Grievers Cafe offers comfort and connection in Port Douglas
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
For those navigating the often lonely journey of grief, the Grievers Cafe in Port Douglas has become a small but meaningful lifeline.
Organised by Port Douglas local, Lesley Postle, the coffee mornings have been running for about a year.
They are held at Santi Restaurant at Niramaya and provide a safe space for people to connect, share stories, and find comfort among others who understand.
“It’s small, usually four to six people,” Lesley said. “We meet for coffee, chat, share stories, and provide comfort. It’s really about connecting people and letting them know they’re not alone.”
Lesley started the cafe from her own experiences with grief and a desire to give back.
“I lost my partner five years ago and went travelling in a campervan to heal,” she said. “I ended up in Port Douglas by accident, fell in love with the place, and the community helped me heal.”
The idea grew from a ‘death cafe’ run by the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre.
“I spoke about my grief website, met others, including Stephen Oldham, a retired funeral director, and decided to start my own. I put the word out, a few people turned up, and it just grew.
"It feels good to give back to the community that helped me heal.”
A legacy of support
Her understanding of grief also comes from her late mother, Elizabeth Postle, who ran a small hospice in England for 15 years, helping terminally ill patients and their families cope with loss.
“Together, Lesley and her mother created a grief website, Grief and Sympathy, based on notes Elizabeth had written after her husband’s death.”
“She gave me the folder, and the words were so moving that I suggested we put them online. It grew to about 7,000 visitors a day at its peak,” Lesley said.
She has been the editor for the last 12 years and, thanks to her mum, feels confident supporting others.
“I learned so much from my mum. Her guidance helped me through my partner’s illness and passing, and I want to honour her by helping others,” she said.
“I’ve never had counselling qualifications, but I’ve experienced grief myself and feel confident talking to people while making it clear I’m not a counsellor.”
All sorts of grief
The cafe isn’t just for people grieving the death of a loved one.
Lesley emphasises that grief can take many forms; losing a home, income, health, or a pet, as well as major life changes like retirement or children leaving home.
“These forms of grief can be as powerful as losing a loved one and are often overlooked. Grieving your own health, for example, can be isolating and requires accepting limitations,” she said.
Attendees often carry multiple sources of grief, such as the loss of a parent alongside family health issues.
“With counsellor waitlists often stretching for weeks, just having a space to talk can make a real difference,” Lesley said.
The cafe also helps people connect with the community, make friends, and exchange phone numbers to check in between meetings.
While Lesley doesn’t provide counselling, she can guide anyone to the right support services if needed.
Grievers Cafe 2026 dates: January 12 & 26, Febuary 9 & 23 Feb at 11am, all at Niramaya Santi Restaurant. For info or to register, call the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre 07 4099 5518 or message Lesley Postle on Facebook.