Involve Issue 28 - May 2013

Transcription

I N V O LV E
INVO
ISSUE 28 May 2013
Marking the Missing
Le Pine honours MIAs
Australasia
A Word from the CEO
InvoCare is publicly-listed on
the Australian Stock Exchange
and is the largest provider
of funeral, cemetery and
crematoria services in Australia,
New Zealand and Singapore.
Our philosophy is:
s TODEMONSTRATETHEHIGHEST
degree of professionalism
while assisting client families
at a pivotal time in their lives
s TOEXERCISERESPONSIBILITYASAN
industry leader by setting high
standards of service, safety
and fair business practice
s TOINCREASEINVESTOR
value through sound
fiscal management and
corporate development
We are committed to helping our
local communities; offering personal
attention and demonstrating
this commitment to the families
we are privileged to serve.
invocare.com.au
Welcome to the first edition of Involve for 2013. Once again, the beginning of
the year has been marked by wild weather and natural disasters and I send
my thoughts to all those in Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and
New Zealand who have been affected by floods, fires and earth quakes.
Last year was a particularly successful one for
InvoCare, with all of our divisions contributing
positively through exceptional services
delivered to client families in Australia, New
Zealand and Singapore. As it was the first full
operating year after the integration of Bledisloe,
there was a lot of interest in InvoCare’s full
year financial results and I am both proud and
humbled to say that they did not disappoint.
After delivering services to a record number
of families, InvoCare’s operating earnings after
tax across our combined operations grew
by 16.7% to $42.5 million. The driver of this
result is, as always, the outstanding customer
service and care our staff provides to families.
I thank all InvoCare employees for their
dedication and commitment.
The market, which has long understood the
value of the InvoCare business model and
the importance of the services we provide,
responded very positively to these results.
InvoCare is now a recognised ASX Top 200
company, a result that is great for all of our
shareholders, including the many InvoCare
employees who have a stake in our company.
In the early weeks of 2013, our New Zealand
colleagues announced a new addition to the
InvoCare team. Resthaven Funeral Services
operates from locations in Howick and
Manurewa and serves communities in East and
South Auckland. Led by Raewyn Proctor and
Rachel Benns, Resthaven Funeral Services
provides high quality services to clients, and
also qualified bereavement support. Raewyn
and Rachel remain integral to the business and
will work in conjunction with InvoCare New
Zealand Chief Operating Officer, Graeme Rhind,
to grow its success. I welcome all at Resthaven
Funeral Services to the InvoCare community.
Looking forward, 2013 provides InvoCare
with another opportunity to deliver
exceptional services to families, and support
to communities. With new locations; such
as White Lady Funerals’ new Cairns funeral
home and the new Eternal Headstone section,
which has just been inaugurated at Newcastle
Memorial Park, we’ll be able to offer care and
expanded services to larger numbers than ever.
Across our operations, we will continue to
partner with important community organisations
like the Australian Chinese Charity Foundation,
the Australian Chinese Community Association,
the Salvation Army, Legacy, the Cancer Council,
the RSL, the RSA, Lions and many more.
We are also continuing our digital journey,
with the release of more websites and social
media pages, including Metropolitan Funerals
which has just launched its Facebook
page. HeavenAddress is also continuing its
development with innovative and new features
added to the site. Because of all of these
announcements, Involve magazine will now
bring together all of our digital initiatives in
a new section, InvoCare Digital, to provide
comprehensive coverage.
On a personal note, I would like to
congratulate Warwick Hansen of Hansen
& Cole Funerals, who on Australia Day this
year became InvoCare’s newest recipient
of the Medal of the Order of Australia. This
recognition comes to Warwick for his more
than 45 years of service to the community and
to the funeral industry. Well done Warwick!
I look forward to updating you about our
successes, new locations, community support
and digital initiatives throughout the year.
Andrew Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Contents
InvoCare
Guardian Plan
In Appreciation
4
Supporting the Australian
Chinese Charity Foundation
8
Year of the Black Water Snake
Customer Service Program
27
9
Welcome to Resthaven Funerals
10
Warwick Hansen OAM
10
The InvoCare Shield in
Cem Crem hands: series now tied
11
LifeArt
LifeArt
28
Simplicity Funerals
InvoCare Digital
SOLACE For the Grieving
30
HeavenAddress Blooms in 2013
12
Birthday Lions Roar
30
Website Award for Green Endings
13
Speaking Out With Simplicity
31
Need help? Need a Funeral Organiser
13
Modern Metropolitan
13
Orange You Glad For A
Healthy Breakfast?
31
Cemeteries & Crematoria
White Lady Funerals
14
Always a Pleasure
32
Headstone Popping Up
15
Gifts To Those Who Need Them
15
Very Special kids Helped
Out By Very Special Ladies
32
History Refreshed
16
Making Special Days Special
33
At the Raising of the Sun
17
Lullaby Helps With Goodbye
Tropical Care
34
Women in the Funeral Industry
35
Contemporary Funerals
Diamond Days
18
Showing Heart on Valentine’s
19
Caring for Queenslanders
19
Season’s Greetings from Santa
20
A Funny Way to Say Thank You
20
Refugee Memorial
21
Putting Aside the Fear
22
Back to Pew
22
Bronzed Respect
23
Class Send Off
23
Work Computer Home Computer
24
Court ‘n’ the Action
24
Christmas Melodies Make the Morning
25
City of Cycles
25
Irene’s Essay Success
25
Sailing Solutions
26
Laughter Yoga For Life
26
I N V 6 LV E
Our greatest rewards come from families who acknowledge the care and pride we take in our daily work.
Hi there, I am a UK Celebrant and have been
asked to conduct the first ever Mother’s Day
service at the local crematorium. I didn’t know
where to start until I saw the video of your
Memorial Day. It looked wonderful. The edits
that I saw on YouTube were so perfect, it
made me cry. Thank you for sharing it.
With love and respect, Sally.
Via www.whiteladyfunerals.com.au
“Went to a service conducted by White
Lady last week – it was really good.
Understated and very personal.”
From Wendy Machin via Facebook.
I wanted to give my sincere thanks to White
Lady and specifically to Wendy and Caroline
from Belconnen in the ACT.
My mum passed away in the ACT and I
organised the funeral over the phone with
Caroline. It could not have been an easier
experience for which I was very grateful.
Caroline was extremely pleasant and easy
to work with.
My further contact was with Wendy and I was
amazed how she went above and beyond,
even during simple conversations. I was so
pleased to see Wendy on the day of the
funeral, and again she had a way of
bringing such comfort and assurance.
I would like to personally thank Rosemary
and the lovely ladies of White Lady Funerals
Rockdale for the wonderful way you all helped
us through this sad day to farewell my mother.
In my opinion Wendy has found her calling in
life. I have one mum who can only die once,
and the memory of that time will be with me
for ever more.
I am humbled and honoured that you all
took the time and care to make our day more
bearable and to you, Rosemary, a special thank
you for playing “You Raise Me Up” as we made
our way to the last resting place for my mother.
I am very thankful to White Lady Funerals,
specifically Caroline and Wendy for creating
such wonderful memories at this time.
May God bless all of you and keep on helping
other families in their time of grief as you helped
myself and my family.
Love, Georgia.
I would just like to express my appreciation
to the staff members who attended my fatherin-law’s funeral service yesterday. On behalf
of the family, I would like to say thank you.
Sincerely, Lisa.
A huge ‘thank you’ to Natalie from Simplicity
Funerals Liverpool for organising the funeral,
with sensitivity and professionalism. Today’s
funeral was conducted perfectly in every way.
Please pass on the thanks of Peter, Angela,
Dennis and Robert who attended Liverpool
last Saturday.
Regards, Angela.
Via www.simplicityfunerals.com.au
A special thank you to Christy for helping us
to organise the day and to John who looked
after my niece after she was feeling a bit ill at
the service. Everything was conducted very
professionally and with compassion which
helped ease the stress on the day. Kind
regards, Allison.
I would like to pass on our sincerest thanks
to Grace for organising our Mother’s ashes.
She was very helpful, kind and patient in her
manner towards us, and made a very sad
ordeal much easier for us to bear. She is a
lovely lady and is a great asset to Northern
Suburbs Memorial Gardens.
