You, like most other Australians have probably run into a couple of formal announcements of someone’s death in the newspaper but didn’t realize that there are two types of announcements. Many people assume that most death notices in Perth are obituaries, but in fact, they are death notices. So, what is a death notice?
A death notice is like an obituary, in the sense that it announces the death of someone. That’s why it isn’t right to use the words “death notices” and “obituary” interchangeably because there are two different things. Also, both types of newspaper announcements vary in the way they are presented and written. You should be able to tell the difference between the two so that you can effectively communicate the death of a friend or family member while deciding between the two types to honor your friend of a loved one.
What Are Death Notices?
A death notice is generally a brief announcement of someone’s death. It will be just a couple of lines; it excludes biographical details about the person who has passed. It is a common way to inform the community of someone’s passing.
On the other hand, an obituary is more detailed, but this too is an announcement. Think of it as being a summary or a snapshot of the deceased’s life. It will include some biographical information that’s otherwise left out by the death notice. Though similar to the death notice, it will include information about memorial and funeral services.
A dealt notice is kept to a minimum to announce the death of a person. So, the only details mentioned will be the name, age, and date of passing. Then there will be details regarding the funeral arrangements in the way of location, date, etc. That’s why they are also referred to as funeral notices in Perth.
Obituaries are longer than a death notice, generally several paragraphs long with quite a bit of information. Some of the information includes accomplishments, hobbies and names of family members. There will also be some details about the person’s contribution to the community etc.
Who Writes Death Notices in Perth, Western Australia?
Generally, it is the funeral home that writes death notices, with the help of family members and friends, which is then published in the newspaper or some other community publication.
Obituaries, on the other hand, is almost entirely written by the deceased’s family members or by someone at the newspaper. Now for some high-profile individuals (celebrities, politicians, sports personalities) the newspaper or publication may want to write an obituary highlighting the life and accomplishments of the person. If anything, it is seen as newsworthy.
Where Can You Find Up to Date Death Notices for Perth?
Well, there are several places where you can search for funeral notices in Perth. We’ve listed a couple of online resources which have around 80% of the death notices.
Many newspapers in Western Australia have a list of obituaries, funeral and death notices. Newspapers that have most death notices published in Perth include:
| Bunbury Mail |
| Busselton-Dunsborough Mail |
| The Avon Advocate |
| Augusta-Margaret River Mail |
| Collie MailThe West Australian |
| Donnybrook-Bridgetown Mail |
| The Esperance Express |
| Mandurah Mail |
Most if not all, crematories, memorial parks and cemeteries in Perth, Western Australia, also have al ist of information including date, time and venue of all upcoming funeral services. You can click on the links below to find all the funeral services for each of the respective cemeteries:
- Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park
- Guildford Cemetery
- Karrakatte Cemetery
- Midland Cemetery
- Fremantle Cemetery
- Rockingham Regional Memorial Park
How to Find Out If Someone Has Died In Australia?
The most surefire way to find out if someone has died in Perth or Australia is to contact the Birth, Deaths and marriages registrar. When you first contact them, they will try to establish as to why you are inquiring about the death of an individual. They will want to know your relationship with the deceased before providing any information.
Now if nothing comes up, the next thing you can do that does not require any verification is to check local and national newspapers for death notices and obituaries. We have a list of newspapers in Perth, which makes it easier to search for a death notice. The archives also go back a few years. That being said, newspapers tend to purge older archives of death notices so you may not be able to find a death notice from perhaps ten years ago or older. However, you should be able to find a death notice from someone who has died recently.
The next place you can search is crematories, memorial parks and cemeteries in Perth. Most of these places have websites. We’ve provided a list of websites to some of the most prominent places in the city above. You can search them via the deceased’s name. However, here too the records available may not stretch back several years. So, at best, you should be able to track down someone who has died recently and find out when their funeral will be held. Alternatively, you could also call memorial parks and crematories for information during business hours.
The choice between an obituary and death notice may be a tricky one for many family members. However, depending on who the person is, you can choose between just informing the public via death notice that also announces the details of the memorial service or funeral. On the other hand, many families may choose an obituary because it is seen as paying tribute to the life of the deceased. Sharing their (deceased’s) accomplishments and the fact that they will be missed by the family is why many choose an obituary.
Since final arrangements are personal decisions, the announcements you choose is up to you. There is no wrong or right choice here. In most cases, you should go with your gut.