bereavement counselling and death in a setting that seeks to normalise the often tough conversations surrounding end of life.

Ballarat Cemeteries Trust chief executive Annie DeJong said it was not morbid to talk about death, in fact the issues surrounding death are vital to discuss with your family.

“The problem is we don’t talk about a lot of things around end of life and preparation,” she said.

Grampians Region Palliative Care Consortium member Sharon Gibbens said families needed to talk about end of life care, the process of death, and what happens after – whether you want to be buried or cremated, your final resting place and any other final wishes.

“The best gift we can give our families is to talk about these things,” Ms Gibbens said.

“Often the elderly, or our parents, are actually happy to have these conversations but don’t want to upset anyone,” she said.

Ms Gibbens said palliative care was another area that families needed to discuss.

“The most important thing in palliative care is that it’s not just for end of life, but for anyone diagnosed with a life limiting illness so you can begin to prepare how that disease process is going to progress and how you want to be managed.”

Let’s Talk About Dying will be held in the Basement Bar at the Lost Ones Gallery at 2pm on Saturday, as a joint project between the Ballarat Art Gallery, The Lost Ones and the Ballarat Cemeteries Trust. 

The event is free, but tickets are limited and available from artgalleryofballarat.com.au

Also participating in the forum will be moderator Dr Allison O’Neill, Dr Claire Hepper and Jeremy McKnight from Shannons Bridge, and Melanie Mattinson from Ballarat Hospice Care.