Indigenous business The Coffin Creative Co. offers multicultural caskets

An Indigenous-owned business is helping families through the toughest part of life, creating custom coffins to represent their loved ones and their culture for their final send off.

Wayne Thompson and Bridget Sacco say The Coffin Creative Co. is designed to personalise funerals to different people and cultures. Photo: Zoe Devenport

When a friend died before his time in 2012, a graphic designer decided to create a custom casket to help the family say farewell.

Now, Wayne Thompson and Bridget Sacco have seen many times how a personalised approach can help soothe the experience of loss.

The Coffin Creative Co. was born out of the same desire to help families and recently opened a storefront in central Mackay.

Now boasting a range of designs from florals to fishing gear, Mr Thompson’s first custom coffin was covered in pictures of his late friend.

He soon noticed how the personal touch “changed the funeral and how happy it was”.

Wayne Thompson and Bridget Sacco say The Coffin Creative Co. is designed to personalise funerals to different people and cultures. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“You still cry, but they’re more happy tears,” Mr Thompson said.

“We decided to look into how we could do this for other families.”

As a member of the Indigenous Business Association, the owners of Coffin Creative Co. said catering for a multicultural Australia was key.

“Every culture has different ways of grieving that I don’t think have (been accomodated),” Mr Thompson said.

“We try to help Indigenous families with the process.

The Coffin Creative Co. has opened its doors on Victoria St, Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“It helps a lot to come in the day we’re doing a coffin and they can put their hands on it and be a part of it.

“Everyone grieves differently.”

Previous designs for Indigenous clients have included family and individual totems linking the deceased to the Dreamtime.

Custom designs are confidential and solely for the family who commissioned the coffin.

Growing slowly over the past decade, the business celebrated the opening of its Victoria St shop in Mackay’s CBD on December 14, 2022.

Wayne Thompson, Bridget Sacco and their son Travis at the opening of The Coffin Creative Co. on Victoria St, Mackay. Photo: Contributed

Ms Sacco said boutique coffins helped adapt western funerary traditions and “one of the oldest industries” for a wider world.

“It’s a work of art, it’s a representation of the person, it’s starting the healing process,” she said.

“Everybody is going to face death within their family.

“We want to take the taboo and the macabre out of it.

“We celebrate life.”