A gentler goodbye, using water instead of flame.
The only cremation in the region where your loved one never leaves local hands — cared for by our family, here in Townsville, from beginning to end.
A natural, water-based alternative to cremation.
The Gentle Way is a form of water cremation, known as alkaline hydrolysis. Instead of flame, it uses warm water and a gentle alkaline solution — the same kind used in soap-making — to return the body to its natural elements. Only the bones remain, and these are processed into fine, white remains that are returned to your family, just as with cremation.
Our Gentle Way system is right here on our own premises at Railway Estate. That means your loved one stays in our care the entire time — never transferred to another company or another town.
Stays local
Carried out by our own team on our premises in Townsville. Your loved one never leaves our care.
Gentler on the planet
No flame and no smoke — with a far smaller carbon footprint than traditional cremation.
No coffin to buy
A beautiful rental casket is provided for the service, for a small charge — nothing bought simply to be destroyed.
Often lower cost
Without the cost of buying a coffin, The Gentle Way is often more affordable than burial or flame cremation.
“You’re saying I don’t need to buy a coffin?”
Yes — that’s exactly what we’re saying.With The Gentle Way, we provide a beautiful rental casket for the funeral service, for a very small charge compared with buying a coffin or casket. Your loved one is well presented, and your family can still have a full, traditional farewell.
You can hold the service in our chapel, your church or another meaningful place — or choose no service at all. Choosing The Gentle Way never limits how you say goodbye.
“Do I still get ashes?”
Yes, you certainly do.Because the word “ashes” comes from fire — and we use water — we call them remains. They have the same soft, ash-like texture, but are a brighter white rather than grey.
Your loved one’s remains are returned to your family together with a plant. You’re welcome to choose an urn or keepsake from our range, or keep, inter or scatter them as you would after any cremation.
Simple, from start to finish.
Call us
Day or night, call 07 4779 5566 and we’ll gently bring your loved one into our care.
Plan the farewell
Meet with one of our arrangers to plan a service — or choose no service at all.
The Gentle Way
After the service, The Gentle Way takes place here, on our own premises, by our own team.
Returned to you
Your loved one’s remains are returned to your family, together with a plant.
The Gentle Way and flame cremation.
Both are respectful, dignified choices. Here’s how they compare, so you can decide what feels right for your family.
| Feature | The Gentle Way | Flame cremation |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Warm water and a gentle alkaline solution | Heat and flame |
| Where | On our own premises, Railway Estate, Townsville | Woongarra Crematorium (Townsville) or Whitsunday Crematorium (Bowen) |
| Coffin | Rental casket for the service — no coffin to buy | A coffin is purchased and cremated |
| Environment | No flame or smoke; a fraction of the carbon emissions | Uses fuel and produces emissions |
| Returned to you | Soft white remains, with a plant | Ashes, usually grey |
| Funeral service | Any service you like, or none | Any service you like, or none |
The Gentle Way’s makers state that water cremation produces less than 10% of the carbon emissions of flame cremation. Learn more at thegentleway.com.au.
Common questions about The Gentle Way.
Can we still have a funeral service?
Absolutely. You can have any kind of service you wish — in our chapel, your church or another meaningful place — with your loved one in a rental casket. Or, if you prefer, there’s no need for a service at all. More about funeral services.
Is my loved one cared for individually?
Yes. Each person is cared for individually, and the chamber must be completely empty before a new process can begin. Your loved one is treated with the same dignity and respect as in any of our services.
Why do people choose The Gentle Way?
Families choose it for different reasons — because their loved one never liked the idea of fire, because they care about their environmental footprint, because they want their loved one to stay in local hands, or simply because it can be a more affordable option. There’s no right or wrong; the choice is always yours.
How much does it cost?
Because there’s no coffin to buy, The Gentle Way is often more affordable than burial or flame cremation. You’ll find our current prices on our price list, or call us for an honest, no-obligation chat.
Is The Gentle Way right for your family?
Call us any time. We’ll explain everything honestly and help you decide — with no pressure and no obligation.