Please pass on our thanks to Grace and also
to Stuart. It is rare to find someone who is so
thoughtful, understanding and sympathetic
towards her customers.
Best Wishes, The Williamson Family.
Via www.northernsuburbscrem.com.au
To Anne Gibbs,
My brother has expressed to me that your
assistance and support while arranging our
Mum’s funeral was invaluable. I am writing to
thank you for supporting the family in our grief.
It was a terrible time for us, especially my
brother who had been Mum’s sole carer for
seven weeks leading up to her passing away.
As my husband and myself were unable
to attend the service and be there, I took
comfort in knowing that your level head and
professional care was available for my family.
Thank you for going the extra mile to be there
for my brother when it really mattered.
Kind regards, Nicola and Stuart.
I just wanted to thank the staff at Kelmscott
as they did a fantastic job today at my Nan’s
service. They took time out to talk to us all,
even my young children. They also travelled
all the way to Beverley to talk to my Grandad
about the service.
Please thank them again for us.
Via www.guardianfunerals.com.au
InvoCare
In Appreciation
On behalf of our family I would like to thank you
very much for last night’s remembrance service
for our mother. We were touched by the service
and are still coming to terms with the loss of a
loving mother who we will cherish forever.
So once again, thank you.
Via www.georgehartnettfunerals.com.au
Good afternoon,
My uncle was farewelled in the North Chapel
yesterday. Thank you so much for such a
wonderful facility for us to do that.
I would particularly like to thank and praise
Toni who looked after us during our luncheon.
Toni was fun, conscientious and made us feel
so welcome at such a tough time. Toni went
out of her way to accommodate any need
which we had.
As for the day of funeral service, the ladies
were just beautiful. They were so understanding
and supportive and I cannot thank them
enough. Please forgive me as the only name
I remember is Wendy however the other two
ladies were just as beautiful and the respect
they showed, not only to my beautiful Mother
but to my family, is only something that very
special people have.
I was comforted when we came to view my
beautiful Mum, she looked just so beautiful
and exactly how I was hoping she would look;
so to the people who did that, I thank you from
the bottom of my heart. White Ladies, what
can I say but you are the most beautiful people
and the job you do is nothing short of amazing.
Thank you, thank you a million times over
from the bottom of our hearts.
Dolores and family.
Thank you, Belinda.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Via www.northernsuburbscrem.com.au
I’d like to take this opportunity and represent
my Mother and family to say thank you for your
service in relation to my Father’s funeral.
I am writing this on behalf of my Dad who lost
his beloved wife in October. When I first called
the office to start making arrangements for
my Mum’s service I felt so comforted knowing
that she was in the best care as this was so
important to our family.
The beautiful Leanne came to my home
as my poor Dad was not strong enough
to leave my home to make arrangements.
Leanne’s presence was nothing short of calm,
compassionate and, at the same time, very
professional.
Just a quick note to say ‘thank you’ for
your excellent service for the funeral.
I was one of the sons-in-law and was not
involved with any of the arrangements but I
was extremely impressed and grateful for the
professional and caring service provided by
your company. From beginning to end we were
impressed by the caring attitude of your ladies.
Well done keep up the good work, I’m sure
you make a difference to people every day.
Regards, Duncan.
Via www.mareenapurslowefunerals.com.au
On behalf of our family, I would like you to know
how much we appreciated your efficiency,
kindness and support.
Please let Donna know that she is very special!
Dad, we’re sure, was watching and would
have loved the send-off! John Truman was the
perfect celebrant. Thank you so very much!
Can you please personally thank Toni for
the time and effort she puts into her job?
Hello,
Hi Rosina and Ladies,
Warm regards, Gay and Rob.
Via www.annwilsonfunerals.com.au
From the moment Ann came to our house to
start the process until the funeral, which Jenny
and Phil managed with care and thought, we
were allowed to carry on with our mourning
rather than worry about intricate details.
Thank you all, but particularly Sandy and
Andrew, for your caring, professional services
and attention to detail throughout the period
of Dad’s removal, viewing and funeral.
Please pass on our thanks and gratitude to
these wonderful people.
I guess we couldn’t really believe it was us
doing these things, but with your help we
managed to get through it all.
Regards, Richard.
Via www.lepinefunerals.com.au
Many, many thanks and best wishes for
the future, Liz.
Via www.annwilsonfunerals.com.au
She had an overwhelming sense of calmness
and it is something that I just cannot explain.
I will never forget Leanne as long as I am alive.
I N V 6 LV E
Our greatest rewards come from families who acknowledge the care and pride we take in our daily work.
To Alan at Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Hi Alan,
I just wanted to say a final “thank you”
for all your help regarding Mum.
I know you must hear gratitude so frequently
and mine will sound little, if at all, different.
However, I do want you to know that I will
be forever grateful for your help during that
difficult time. Forest Lawn is fortunate to have
you on staff. We, the families, are fortunate
to take comfort in the trust you engender
and the service you provide.
Again, we all remain forever in gratitude to you.
Sincerely, Sandra.
Dear Katrina at Hansen & Cole Funerals,
Kembla Grange
I wanted to thank you for the friendly and
efficient way in which you worked with my
family to arrange our father’s funeral. The
funeral was just as we wanted it to be.
Thank you once again for helping us to make this
difficult time no more stressful than it need be.
Yours sincerely, Margaret.
Dear Carmel at Chipper Funerals Subiaco,
A few words which seem hardly adequate
to express my heartfelt thanks to Don, Kerry,
yourself, and everyone concerned with making
my Mother’s funeral such a memorable and
beautiful occasion.
From the moment of coming into Chippers
I was greatly comforted by your support and
expertise in the planning of the funeral – you
took so much pressure off myself and for this
I can’t thank you enough.
Your chapel was perfect, the viewing of my
Mother was handled with great compassion
and the guests who attended were full of praise
for the ceremony and Chipper’s handling of
every aspect.
Finally, to see where my Mother was laid to
rest under the magnificent tree in Karrakatta
was simply wonderful and more than myself
and my family could have wished for.
Thank you to the gentleman who took the time
to show me the record of my father’s funeral.
Please pass these sentiments onto Don
and everyone involved.
Dear Sir/Madam at Simplicity Funerals
Kelmscott,
I wish to put on record our sincere appreciation
for the manner in which the funeral for my mother
was conducted. Most especially for the way
David handled the service. He was courteous,
helpful and efficient; a credit to your company.
Warmest regards, Susan.
Dear Sir/Madam at Lakeside Memorial
Park,
I am writing to let you know how nice it was
to see the grounds looking so well maintained
on Saturday for the Mass.
Our family has been attending the Mass for a
good many years now and the staff are just so
helpful; from the assistance with parking the
car through to the cup of tea after Mass.
The grounds are always looking so beautiful
when I visit dad’s grave and once again.
“Thank you” to all the staff for a wonderful
job they all do.
Many thanks, D.
Dear Sir/Madam at Chipper Funerals,
On Wednesday I attended a memorial service
at your chapel. As we were leaving, we
were speaking with the funeral director and I
mentioned that D.J. Chipper had conducted
my father’s funeral in 1939. He asked my
father’s name then asked us to wait while he
went into the office.
Less than five minutes later her returned with
a bound book opened at a handwritten page.
This was the record of my father’s funeral. This
was quite an emotional experience for both my
husband and myself.
Your team are constantly dealing in a caring
and compassionate way with the grief-stricken,
but this gentleman went far beyond this
when speaking to my husband and I. I clearly
remember the day my father died and this is
still very vivid in my memory 74 years later.
Yours sincerely, Coralin.
My comments also apply to the celebrant. She
was everything that could be expected on this
sad occasion. I would not hesitate to recommend
your services to anyone in the future.
Yours sincerely, Brian.
Dear Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors
Lower Hutt,
We could not have been happier with the
services Gee & Hickton provided. You made
our difficult time so much easier and the
funeral was the loveliest I’ve ever attended.
Thank you very much for everything.
Best regards, Moana.
Dear Tom at Northern Suburbs Memorial
Gardens,
My mother’s funeral was conducted by
White Lady Funerals in your South Chapel.
