The Lighter Note

New undertaking

There is no end to funeral variety these days. Depending on your gender, religious affiliation, nostalgic desires or environmental concern, there are dozens of choices for you or your family to make when it comes to a final resting place.

The conservationist within us was happy to see yet another sustainable undertaking development with InvoCare’s Oakwood Funerals establishing Green Endings.

Oakwood, run by Don Chipper, has been busy since ASX-listed InvoCare took 100 per cent control of it and the 118-year-old Chipper Funerals in 2007, a deal which cost it nearly $5 million.

The next year it bought Christian Funerals for nearly $1.4 million up front with an earn-out figure of as much as $575,000 over the next three years.

Two years ago it launched a bespoke casket service offering 26 styles and designs of custom-made coffins.

FIFO, FIFO, its off to work we go

Fly-in, fly-out workforce practices are a big issue, so The Note is cautious about making fun of anyone looking into this serious matter.

Nevertheless, we could not help but wonder at the exquisite irony of recent hearings held in the state’s north by the federal parliament’s Standing Committee on Regional Australia, which includes WA representatives Tony Crook and Barry Haase.

Members of the committee attended various towns in the Pilbara and Kimberley for the purpose of inquiring into the use ‘fly-in, fly-out’ (FIFO) and ‘drive-in, drive-out’ (DIDO) workforce practices in regional Australia.

From recollection, Mr Haase was the only parliamentarian who represented the region as the member for Durack. 

Furthermore, none of committee’s members are from the ACT, where federal parliament sits.   

Doesn’t this make them all FIFO or DIDO workers?