Undoubtedly, one of the best things about travelling through regional Australia is that regional TV channels still air local ads from local businesses. There is something wholesome about watching a commercial for a family pizza shop (often filmed inside the pizza shop) and then walking down the road and seeing the people from the ad. Oh my god, look! It’s Big Joe from Big Joe’s Pizza; he doesn’t look anywhere near as big in real life!

The same charm doesn’t quite apply to funeral homes, however. During a recent trip to NSW’s Central West, I was sitting in my motel room thinking about livestock (I’d just watched an ad about livestock) when a voice on the TV reminded me it was never too early to plan ahead.

You want a nice plot in a prime location with water views? You better hope the after life has Afterpay. Credit: Michael Howard

The voice belonged to a man wearing an ill-fitting suit who appeared to be floating in the clouds. He explained that his family had been delivering compassionate care to the community for three generations when they needed it most. And when the time came, I should trust him with my final goodbye.

Watching along from the bathroom, my wife said he was the last person she’d........

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