I would like to thank you for allowing us to
delay the start of the funeral so that my sister
could attend. Her plane was turned back on
the morning of the funeral and she had to take
a later flight. We were all extremely distressed
at the thought she might miss the funeral.
We appreciate your kindness in permitting
the delayed start, and that you did so without
additional charges.
This is the third funeral of a close family
member at your crematorium – over a period
of many years, thankfully – and on each
occasion, the family has been very satisfied
with the arrangements.
Best wishes, Gail.
Dear Shez and Chipper Funerals Subiaco,
My wife and I would like to take this opportunity
to thank you personally for the efficient manner
and the high standard you have displayed
regarding my father’s funeral arrangements.
Chipper Funerals may have supplied the venue,
but you have supplied the professional service
and deserve credit.
Well done Shez and thank you very much.
Yours sincerely, Peter and Noeleen.
To Raelene and team at
White Lady Funerals Tanah Merah,
We would like to thank Raelene and the
White Lady Funeral team for their exceptional
understanding and gentle guidance, helping
us with comfort, courage and peace. Also for
introducing to us Barbara Day with her kind,
warm and gentle presence.
Great Southern Memorial Park was so beautiful
and the blue and white flowers Raelene had
organised were much appreciated.
Kind regards, Alice, Geoff, Bindi, Peter,
Cody and Nikki.
Dear Danielle at White Lady
Funerals Heidelberg,
Thank you for all you have done for our
family, for the support and care you have
given us, and for the service you provided
us for our special little boy.
You are our star in this sad but special
year of our lives.
Thank you so much with all my heart,
Justine and Carl.
To whoever this may
concern at George Hartnett
Funerals Wynnum,
I wish to thank all who
contributed in any way to
the lovely morning tea you
supplied on Valentine’s Day
to the residents at Nazareth
House. My husband and I
really enjoyed it.
My husband is 83 and I am
81 and in a couple of months
we will be sixty years married
and until this year, Valentine’s
Day has just been another
day of the year.
We sincerely thank you for
making Valentine’s this year
such a happy day which
I will always remember.
Sincerely, Norm and Mavis.
Dear Ann at Ann Wilson Funerals Dee Why,
I would like to congratulate you and your team
and wholeheartedly thank you for making things
so painless and easy. Ann, your attention to detail
is exceptional and the care and compassion that
you demonstrate at all times is outstanding.
Please extend my thanks to your brother, John,
who was first class, as was his team. If a funeral
is a thing that could go well, this service did.
We were fortunate with the fine weather as we
gathered on the Corso but your team made sure
everyone signed the book and were looked after.
Actually, I cannot praise them enough really, and
the ease with which the event went took a great
deal of anxiety away from our family.
I feel lucky that you were chosen to take on
the role for her last journey and that I was also
lucky that you took on the job yourself.
Dear Leesa at Castlebrook
Memorial Park,
Thank you so much for your care and
attention when we received the ashes.
Your friendly, cheerful and caring manner
helped to warm our hearts. We feel a great
sense of comfort knowing that he is with
all us.
All the best, Sue and Angela.
Dear Andrew at Gee & Hickton
Funeral Directors Lower Hutt,
I just wanted to say thank you very much for
the gift of the tree in memory of mum. It was
very much appreciated and we have just the
place to plant it.
Regards, Alan.
Thank you so much, Ann. Nothing was
too much of a hassle for you. Well Done.
Your sincerely, Simon and family.
I N V 6 LV E
Members and guests of the ACCF gather to show
their support and raise funds for the victims of the
recent Queensland and New South Wales floods.
Guests at the ACCF NSW Chinese Community Public Appeal, held in 2010, included (left of middle)
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales and (centre) Hudson Chen,
Chairman of the ACCF.
ACCF Chairperson, Hudson Chen with InvoCare CEO
Andrew Smith.
Supporting the Australian Chinese Charity Foundation
The Australian Chinese Charity Foundation (ACCF) is one of the most important charitable organisations in New South
Wales and InvoCare has been proud to provide it with support over a period of many years. InvoCare Communications
Manager Karl Wolfenden looks back at what the ACCF and InvoCare have accomplished together.
With a relationship that stretches back more
than five years, InvoCare solidified its support
for the ACCF when it became a gold sponsor
in 2010.
“Fundraising and corporate donations
from caring organisations like InvoCare
are distributed by the ACCF to help a wide
variety of charitable/non-profit community
organisations with specific projects, and also to
support individuals and families in emergency
circumstances locally, interstate and overseas,”
says Hudson Chen, ACCF Chairman.
And InvoCare is very proud to be able to show
its support for the ACCF.
“We’re proud to be associated with the Australian
Chinese Charity Foundation and look forward
to contributing to their community initiatives.
“The sponsorship is representative of
InvoCare’s support for the Australian-Chinese
community, and also embodies our broader
commitment to supporting worthwhile causes
and assisting those in need,” says InvoCare
non-executive Director, Benjamin Chow AO.
InvoCare has provided substantial support to
the charity through donations and by attending
and sponsoring the ACCF’s two biggest
evenings of the year, the Chinese New
Year Dinner and the Annual Dinner.
The ACCF is active internationally as well,
with funds donated through the Red Cross
to disaster relief appeals in the wake of the
Chinese Flood Disaster and Pakistan Flood
Disasters in 2012.
InvoCare has partnered with the ACCF on
a number of campaigns, including a special
charity fund established to support Brenda Lin,
the surviving member of the Lin family who
were tragically murdered in 2009. InvoCare
and the ACCF also combined to raise funds
for the 2009 Victorian Black Saturday fires
and Queensland floods in 2012.
This year, the ACCF’s 2013 Chinese New
Year Dinner was nominated as a fund-raising
event for Parkinsons New South Wales. Items
donated by businesses were auctioned at the
dinner and over $30,000 was raised on the
night. InvoCare’s contribution to the items up for
bidding was a bottle of 2003 Penfolds Grange.
For when it comes to the causes it supports,
the ACCF is a mainstream charity in every
regard, rather than focussing on Chinesespecific causes. In the last few years, the
ACCF has distributed funds to the Sydney
University Nerve Research Foundation, the
Chinese Migrant Welfare Association, the
Royal Institute of Deaf & Blind Children Sydney,
the Chinese Education Council of NSW,
MS Australia, Cerebral Palsy Alliance
and Christian Community Aid.
“The Australian Chinese Charity Foundation is
unique in that it supports major appeals as well
as making an immediate and direct difference to
peoples’ lives by providing grants for individuals
who find themselves in difficult situations. We
encourage other Australian businesses to follow
our lead and support the ACCF’s work,” says
Andrew Smith, Chief Executive Officer InvoCare.
“We extend our thanks and appreciation for the
generosity and support of InvoCare and all our
other corporate sponsors, without which the
ACCF would not be in as strong a position
to help those in need,” says Hudson Chen.
Chinese community leaders and supporters gather at the ACCF Chinese New Year Dinner including InvoCare China Vice President Ed Chui (seated second from right).
Lions chase away the bad spirits at the
Po Fook Shan Information Centre in Cabramatta.
Sophiare Bui, Manager Po Fook Shan Information Centre on left with
members of the MCU team and (centre) Joseph Ko, Location Manager
Universal Chung Wah Funerals.
White Lady Funerals gives
traditional red evelopes for
Chinese New Year.
Year of the Black Water Snake
The Lunar New Year was celebrated across the world and InvoCare and its brands were proud to be a part of the festivities.
This year, the Year of the Black Water Snake,
will bring unexpected transformations but not
necessarily changes that are outwardly visible.
It is a year to trust your observations, and also
to use rational thinking to locate and determine
what can’t be seen with the eye alone.
The keys to success during the Year of the
Black Water Snake are through the gaining
of knowledge, the focussing of effort and by
being disciplined. While the year itself may be
shaky and tempestuous, flashes of inspiration
can produce large life changes – yet such
flashes can’t be rushed and will likely occur
when you are diligently busy.
InvoCare representatives were present at
the Australian Chinese Charity Foundation’s
Annual Chinese New Year Dinner. Chief
Executive Officer, Andrew Smith and Chief
Operating Officer Australia, Greg Bisset were
on hand to help make the evening’s charity
auction a success through the donation of
a bottle of Penfolds Grange 2003. InvoCare
representatives, including non-executive
director, Benjamin Chow AO, joined with
community leaders and elected representatives
at the Australian Chinese Community
Association’s Chinese New Year Banquet
to celebrate the important occassion.
