Viewers of the opening ceremony to the 2000 Sydney Olympic games were oblivious to the fact a loved one's ashes were being scattered inside the arena in spectacular fashion.
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Craig Hull was fulfilling the final wish of a sports-loving friend - on stilts.
That unusual send-off sparked another idea to help others send the departed off with a bang, and now he's helping grieving pet owners too.
Craig since founded Pet Fireworks Funerals, which uses fireworks to help those left behind "love, live and laugh again".
"We call it the start of the journey to the Rainbow Bridge," he said
After two of Craig's beloved dogs died, he wanted to send them off in equally fine style and in a flash of inspiration, the idea of a fireworks farewell was born.
He trained to become a fully qualified and licensed pyrotechnician. He soon found work in the industry.
The ashes of his beloved Zeus and Gyprock were finally set free, launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, no less, in a blaze of glory on New Year's Eve 2010.
"It was an amazing feeling. I thought, this type of ceremony should be available for everybody."
In 2012, he set up Ashes to Ashes, which has arranged up to 15 human ceremonies each year.
With Pet Fireworks Funerals he expects to see many more ceremonies for best friends of the furry kind.
Fireworks displays for pets will typically be shorter than those for people, lasting about two minutes, with a base price of about $2000.
For an added fee, catering, music and drone video footage can be provided.
While some people might wince at the price, Craig puts it in the context of the cost of living with and loving a pet.
"Consider you look at what you pay just to go to the vet. One of my dogs had myocarditis and it cost me $3600. The ultrasounds alone were $1900.
"The beautiful thing with us is you can invite all your friends to come and enjoy the fireworks, but also show how much you loved your dog or cat.
"And they can talk about, oh yeah, little bugger used to nibble my ankles.
"That's a proper funeral."
- petfireworksfunerals.jigsy.com
