Its latest achievement – Victoria’s first full‑body sea burial in more than a decade – shows how far the team will go to honour a family’s wishes.
The request came from the Hamilton family: Alan, an 82-year-old motorsport stalwart, had long declared that when his time came he wanted to “become part of the ocean”. Sea burials are legal in Australia but heavily regulated; his was the first permit issued in Victorian waters in more than 10 years. For Candour’s co‑founders Simon Mummé and Sameiko Slota, rarity simply meant “let’s find a way”.
Working against the clock, they secured the necessary federal permit, chartered a vessel able to reach water more than 3000m deep, plotted a precise latitude 120km off Portland, and assembled a specialist crew. Even the smallest details were covered: a biodegradable linen shroud, iron weights to meet maritime rules, and seasickness lozenges for the nine-hour voyage.
At dawn, 17 relatives gathered on Portland’s wharf for one last coffee and story‑sharing before boarding. Two checkered flags – a salute to Alan’s racing days – fluttered as the boat set out. Biodegradable letters were tucked aboard to be committed with Alan at sea. After four hours the swell settled to glass. Guided by Candour, each guest steadied the shroud and eased it feet‑first into the indigo water. Locally grown blooms followed, gently released by the family to mark the committal site. Homeward-bound, dolphins paced the hull, prompting son Travis to reflect: “It was daunting, yet felt completely natural.”
For Simon and Sameiko, the voyage sums up Candour’s philosophy: every life is unique, and so should be every farewell – whether in a chapel, a vineyard, or the wide-open sea. They hope the story sparks fresh conversations about planning ahead and trusting that, with the right help, even unconventional wishes can be realised.