Elsewhere, the team from InvoCare’s Po Fook
Shan Information Centre, led by Manager
Sophiare Bui, were joined by Joseph Ko,
Location Manager of Universal Chung Wah
Funerals, to celebrate Chinese New Year
festivities in Cabramatta, New South Wales.
In fact, the InvoCare representatives found the
celebrations hard to avoid when a troupe of lion
dancers made their way into the Po Fook Shan
office to chase away the bad spirits for the year.
Guardian Funerals also took part in a community
event, through their sponsorship of the Ryde
Lunar New Year Festival. Held in Eastwood,
the event brings together the city’s Chinese,
Indo-Chinese and Korean communities.
White Lady Funerals marked the occasion
by participating in a program of cultural
workshops, held at Rockdale Library. The
workshops provided an opportunity for the
public to try a range of traditional Chinese
activities, such as calligraphy, painting and
floral arranging. To add an extra element of
authenticity, White Lady Funerals delivered the
traditional red envelopes that are a signature
element of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Happy Year of the Black Water Snake!
I N V 6 LV E
Welcome to Resthaven Funerals
InvoCare New Zealand is very pleased to announce the addition
of Resthaven Funerals to their suite of funeral brands.
Resthaven Funerals has strong ties to the
Auckland community, and it serves the needs
of families in the city’s south and east from
its two locations, Howick and Manurewa.
It provides a wide range of modern funeral
and related services, including prepaid
funeral plans, personalised services and
bereavement support. With both male and
female funeral directors on staff, Resthaven
Funerals is able to provide a caring,
family-focused service that understands
that each family’s needs are different.
The team at Resthaven Funerals is led by
Rachel Benns and Raewyn Proctor, and their
connections to the community include their
support for Totara Hospice, an important
palliative care facility that provides care to
those in the community as well as those
residing in their in-patient care unit.
Rachel and Raewyn will continue in their
roles, and will now be able to draw on the
support and experience of the 21 funeral
homes that make up InvoCare New Zealand.
Involve is very pleased to welcome Resthaven
Funerals and looks forward to informing readers
about its community activities and successes.
Resthaven Funerals has strong ties to the Auckland community,
and it serves the needs of families in the city’s south and east
Warwick Hansen OAM
Involve is pleased to announce that Warwick Hansen of Hansen &
Cole Funerals, which is part of the Guardian network of funeral service
providers, was honoured with an Order of the Medal of Australia.
Warwick Hansen OAM.
Warwick Hansen OAM receives a commemorative
desk plaque from Denis Kernaghan of Arrow Bronze.
The Award comes to Warwick for his services to
the community and to the funeral industry – and
there are few who could be more deserving.
Warwick also supports annual causes as diverse
as Movember, Wrap with Love, Legacy Week
and the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea.
Warwick has been in the funeral and related
sectors for forty-six years and has contributed
positively to both the cemetery and funeral
industries as an office holder in a wide variety
of associations: currently, he holds the position
of President of the NSW/ACT division of the
Australian Funeral Directors Association.
“To say the very least this is an extreme
honour and privilege, and is a very humbling
experience,” says Warwick Hansen.
Over this time, Warwick has also been a
dedicated contributor to the community through
activities that benefit people in and around his
beloved Wollongong, around Australia, and
all around the world. He is an active Rotary
International member and past President of the
Rotary Club of Dapto. He is actively involved
in Legacy, an affiliate member of the Lions
Club of Wollongong and has been involved in
numerous projects for the RSL and veterans
associations including plaques commemorating
veterans and those missing in action in the
course of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Warwick’s colleagues are full of praise, and
well-wishers and friends have been eager to
congratulate him on this acknowledgement.
Warwick Hansen is a stalwart of the Australian
funeral industry and a very deserving recipient
of the Order of Australia Medal,” says Andrew
Smith, InvoCare’s Chief Executive Officer.
Greg Bisset, InvoCare’s Chief Operating Officer
Australia mirrored these thoughts. “Warwick
is an exemplary member of the industry
who very much embodies the core values of
our organisation, innovation, vocation and
care. I offer him my warmest congratulations
on his Order of Australia medal.”
Congratulations Warwick!
The victorious Cem Crem team with the hard-earned Shield.
The InvoCare Shield in Cem Crem hands: series now tied
After the traditional pre-Christmas day of cricket competition between InvoCare’s Funeral and Cem Crem
divisions was postponed due to rain, both teams were eager for the day when the whites could be donned.
And when it finally arrived, it turned out to be
a great day with excellent weather conditions
for the two great teams to play under.
The venue for the 2013 InvoCare Cricket
Match was Mason Park, where friendships
were put on hold for a few hours so that
the fierce rivalry between the Funeraleans
and Cem Crem could take centre stage.
Match report courtesy of Paul Davison:
The Funeraleans won the toss and elected
to bat. After the mandatory 24 overs, they
scored 92 on the Judy Breed scorebook.
Darryl Kubica retired on the mandatory 25
runs. Not to leave his efforts there; later
in the day, Darryl also bowled beautifully
and fielded like a gazelle. Congratulations
Darryl on securing the man of the match.
Lunch was then served – a gourmet
extravaganza from Claudia and the team
before the Cem Crem innings started.
Captain Peter Willis led the way with three
magnificent sixes. When he reached 25, he
was required to ‘do a Kubica’ and retire,
however he had provided a foundation for the
ensuing batsman to build upon. Try though
they might, the Funeraleans were unable to
stem the flow of runs, allowing the Cem Crem
team to achieve a sensational and historic
win. It is now 2-2 between these two lions of
the modern inter-divisional game. Cem Crem
Team Manager, Ian Parker, has promised
a greater emphasis on ‘shield security’
over the next 12 months and beyond.
Congratulations to all players for displaying
the true spirit of sportsmanship and unity.
“Cricket is the winner” was a much appreciated
comment from Rob Matta, and was made at
a time when the match was evenly poised.
Appreciation is extended to the loyal band of
volunteers and supporters who rally to this
special social occasion. And to the first time
attendees; we trust you had an enjoyable day.
Upcoming InvoCare events
24 May 2013
Annual General Meeting
I N V 6 LV E
As innovation is at the heart
of InvoCare’s philosophy, one
of the core ways we are able
to deliver this is through the
expansion and enhancement
of our suite of digital services.
This section of Involve
magazine brings together
news of our announcements
in the digital space. It will also
keep you updated on the
success of our current digital
services and capabilities.
The new HeavenAddress Memory Tree in bloom.
HeavenAddress Blooms in 2013
Online memorial provider, HeavenAddress is fast becoming one of Australia’s
most popular sites, and they are not resting on their laurels.
Two of the site’s new developments are
capturing people’s attention; the Memory Tree
and a smart phone application that allows
those sharing a love for a missing friend or
family member to keep in touch via online
chat and messaging.
The new Memory Tree feature allows people
to plant a virtual tree in honour of someone
they love who is no longer with them, or just to
help them with their recovery from grief more
generally. Each time the person who planted
the tree visits the site, the tree grows a little
more. Its flowering into something beautiful can
be enhanced by in-site actions, such as shining
the sun on the tree and by watering it.
You can also shine the sun on, or water, someone
else’s tree and they in turn can nourish yours.
The second feature to have people talking
is the Messages smart phone app that is in
development. HeavenAddress already allows
people to share their thoughts and memories
about a loved one, as well as to make
connections with established communities
such as the Australian Defence Force, the
McGrath Foundation, Legacy and the Girl
Guides, but with the new, soon-to-be released
app, users will be able to keep in touch with
each other in real time.
Keep up the good work HeavenAddress!
The new Memory Tree feature allows people to plant a virtual tree
in honour of someone they love who is no longer with them, or
just to help them with their recovery from grief more generally
Website Award for Green Endings
The Green Endings by Oakwood Funerals
website recently received the “Best in
Class” Award in the 2012 Interactive
Media Council Awards, in the Natural
Environment/Green category.
