A group of fun-loving and rebellious senior citizens in Rotorua are taking matters into their own hands by creating their very own coffins from scratch. Founded by former midwife Katie Williams, the coffin club was established in 2010 out of her own garage. Fast forward almost ten years and they've now become worldwide phenomenons.
Each new member is measured on arrival and a coffin is crafted by the club’s very own voluntary carpenters, which Katie described them as “a bunch of old blokes. All with the skills I thought necessary.” It’s then up to each member to let their creative juices flow and design the coffin of their dreams. From chickens to leprechauns or Elvis Presley, many of these oldies aren’t shy to express their greatest passions for their final send off.
As excited retirees pile in one by one, a plate in hand to share, for many this is the highlight of their week. Katie discusses how important the club is to many of the members who often feel lonely or isolated as senior citizens.
“One of the most important things of a group like this, a coffin club, is the social aspect. They come here and they are totally loved.”
Split into two establishments, the original being Rotorua Coffin Club emphasises more on the social aspects, where many have already finished their coffins but still attend for a chat and cuppa. While on the other side of town, the Kiwi Coffin Club works intensively with the selling and providing of coffins to those in need.
For many of the members, a sudden loss of a loved one is their greatest inspiration to joining the club, describing it as taking matters into their own hands. For them, it’s all about creating the funeral they want it to be, not what others think it should be.
Directed by Zach Cutler, this short doco was created by a group of Wintec students FIXITINPOST Productions (Mereaira Savage-Helmbright, Orion Wall, Leigh Phelan and Mathew Johnson)
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