Arabic version: تزايد الدعوات لتنظيم صناعة الجنازات بعد حالة مؤلمة
Kerry Collard’s heartbreaking experience following her daughter’s death has ignited demands for tighter regulations in Australia’s funeral industry. According to ABC News, Collard faced numerous challenges when she attempted to voice her concerns about the service provided by a regional funeral director after the tragic loss of her daughter, Jessica Collard Horan.
Jessica Collard Horan was 39 years old when she was killed in a car accident, leaving behind four children aged between eight and 15. Collard engaged a funeral service to care for her daughter’s remains but described the care as “unacceptable.” After several days of requesting a family viewing and the opportunity to dress her daughter, Collard was denied due to the condition of Jessica’s body.
When the family finally viewed Jessica, they were devastated to find her remains in a poor state, including debris in her hair and untreated wounds. The initial funeral director stated that Jessica’s body had been held by the coroner for 11 days before their service took over, suggesting that the family viewed her before the completion of proper preparations.
Following her distressing experience, Collard canceled the funeral service and sought a transfer to another provider. A condition report from the second funeral service highlighted significant neglect in the care of Jessica’s body, leading to growing concerns about the lack of regulation in the funeral industry. The report indicated that no meaningful preparation had been performed prior to the family viewing.
Collard’s attempts to file complaints with various authorities were largely met with roadblocks. The regional cemetery board informed her they lacked jurisdiction to mediate her complaint, highlighting a broader issue of unregulated practices within the industry. Asha Dooley, president of Funerals Australia, noted that the lack of standardization allows individuals with minimal experience to enter the profession, underscoring the urgent need for national regulatory frameworks governing funeral services.