Green Endings has always understood
the power of digital and is using a variety
of up-to-date digital communication
strategies to deliver its message. With a
linked Facebook page, Twitter feed and
Youtube channel, along with a search engine
marketing campaign, Green Endings has
broadcast its message widely, and engaged
with its audiences in a meaningful way.
A key piece of functionality on the site is
an online carbon calculator which allows
users to see how the funeral choices they
make can add up in terms of TCO2 (tons
of carbon dioxide) released. By making
changes to elements of the funeral service,
such as by swapping out environmentally
harmful choices for friendly ones, users can
see how they can leave this earth lightly.
The Green Endings by Oakwood Funerals
website scored a maximum of 100 points
in the Award’s content and functionality
criteria, 98 for design, 97 for usability
and 92 for standards compliance. There
were 49 entrants in the category.
Green Ending’s interactive media award.
Why not visit
www.greenendings.com.au today?
Need help? Need a
Funeral Organiser
InvoCare has launched a new website, www.funeralorganiser.com.au
that informs users about the elements of a funeral and allows them
to compare the prices of services from the InvoCare funeral brands
in their area. The site is a companion to www.mymemorial.com.au
which InvoCare successfully launched in mid-2012.
Featuring testimonials, checklists and other helpful information, the
new site asks users to make some selections from common funeral
elements, and it then provides them with price ranges from InvoCare’s
suite of nearby brands, including premium and affordable options.
Why not visit www.funeralorganiser.com.au today?
Modern Metropolitan
Metropolitan Funerals has launched a new look for its digital profiles,
with a website design that gives the brand a fresh and contemporary
look. But the upgrade is more than skin deep, with a range of new
features also added to the site.
Families using Metropolitan Funerals will now be able to access map
information about how to get to the service venue. The Metropolitan
Funerals website also enables site visitors to listen to some of the
most popular music choices used at funerals, and then purchase
them directly from the iTunes store.
Users of mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, haven’t
been forgotten either with the new website able to scale perfectly to
these devices.
Metropolitan Funerals’ new look also flows through to a range of other
digital presences, with a Facebook page and YouTube channel also
now live, which will allow the brand to further engage with its audience.
Have you visited the new
Metropolitan Funerals’ website at
www.metropolitanfunerals.com.au,
as well as its Facebook and
Youtube pages?
I N V 6 LV E
Cemeteries & Crematoria
InvoCare owns and operates
14 cemeteries and crematoria
in New South Wales and
Queensland. They have a
strong local heritage with some
having been places of memories
and tranquility since the 1930s.
Those locations operating
a cemetery and crematoria
are known as Memorial Parks
and those operating only
a crematorium are called
Memorial Gardens. Both are
beautiful, tranquil and peaceful
environments where people
can reflect on a life lived.
Australia’s multicultural nature
is recognised with a range of
burial, cremation and memorial
options on offer. These include
Asian sections designed by Feng
Shui masters and the availability
of outstanding crypts, vaults and
family mausoleums preferred by
many European communities.
There are hundreds of memorial
options to reflect the needs
of each individual and suit
all budgets.
Guests release balloons at the conclusion of the Lullaby Gardens Memorial Service.
Lullaby Helps with Goodbye
Lake Macquarie Memorial Park has celebrated the one year anniversary of the
opening of its Lullaby Garden with a special memorial service for children who
have passed away too soon.
Lake Macquarie Memorial Park was pleased
to be able to invite members of the Lullaby
Garden family, as well as extending the
invitation to all in the community, to attend a
remembrance service that paid tribute to the
lives of those who passed away too soon.
“Losing a child is an incredibly difficult
experience for any parent to go through, and
parents, siblings and relatives need ongoing
support to manage their grief,” says Wendy
Davidson, Family Service Manager, Lake
Macquarie Memorial Park.
Lullaby Garden was officially dedicated in 2012
by Sister Mary O’Hearn from Newcastle’s
Hunter Hospital, and is a tranquil area within
Lake Macquarie Memorial Park. Native plants
and animal statuary adorn the garden to
reflect the youth and innocence of the
children memorialised within it.
In developing the garden, Lake Macquarie
Memorial Park has found an innovative way to
acknowledge the special loss that has occurred
in the lives of families, and at the same time
offer them an extra level of sensitivity and care.
“The kind of comments we hear from grieving
parents are ‘I didn’t expect my child to die
before me’, ‘other people don’t understand’
and ‘there’s a permanent hole in my family.’”
“We’ve been guided in this by SIDS and
Kids, Lifeline and area health professionals
who recognised the need for this kind of
memorial garden,” says Wendy Davidson.
Though Lullaby Garden is set aside to
memorialise those who passed away under the
age of twelve, without doubt, losing a child of
any age is an experience no parent wants to
go through. In acknowledgement of this, the
Lullaby Remembrance Time memorial service
was open for anyone who had lost a child of
any age, and at any time, to attend.
The service featured a remembrance
photographic tribute composed of photos
submitted by those who have lost a baby
or child. A balloon release took place at the
conclusion of the service, before guests
were invited to share a morning tea.
The Maitland City Choir performs at the official
opening of the Eternal Headstone Section.
The new Eternal Headstone burial section at Newcastle Memorial Park.
Headstone Popping Up
A new burial section has been officially opened at Newcastle Memorial Park to cater to community need.
The new Eternal Headstone burial section expands the Park’s range of services, and greatly adds to its ability
to service the memorial choices of families.
Councillor David Crompton, from Newcastle
City Council, officially opened the new Eternal
Headstone section at a special ceremony on
Saturday, 16th February. Situated in a prime
position at the front of the gardens, the new
section allows Newcastle Memorial Park to
offer a traditional granite headstone in
memory of their loved one.
“We’ve developed this new section in response to
requests from families,” says Vicki Furse, Family
Services Manager, Newcastle Memorial Park.
Officer Australia, and a special tribute to
Mrs Kathleen Alice Bennett, the first person
to be buried at Newcastle Memorial Park.
The official opening featured an informative
presentation by Peter Willis, Newcastle Memorial
Park’s Operations Manager, on the history of
burials and how they have evolved, an address
from Greg Bisset, InvoCare’s Chief Operating
Musical performances also took place with
harpist, Hank Meadows and the Maitland
City Choir performing on the day before
representatives of the community, local
clergy and other guests.
Gifts for Those Who Need Them
Each year, Lakeside Memorial Park nominates a local charity to receive gifts
and donations at Christmas time.
In 2012, the chosen charity was the
Wollongong Women’s Crisis Shelter, an
organisation that provides emergency
housing and a range of support services
to women in need across the Illawarra.
Left, Julie Harvey Family Services Manager and, right,
Bruno Kuehne, Operations Manager of Lakeside
Memorial Park deliver hampers to the Wollongong
Womens Crisis Shelter on Christmas Eve.
Lakeside’s donation of Christmas gifts and hams
helped ensure that those relying on the Shelter
for safety and security were able to enjoy some
of the trimmings of the season, and though a
small gesture, it greatly added to the quality
of their Christmas Eve.
Last year, Lakeside Memorial Park ensured
their Christmas donations had a similar impact
on some of Wollongong’s most needy, when
their donation went to a local shelter for
homeless youth.
Well done Lakeside Memorial Park.
I N V 6 LV E
Sean Flavin, President of the Friends of Vinegar Hill and John Lazanas, Family Services Manager, Castlebrook
Memorial Park stand in front of the Battle of Vinegar Hill monument after it was cleaned.
The Battle of Vinegar Hill monument before being
cleaned in time for the 2013 commemorative event.
History Refreshed
When the annual commemoration of the Battle of Vinegar Hill took place recently at Sydney’s Castlebrook Memorial Park
in Rouse Hill, it was before a newly restored monument.
Australia’s Battle of Vinegar Hill took place in
1804 however the event has strong ties to,
and is named after, a conflict that began
half a world away.
In Ireland in 1798, up to twenty thousand
Irishmen took part in the United Irish Rebellion.
Inspired by the successes of the American
and French Revolutions, Irish Protestants
and Catholics joined together in a bid to free
themselves from British rule. The United Irish
Rebellion ended when the rebels were defeated
by British forces at the Battle of Vinegar Hill,
which took place at Enniscorthy, Ireland. In the
aftermath of this defeat, many of the rebels
were transported to Britain’s newest penal
colony, New South Wales.
