Hi all,

My Grandmother recently passed away and I have her ashes. I don't know what to do yet, so until I can think of something that she would be truly happy with, I want to keep them. Trouble is, myself and my daughter are due to finally arrive in Adelaide later this year, after my daughter's gcse's. Will I be able to bring my Grandmother with us? How should she travel? The urn is heavier than I expected and I'm not sure about it travelling on the plane with us .....but I don't want to leave her alone with our other stuff in a container.....and if I did, would she get through customs, anyway? does anyone know the legalities of bringing human ashes into the country?

Thanks for any advice you can offer

Hi Liberty

Sorry about your loss, I know how you are feeling, Dave(OH) lost his grandmother last October and I was very close to her, she got cremated and her ashes were scattered in her local church on their lawn.

I have found this link for you, you will have to copy and paste it into your toolbar. It has abit of information in there for you.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family...th.htm#Funerals

You will probably have to get in touch with someone in Adelaide to find out the right protocol.

Spoke to Dave(OH) he works for a courier company and they deliver human ashes all over the world but as I said you will have to find out by the right channels.

Good luck.

Lynn xx

I too would be interested to hear this, Nathan's dad died 6 months ago and we want to bring some of his ashes, We have taken already taken some on a plane with the certificate from the funeral director stating what they are and also the death certificate, have had no problems, but haven't been stopped. :unsure:

We also have a daffodil bulb that his mum gave us from the local hospice to plant in rememberance, don't think there would be any way that would be allowed to come though would there? :( I didn't tell her that though, just told her we would take it and plant it.

Hi Liberty.
It looks like you will be ok.
This is taken straight from the AQIS web site

Human or animal ashes

Human and animal ashes are allowed into Australia and do not require accompanying documentation. If the ashes are contained in a container made of wood or other material of quarantine concern, the container must be declared and inspected on arrival at the airport to ensure the container is free from contamination, such as bark or insect infestation. To check the container for insect infestation, look closely for holes, sawdust or any signs of boring insects. If signs of insect infestation are found, the wooden item must be fumigated. Fumigation or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

AQIS link

my mum passed away in 2005 and as she had been born here and knew that she was dying ( she had cancer) she asked me to find out if my dad could bring half her ashes here to be interned (sp?) in the family plot at the cemetry in West Terrace. There was no problem with this and he actually brought them over last October in his hand luggage - he said that she wouldn't fancy spending almost 24 hours in the hold! :) - and that was with Singapore airlines. He did bring the death certificate and a copy of the certificate to prove they had been properly cremated. When he got to Adelaide airport he didn't want them thinking that they were drugs or some kind of explosive so he declared them at customs and to be perfectly honest they really didn't know what to do and it took so long for him to get throught he said he wished he hadn't bothered.

So (very long winded but I hope it helps) , yes you can bring human ashes here! :)

last year i packed up a ladies husband in a box,{ashes] she was returning to the Uk after 22 years in Sth AUST.
He had wanted his ashes returned to the village he was born in, the british customs states that all human remains must be declared,for entry to the UK.
...................... ;) mm