One of the most universally asked questions after all is “what is the meaning of life”, which when typed into Google returns more than 324 million results.

Many have claimed to know the answer to that almighty question; whether it be an accident of physics, a mission of total understanding, a spiritual path, the chance for rebirth or something with no point at all. The list goes on.

But while the purpose of life may baffle, it falls only equal to its mysterious counterpart, death.

An event to be held at South Hill Gallery next weekend will provide a platform to explore the historically taboo concept.

Death Café, as it’s been called, is quick becoming an international sensation – modelled from an American movement of the same name.

Owners of South Hill Linda and Roland Gumbert believe the idea could take off in Goulburn.

“I don’t know where it came from but Linda said we should have this in Goulburn. Now I was initially a bit sceptical but I’ve been involved in philosophy all my life and I thought you know you can’t die well unless you can learn how to live well,” Mr Gumbert said on Wednesday.

“Death is a taboo topic, it’s almost like if you say it you bring everybody down so we thought look, it’s not a bad thing to have it as part of a community involvement.

“The important thing about Death Café is that it’s not a religious forum; it’s not a thing with an agenda, it’s participant driven so people talk about what they want to talk about in the way they want to talk about it.”

The founding website deathcafe.com describes the event’s purpose as “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives”.

The guidelines for participation are simple – the only topic of conversation is death, nothing else.

The meetings are non-sectarian, nonpartisan, without agenda and participant driven. There are few guidelines and are not intended as counselling sessions or religious forums but rather for airing views and feelings which may hold benefit of free ranging discussion.

““It’s not intended to be a counselling thing where we get together for support.

It’s a discussion of what death means to you and what life means to you, I guess – because you can’t talk about death without life,” Mr Gumbert said.

The session will begin at 2pm on Sunday, September 28 and is free of charge. Tea, coffee and cakes will be served upon donation.

MEANTIME, South Hill will kick off their Spring season with a vibrant exhibition from Sydney artist Kathryn Gallagher.

Many of Gallagher’s works are influenced by the bold art scene of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, specifically Pop art.

Like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and other icons of the genre, Gallagher takes images we are all familiar with and perhaps even idolise, and forces us to question their origin and meaning.

The Gallagher exhibit will be opened at 2pm tomorrow by Steve McLauren of TAP Gallery in Darlinghurst.

* South Hill is located on Garroorigang Road. For more information on the exhibition or to RSVP for the Death Cafe event phone Linda on 0411 131 515.