A little more than five years later, on 4 March
1804, a sizable group of convicts stationed in and
around the Castle Hill area rebelled in an attempt
to break free of the fledgling colony. The rebellion
was led by Irishman, Phillip Cunningham, one
of the survivors of the United Irish Rebellion
who had been transported to New South Wales.
Cunningham’s plan involved recruiting up to two
thousand convicts from the Hawkesbury area
and then marching on Sydney and Parramatta.
The rebel’s bid for freedom ended on March
5 in an engagement between themselves and
colonial forces. After the defection of some
of the conspirators, the rebels were not able
to rally the expected number of participants
and nor were they able to seize the number of
weapons they anticipated, despite capturing
over one third of the colony’s munitions.
Nine of the convict leaders were executed
while hundreds suffered punishment at the
hands of the victors. The uprising was the only
significant attempt against British rule made
in New South Wales and, given its link to the
broader Irish struggle for independence, it
is a rich part of Australia’s colonial history.
In 1984, Blacktown City Council held a national
competition for the design of a monument to
commemorate the 1804 uprising. The stone
monument design submitted by artists, Ivan Polak
and Vladimir Sitta was chosen as the winning
submission. According to the judging panel:
“(the design’s) bold and prominent sculptured
idea, symbolising the foundation and growth
of the nation will be appreciated from a
distance as well as close-up.”
After close to thirty years in place, the
monument to the Battle of Vinegar Hill
which sits inside Castlebrook Memorial
Park still possesses the features that were
so appreciated by the judges, however the
monument’s full beauty was diminished by
carbon deposits, moss and other build ups.
“When we noticed that exposure to the
elements had caused some discolouration to
the monument, in co-operation with Council
and the Friends of Vinegar Hill, we resolved to
have it professionally cleaned and maintained,”
says John Lazanas, Family Service Manager
Castlebrook Memorial Park.
Allan Drew of Allan Drew Funerals emphasises
the importance of the monument. “The annual
commemoration of the Battle of Vinegar Hill
recognises that Australia’s present is shaped
by its past, and remembers the pioneering
spirit of the early non-indigenous settlers.”
The freshly cleaned monument took centre
stage at this year’s commemoration which
took place on Sunday 3 March.
The flags are ready to be planted at Castlebrook
Memorial Park’s Australia Day celebration.
The Castle Hill community gathers to pay tribute to Australian service personnel.
The Castle Hill RSL Pipe Band parades around Castlebrook Memorial Park.
At the Raising of the Sun
The communities of Rouse Hill, Castle Hill and surrounds came together on Australia Day at Castlebrook Memorial Park
to honour those who have served in the Australian Armed Services.
Now an established activity on the Australia Day
calendar in Sydney’s North-West, Castlebrook
Memorial Park, in conjunction with Castle Hill RSL
Sub Branch and Allan Drew Funerals, placed
hundreds of Australian flags around the park to
adorn the graves of Australian service personnel.
Instead of lying in their beds on a public holiday,
many members of the community elected to
instead gather at 7.00 am and pay tribute to
Australia’s servicemen and servicewomen,
whose graves are identifiable due to the
presence of the emblems of Australia’s armed
forces. A pipe and drum troupe paraded the
grounds while the Australian flags were placed
on graves in a gesture of gratitude and respect.
The combination of the early morning, the
public holiday, pipe and drum band, and the
act of visiting the grave sites created a moving
and significant atmosphere.
While the final flag was positioned, volunteers,
RSL members, friends and family gathered at
Castlebrook Memorial Park’s flagpole for a brief
tribute service and the playing of the Last Post.
A barbeque breakfast was prepared
and shared with all who attended.
“Castlebrook Memorial Park is proud to have
the opportunity to pay tribute to our country’s
fallen heroes by hosting the annual flag day
commemoration,” says John Lazanas, Family
Service Manager, Castlebrook Memorial Park.
Also noted on the day was the special new
veterans memorial garden which Castlebrook
has inaugurated so that service personnel can
be memorialised together.
Upcoming events
May 12
Mother’s Day Memorial Services
I N V 6 LV E
Contemporary Funerals
InvoCare has 140 locations that are some of the
most trusted names in the Australian, New Zealand
and Singapore funeral businesses.
These funeral providers are uniquely placed to be able
to deliver and exceed expectations on all aspects of
contemporary funeral services. Our staff fully understand
the requirements of different cultures and religions.
The service offered is as professional as it is personal.
AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND
Allan Drew Funerals
Academy Funeral Services
Allen Matthews Funerals
Beth Shan Funeral Directors
Ann Wilson Funerals
Clegg’s Funeral Services
Beaudesert Funerals
Elliotts Funeral Services
Blackwell Funerals
Forrest Funeral Services
Boland Funerals
Fountains Funeral Directors & Advisors
Bruce Maurer Funerals
Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors
Burkin Svendsens Funeral Directors
Geoffrey T Sowman Funeral Directors
Canon and Cripps Funerals
James R. Hill Funeral Directors
Chipper Funerals
John Rhind Funeral Directors
Christian Funerals (WA)
Lychgate Funeral Home
City Funeral Services Mackay
Pellows Funeral Directors and Advisors
David Lloyd Funerals
Resthaven Funeral Services
Drysdale Funerals
Sibuns Funeral Directors & Advisors
Gatton Funerals
Vospers Funeral Home
George Hartnett Funerals
Wairarapa Funeral Services
Guardian Funerals
Wheeler’s Guardian Funeral
Home North City
Hansen & Cole Funerals
Hiram Philp Funerals
J&C Hardy Funerals
SINGAPORE
JW Chandler Funerals
Singapore Casket
Le Pine Funerals
Liberty Funerals
Mackay Funerals
Pictured left to right: Susan Piacun, Location Manager Somerville Funerals Nerang,
Vicki Balmain, Del Mathew, Sister Pat Tomlinson, Anne Dawson, Carolyn Breed
and Mary McQueen.
Diamond Days
Any anniversary of fifty years is worthy of a celebration
which is why Somerville Funerals Gold Coast threw a
very special party in recognition of Sister Pat Tomlinson,
who celebrates fifty years of life as a Brigidine Sister.
Originally known within The Brigidine Sisters as Sister Clare, Pat moved
to Queensland in 2000 where she worked in the Pastoral Care team
within the Tugun Parish.
In 2004 Pat commenced working as a funeral celebrant across the Gold
Coast region, while at the same time working within the Burleigh Catholic
Parish’s Pastoral Care team. Pat’s warmth, care, and her sense of
humour have helped countless families with their funeral arrangements.
Metropolitan Funerals (NSW)
Metropolitan Funerals (QLD)
Oakwood Funerals
Purslowe Funerals
Sarina Funerals
Commemorating her fifty years, the Somerville Funerals team put on an
afternoon tea. Somerville presented Pat with a set of gold-painted rosary
beads to mark the occasion, and a special poem was prepared in Pat’s
honour and recited.
Somerville Funerals
Tobin Brothers Funerals (ACT)
Tuckers Funeral and Bereavement Service
Turnbull Family Funerals
Universal Chung Wah / Funerals of Distinction
WD Rose and Joseph Allison Funerals
WN Bull Funerals
Pat’s warmth, care, and her sense of
humour have helped countless families
with their funeral arrangements
Caring for
Queenslanders
Metropolitan Funerals is now offering
members of Carers Queensland a
discount on services, in part because
cost-of-living pressures are one of
the most significant issues faced
by carers.
Carers Queensland exists to support the
interests and varied needs of carers in the
state: those people who provide unpaid
care and support to family members and
friends who have a disability, mental illness,
chronic condition, terminal illness or are
frail aged. The organisation estimates that
that there are close to 500,000 carers
throughout Queensland.
Michael Webb, Location Manager Metropolitan Funeral Petrie presents red heart balloons for Valentine’s
celebrations, to Lifestyle Coordinators, Debbie and Sam at Pinewoods Aged Care, Lawnton.
Showing Heart on Valentine’s
Everybody wants to feel special on Valentine’s Day, and Metropolitan Funerals and
George Hartnett Funerals understand that this doesn’t change, even as we age.
