Every December we have a brief look at the well known people who lost their lives. In 2016 we lost some exceptional people. Here is a few Aussies:

Around the world there were deaths of people who made their name in sports, film and TV, music and space travel.

Woolworths Carols in the Domain
Woolworths Carols in the Domain is Australia's largest free Christmas concert, held in the Domain, Sydney and screening live across Australia on The Seven Network. In 2016 we celebrate the theme of 'Christmas Traditions'. Carols itself is a time-honoured tradition for families across Australia who sing-along to Australia's best-loved performers and favourite Christmas songs. Now, in its 34th year, the iconic Christmas celebration will start a new tradition - for the first time ever the show will take place on a Sunday! Woolworths Carols in the Domain is excited to announce a growing list of artists to the star-studded 2016 line-up. Leo Sayer, John Paul Young, The McClymonts, Shannon Noll, Georgie Parker, Todd McKenney, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Jessica Mauboy, The Wiggles, Paulini Curuenavuli, Swing On This, Jay Laga'aia, Mark Vincent, Ky Baldwin and Dami Im will all be wowing the audience this year.
WHEN: Sunday 18 December from 8.30pm
WHERE: The Domain, Sydney
WATCH & LISTEN: Watch it on Channel 7 or listen on smoothFM
​MORE INFO: Carols in the Domain

Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight
Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight® has been a fabulous Christmas tradition for 78 years, bringing Australia classic Christmas carols and an evening of entertainment with something for the whole family and 2016 will be no exception!
In addition to being a wonderful show, all of the funds raised by Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight go directly to provide services to children who are blind or have low vision and their families. In 2015, thanks to your support, we raised $1.3 million!
Hosted by David Campbell and Lisa Wilkinson. Performers this year include: Lucy Durack, Dami Im, Alfie Arcuri, Anthony Callea, Christie Whelan-Browne, David Hobson, Dennis Walter, Marina Prior, Rohan Browne, 5 members from Sheppard, Silvie Paladino, Tim Campbell and the cast from Kinky Boots.
WHEN: Saturday 24 December from 8pm
WHERE: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne VIC
​WATCH & LISTEN: Watch on Nine or listen on Radio 2UE
MORE INFO: Vision Australia's Carols By Candlelight

DEAD and buried celebrities are bringing life back to Sydney's cemeteries.

In a bid to entice new plot owners, a cemetery in North Ryde has even published a list of the famous departed with whom you can spend eternity.

"Johnny O'Keefe is buried here," says Tom Sweeney, community relations officer at Macquarie Park.

"So if you wanted a grave near him, you just ring up and ask if there is anything in Block 10. It wouldn't be too difficult."

Mr Sweeney's map, called the "Historic People Trail" leads potential customers on a mercurial trip downmemory lane, visiting luminaries like Sir John Kerr, Don Lane and star attraction "JOK".

Close to O'Keefe's grave is that of Ward Gargan, a famous 2UE DJ of the 1960s whose entry in Sweeney's celebrity pamphlet reads: "He is buried near his hero Johnny O'Keefe also born in 1935 like Elvis."

Mr Sweeney says there might be a new peak in people opting for a burial with the stars, with a range of fresh graves available for the first time in years. "There are 3000 graves that were purchased and never used that are just becoming available again so some of them might be near the famous people."

Waverley Cemetery in Sydney's eastern suburbs boasts celebrity-themed sections, with the sick and infirm able to select gravesites based on their worldly, or other, desires.

"Depending on what area you fancy, be it literature or sport, we have whole lists," a cemetery spokesman said.

"Dorothea McKellar is buried here, Henry Lawson, Lawrence Hargrave, (J.F) Archibald is here, the original founder of the Archibalds, Victor Trumper, the list goes on."

The cemetery's website invites people to "become a part of Australian history" by purchasing a grave at the site.

Alongside photos of the graves of poet Henry Kendall and aviator Lawrence Hargrave, the cemetery's blurb reads: "Many important men and women who helped shape Australia and its development are buried here.

"To help ensure your place in history, graves and memorials are currently available for at-need funerals and pre-arrangements."

Graves start at $18,000, which only secures the site for 25 years. A 99-year lease at Waverley will set you back nearly $45,000.

But your spot with O'Keefe is safe and sound, with Macquarie Park Cemetery selling permanent sites.

Graves start at $8620 for a non-denominational site in the general lawn section, while a spot in the Catholic section costs more than $10,000. Rookwood Cemetery is also luring prospective clients with a section of its website called Celebrities of Rookwood.

Underworld figure Abe Saffron and Peter Dodds McCormick, the writer of Advance Australia Fair, are buried at the famous cemetery.

Article originally appeared in Sunday Telegraph on Dec 2, 2012