Presenters
Stories in Stone 2025 has brought together an eclectic range of presenters who share a common interest in cemetery heritage and history.
For Kelly, the study of death, grief, and the role of cemeteries is deeply personal. After losing her mother in her twenties, she experienced firsthand how cemeteries can evolve into vital social spaces, becoming a regular meeting place for her and her three sisters. This personal journey led her to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), earning the University Medal for her project Between Abandonment and Multifunctional Greenspace: Historic Urban Cemeteries as Entangled Liminal Places. Kelly’s research, which centres on everyday experiences at South Brisbane Cemetery, has been presented locally and internationally, inspiring broader conversations about how communities engage with spaces of remembrance. Kelly is the creator of the Cemetery as Place website, and a member of Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery.
Jenny is the vice-president of the Friends of Balmoral Cemetery community organisation in Brisbane.
Leah and Narelle are the researchers, creators and performers behind the successful 'Whistling Past the Graveyard' musical project in South Brisbane Cemetery and other venues (2023-24), and this year's 'Confessions of a Funeral Singer' show celebrating funeral music in modern Australia.
On the way from her first gigs in community theatre in the 1980s to her 2020 Doctor of Musical Arts, Leah established a national profile as a jazz singer before diverging into song writing projects and the production of musical works featuring gifted collaborators at premier venues. A ‘Women in Voice’ regular, Leah has brought her warm soulful voice to many styles. Her musical memoir 'The Pleasure of Sad Songs' was the subject of a 2015 'Conversations' interview on ABC Radio National. Leah was awarded the 2022 Letty Katts Fellowship in the Queensland Memory Awards.
Narelle is a writer, musician, academic, archivist and researcher. She is a lecturer and Fellow at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, as well as presenting at international conferences on the topic of the Irish wake ritual, death and Irish mythology. She currently lectures in popular music, music theatre and music history. Narelle was awarded the 2020 Letty Katts Fellowship in the Queensland Memory Awards.
As an academic for ten years (and school leader and teacher for 25 years), Kay has utilised her through research skills in writing books and several chapters in texts and journal articles. Kate has also served a ‘writers in residence’ term at the Queensland Writer’s Centre.
Lisa is an author (The Bottom Drawer Book), journalist and audio producer, cemetery tour guide with Cemetery Tours Toowoomba, death awareness advocate, blogger, and public speaker. A media professional for more than 20 years, Lisa has worked as radio broadcaster, a TV reporter and producer. She is also a leader with the Headstone Healing Project.
Rebecca is a committee member of the Australian Death Studies Society, and Museum Curator at the Integrated Pathology Learning Centre, University of Queensland. Her other roles have included program producer and volunteer coordinator at the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, and Heritage Interpreter at Cockatoo Island.
Kalila holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Film, TV, and Radio. She works as a camera operator while also creating social media content for fun, amassing a following of over 36,000 across various platforms (see TikTok: @Kalila_Matthews and Information / All my links). Passionate about cemetery conservation, she volunteers with Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery, using digital storytelling to educate and engage the public. Her videos on grave cleaning and cemetery history have reached thousands worldwide, inspiring greater community participation and historical awareness.
Kelly Burstow
Jenny Clark
As a long-time cemetery volunteer and organiser, she engages in the numerous cleaning bees, guided tours, art programmes, and memorialisation and restoration projects held at the Balmoral Cemetery.
Jenny is also the president of the Stories in Stone committee.
Dr Leah Cotterell and Narelle McCoy
On the way from her first gigs in community theatre in the 1980s to her 2020 Doctor of Musical Arts, Leah established a national profile as a jazz singer before diverging into song writing projects and the production of musical works featuring gifted collaborators at premier venues. A ‘Women in Voice’ regular, Leah has brought her warm soulful voice to many styles. Her musical memoir 'The Pleasure of Sad Songs' was the subject of a 2015 'Conversations' interview on ABC Radio National. Leah was awarded the 2022 Letty Katts Fellowship in the Queensland Memory Awards.
Narelle is a writer, musician, academic, archivist and researcher. She is a lecturer and Fellow at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, as well as presenting at international conferences on the topic of the Irish wake ritual, death and Irish mythology. She currently lectures in popular music, music theatre and music history. Narelle was awarded the 2020 Letty Katts Fellowship in the Queensland Memory Awards.
Kay Duke
Lisa Herbert
Ben Kelly
Ben Kelly is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA), a non-profit organisation committed to leadership, professional development, and collaboration across the death care sector. With nearly a decade of experience spanning both private and local government cemetery and crematoria operations, Ben brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today.
In his role, Ben works closely with cemetery operators across Australia and internationally, as well as with local, state, and federal governments, academia, and industry associations. His work focuses on driving innovation, shaping policy, and ensuring the sector evolves to meet the changing needs of communities - both now and into the future. Ben is passionate about transforming society’s approach to death care and advocating for sustainable, community-focused solutions.
Rebecca Lush
Kalila Matthews