But when you’re living in a residential care
facility, it isn’t always easy to be swept up
in all that goes with this special day. A loved
one may have passed away, or residing
together may be difficult if each member of
the relationship has different care needs. This
is why Metropolitan Funerals takes the time to
visit a number of aged care providers around
Valentine’s Day, to give flowers, balloons and
chocolates to residents and staff.
This year, Michael Webb, Location Manager
Metropolitan Funerals Petrie, on behalf of his
location as well as that of Metropolitan Funerals
Aspley, visited a number of centres to add a
touch of red to their day. Valentine’s chocolates,
balloons and even roses were shared out to
ensure the spirit of Valentine’s wasn’t forgotten.
George Hartnett Funerals Wynnum were also
keen to ensure staff and residents of facilities
around their location were able to share in the
spirit of Valentine’s. Amongst the centres they
visited, Nazareth House got a special delivery of a
Valentine’s day cake, flowers, poetry and balloons.
Delivered by Christine Walters, Regional
Manager George Hartnett Funerals, the treats
ensured a touch of Valentine’s was available
for residents to share.
Christine’s visit was so appreciated that they
received a special ‘thank you’ letter from a
pair of married Nazareth House residents.
This letter can be read in the In Appreciation
section (page 7) of this magazine.
Metropolitan Funerals has joined a growing
number of businesses that have taken their
support for Carers Queensland to a new
level by entering into The CARE Program.
The discount for members applies to the
fees for Metropolitan’s professional services.
Outside of the Brisbane area, the discount
will be available to members of Carers
Queensland through Drysdale Funerals on
the Sunshine Coast, City Funerals in Mackay,
Hiram Philp Funerals in Toowoomba, and
Burkin Svendsen Funeral Directors in Cairns.
“For three years we have supported Carers
Queensland by sponsoring an award for their
Carer Friendly Awards held during Carers
Week each October. This is a partnership
built on trust and respect for the services
each provides to the people we care for,”
says Davina Bambrick, General Manager
Queensland Funerals.
For more information, visit
www.carersqld.asn.au.
Well done Michael, and to all at Metropolitan
Funerals who were involved in this meaningful
gesture.
“This is a partnership built
on trust and respect for the
services each provides to
the people we care for”
I N V 6 LV E
Michael Webb, Location Manager Metropolitan Funerals Petrie with elves, Nina and Annie.
Michael Webb hands out cheer and presents while
dressed as Santa.
Season’s Greetings from Santa
An important part of being a funeral director is supporting the community, and this is especially true around Christmas time.
The holiday season is usually a time for
catching up with family and celebrating,
however the spirit of the season isn’t always
easy to find when family members are far
away, or age or illness has made it difficult
for everyone to be together.
Enter the community-minded funeral director.
At the RSL Inverpine Aged Care Centre
Murrumba Downs in Queensland, Metropolitan
Funerals has been actively supporting staff
and residents with visits throughout the year,
and by arranging activities. When Christmas
came around in 2012, Michael Webb, Location
Manager of Metropolitan Funerals Petrie put
his hand up to help make sure the centre’s
Christmas party was fun, colourful and lively
by being Santa for the day.
their uniforms are Lifestyle Coordinators at the
centre. Together they went from table to table,
handing out gifts and engaging the residents
with a little of the season’s colour and fun.
All at the RSL Inverpine Aged Care Centre
ho-ho-hope that Michael will be back again
in 2013.
Michael, dressed in full Santa regalia, was the
star of the show as he worked together with
his elves, Nina and Annie, who when not in
A Funny Way to
Say Thank You
Guardian Funerals was thrilled recently to receive a photo from the members
of the Asquith Bowling Club, thanking Guardian for its sponsorship.
Guardian Funerals had only just commenced its sponsorship of the
club and is providing funds for the club’s tournaments and inter-club
competitions. The members, however, did not let the newness of this
relationship prevent them from thanking Guardian in a rather novel way.
Taking inspiration for their ‘thank you’ from Guardian’s role as funeral
directors, club members got into the spirit of the moment to take and
send this great photo.
Guardian Funerals thanks all the members of Asquith Bowling Club for
their sense of humour and for saying ‘thank you’ in such a creative way.
Members of the Asquith Bowling Club thank Guardian Funerals for its support.
Guardian Funerals looks forward to getting to know the members of
Asquith Bowling Club and supporting their endeavours.
Chinese lion dancers added colour and
laughter to the refugee memorial service.
Janet Homes a Court makes an address
as part of the refugee memorial service.
Dr Casta Tungaraza delivers the keynote
speech at the refugee memorial service.
Refugee Memorial
Chipper Funerals was proud to recently host a moving memorial service in tribute to those refugees that have passed away
while trying to make their way to Australia to begin a new life.
This special refugee memorial service took
place on the International Day of Tolerance,
and community and church leaders, as well
as refugee advocates, local representatives
and members of the public gathered at King’s
Park Amphitheatre in Perth for the colourful
and uplifting service.
The service was attended by representatives
of The Edmund Rice Centre, the Fremantle
Multicultural Centre, the Coalition for Asylum
Seekers, Refugees and Detainees, the ISHAR
Centre for Multicultural Women’s Health, the
Australia Asia Association and the Islamic
Council of Western Australia.
The service featured a Welcome to Country
to acknowledge the ancestral owners of the
land, musical performances by Grace Barbe,
a display of African drumming, music and
dancing, and a team of Chinese lion dancers.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Manager
of Equal Opportunity and Social Justice at
Murdoch University, Dr Casta Tungaraza.
Dr Tungaraza is an inductee of the Western
Australian Hall of Fame, an appointee to
the Western Australian Citizenship and
Multicultural Advisory Council, an appointee to
the Premier’s Anti-Racism Steering Committee
and is currently on the Australian Multicultural
Advisory Council. Dr Tungaraza is also the
founder and Chief Executive Officer of Miss
Africa Australia, a mentoring program that
assists young African women to take on
leadership roles within their communities
in Australia.
Also delivering a speech at the service was
Ms Janet Homes a Court. As Patron of the
Association for Services to Torture and Trauma
Survivors, Ms Homes a Court has a deep
understanding of the severe dangers many
refugees face as they seek a safe harbour, as
well as how their road to recovery only begins
when they have found safety in another country.
Also part of the service were interfaith prayers
and blessings, including a children’s prayer
and blessings from Bishop Brian Kyme of the
Anglican Church, and prayers by Catholic
Brother, Geoff Seaman, Wendy Wisniewski
of the Bahá’i faith, Hindu community leader,
Pandit Subramanya Bhat, and Rahim Ghauri,
Islamic community leader.
Elected representatives in attendance included
Ms Janine Freeman MLA, Member for
Mirrabooka who represented Mr John Hyde
MLA, Member for Perth, Shadow Minister
for Culture and the Arts, Local Government,
Heritage, Multicultural Interests and Citizenship.
A halal barbeque was served at the conclusion
of the service.
Involve congratulates Chipper Funerals
on putting together this healing and
empowering service.
I N V 6 LV E
The Speechcraft course will be held at Guardian
Funerals Bondi Junction.
Putting Aside
the Fear
Guardian Funerals Bondi Junction has
found a new way to support the community
by sponsoring a Speechcraft course, which
will be delivered in conjunction with the
Echo Neighbourhood Centre.
The course is designed to enhance the
confidence of participants by providing
them with a supportive and friendly
environment to learn the basics of public
speaking. The course will run for eight
weeks, with classes occurring on a
Monday night.
Participation is open with only intermediate
English skills required for registration and
it is hoped that enrolees will be able to
develop their confidence with English at
the same time as they learn how to deliver
information to groups, and in public.
On right: Carmel Markham, Location Manager Chipper Funerals Subiaco donates pews to Perth College.
Back to Pew
Chipper Funerals recently presented Perth College with seven historic pews,
all made from solid jarrah.
The pews, hand-made by Donald J Chipper
in 1898, have stood in place at the Chipper
Funerals Subiaco chapel for more than 100
years. Donald J Chipper is the grandfather
to the current Don Chipper, who is the third
generation of the Chipper family to be
involved with this trusted provider of
funerals in Western Australia.
Perth College is the oldest independent girls’
school in Western Australia and has a longheld connection with the Chipper family, as
Don Chipper’s mother, Noelle Murial Chipper,
attended the school. The school was founded
only a few years after Donald J Chipper created
the pews and they bare an insignia that is very
similar to the crest used by Perth College.
Seven of the pews were donated to the
college, and knowing the craftsmanship for
which Donald J Chipper was renowned,
they will serve well for at least another one
hundred years.
Graduates of the course can expect to
improve their effective listening techniques,
advance their social skills and be able
to use body language and visual aids
more effectively.
Seven of the pews were donated to the college, and knowing
the craftsmanship for which Donald J Chipper was renowned,
they will serve well for at least another one hundred years
From left to right: Mr Les Coleman, Mr Vic Dey OAM, Mr Ash Crow of Le Pine Funerals, Mr Alan Evered
MRAC and Mayor Ron Brownlees.
Christine Jones, Location Manager Drydale Funerals
Nambour holds the door open for Letiesha Prescott.
Bronzed Respect
Class Send Off
Le Pine Funerals was pleased to be able to show its support for
the Returned and Services League, and for veterans of the Korean
War when it participated in a moving ceremony commemorating
the forty-three Australian servicemen who never returned from the
Korean conflict, and are still listed as “Missing in Action” or MIA.
Christine Jones, Location Manager
Drysdale Funerals Nambour is used to
arranging for well-presented vehicles
to be part of an important occasion
but, recently, she had cause to arrange
for something out of the ordinary.
Le Pine Funerals considers it a great
privilege to have been able to show
its support, teaming up with both the
Australian Funeral Directors Association
and the Cheltenham and Moorabbin RSL
Club to unveil a plaque listing the names
of each MIA. The plaque was donated by
Le Pine Funerals.
Guests at the ceremony included The
Hon Simon Crean MHR and Member for
Hotham, Mr Sung-Sub Jung Consul for
the Republic of Korea, Vic Dey OAM, Tom
Parkinson, and Alan Evered, who were
all from the Korean Veterans Association
Australia; as well as representatives of all
arms of the Australian Armed Forces and
community representatives.
Members of the Australian Funeral Directors
Association have donated over thirty
plaques in honour of the Korean MIAs, and
most of these have come from Le Pine
Funerals’ fellow InvoCare funeral directors.
Each plaque has been unveiled during
a service held in honour of the names
inscribed in bronze. Lest we forget.
Members of the Australian
Funeral Directors Association
have donated over thirty
plaques in honour of the
Korean MIAs, and most
of these have come from
Le Pine Funerals’ fellow
InvoCare funeral directors
Christine is supporting Nambour State High
School’s Personal Best Program, where school
students earn points throughout the year
for going above and beyond the call of duty,
both as a person and a student of the school.
All grades within the school are involved
in this worthwhile community program.
Christine provides the prize for the Year 12
student that has earned the most points
through the program; their prize is a limousine
ride to the school’s formal. Last year’s winner
was Letiesha Prescott who received Christine’s
characteristic attention to detail and customer
service for a special ride to her important event.
Congratulations Letiesha.
I N V 6 LV E
A contestant keeps his eye on the ball
at the North Shore Open.
Second on left Haydn Donnelly, Location Manager Guardian Funerals Warrawee at the Northern Suburbs
Tennis Association.
Work Computer
Home Computer
Court ‘n’ the Action
Le Pine Funerals has been a long-time supporter
of homeless and youth-focused charity, the 20th
Man Fund. But sometimes, being a supporter can
be shown in other ways besides attending official
functions and providing over-sized cheques.
And so it was when Julie Zilic, Location
Manager Le Pine Funerals Footscray realised
her work computer was going to be upgraded.
With her desk computer in need of a new home,
Julie contacted the 20th Man Fund to see
whether it could be used for the Fund’s
Back To School Program.
The computer was soon picked up and was
taken to the home of a single mother whose
finances couldn’t stretch to providing a computer
for her four school-aged children, one of whom,
Jenny, is doing the Victorian Certificate of
Education this year which is the matriculating
exam for secondary school students.
Guardian Funerals is a sponsor of the Northern Suburbs Tennis Association and was
proud to be on hand for the Association’s recent Love’n Deuce North Shore Open.
One of the most prestigious tennis competitions on the Sydney Amateur calendar,
the event was officially opened by the Hon Mr Graham Annesley, member for
Davidson and Kooroora. Haydn Donnelly and Toni Hardman of Guardian Funerals
were on hand to represent the tournament’s open Event sponsor. InvoCare Chief
Operating Officer Australia, Greg Bisset was also on hand to watch the action.
Congratulations to all of the divisional winners:
Open Mens Singles:
Adam Feeney
Open Womens Singles:
Stephanie Bengson
Open Mens Doubles:
J Chaplin & B Wagland
Open Womens Doubles:
S Bengson & E Perez
Open Mixed Doubles:
L Mackay & L Gonzales
A Grade Mens Finals:
Cameron Smith
A Grade Womens Finals:
Sue Woodward
A Grade Mens Doubles:
B Bourgeois & T Delmege
Jenny is thrilled that she can do her classwork
from home rather than at the local library,
and the donated computer is sure to be of
assistance to Jenny’s siblings as well.
Well done Julie!
One of the most prestigious tennis competitions
on the Sydney Amateur calendar
Pictured (left to right) Entertainer Dan Teka, Gold Coast GP Consultant
Janet Sanewski, Somerville Shared Services Manager, Ray Hesse, Guests
Denise Terry (Chaplain from the Spendlove Hospital, Southport) and husband,
Jeff, and Christine Walters.
Christmas Melodies
Make the Morning
Somerville Funerals, which has been running a successful series of
morning concerts called Morning Melodies, in its Nerang Chapel
held a special Morning Melodies session to celebrate Christmas.
Featuring singer, Dan Teka, the morning is a great opportunity to bring
people in the community together for a sing-a-long and a morning tea.
The special event also served as a great introduction to the community
for some new staff members.
Christine Walters, who led the team at Tobin Brothers Funerals Canberra
and recently moved to Queensland, has joined the Queensland Funerals
team as Regional Manager. Also new is Shared Services Manager,
Ray Hesse.
In addition to the usual crowd favourites, Dan Teka added some special
Christmas classics to entertain the audience. The Somerville Chapel was
given an extra level of sparkle with a gorgeous Christmas tree in place,
and morning tea refreshments included rum balls, shortbread cookies
and Christmas fruit cake.
The floral bike atop the Blackwell Funerals hearse.
City of Cycles
If you live in Adelaide, and the month is January, then it’s the time and
place for the Santos Tour Down Under.
The biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere, and an
established event on the world cycling circuit, the Santos Tour
Down Under has been running since 1999 and attracts some
of the best riders in the world to do battle in and around Adelaide.
With six stages, a People’s Choice Classic, and Challenge Tour that
is open to individual, social and corporate riders looking for a ride with a
difference, the tour adds a great deal of colour to the city and everyone
gets into the spirit of the occasion; even Blackwell Funerals which
trimmed one of their hearses to be part of the action.
The charity partner for this year’s Tour was the Cancer Council,
who used the awareness generated by the event to discuss the
unique skin cancer risks associated with Australia’s climate.
More than 760,000 spectators viewed the Tour and over 7,000
riders participated in the Challenge Tour.
Irene’s Essay Success
Funeral Director, Irene Morton of Resthaven Funeral Service in Howick was thrilled recently when she
was awarded the 2012 Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) President’s Award.
Irene received her award for first
place in the FDANZ’s President’s
essay competition which challenges
funeral directors to formally tackle a
substantial essay on a topic relevant
to the funeral industry. Irene’s
topic, echoing the likes of Fyodor
Dostoyevsky, Oscar Wilde and
Winston Churchill, was Show me
the way a nation treats its dead.
In the essay, Irene explored how
notions of public memorialisation
have endured and compares
this to how the notions and
actions associated with private
memorialisations have changed
over time.
This year, the prize for first place
included a trip to the United States of
America to attend the well-regarded
seminar series put on by The Dodge
Company, who have been providing
embalming chemicals to funeral
homes all over the world since 1893.
Congratulations Irene.
I N V 6 LV E
The team from Sailabililty get ready
to hit the water.
Agnes Yiu, Client Services Manager Universal
Chung Wah leads a group in laughter yoga.
Middle of front row: Agnes Yiu with a group of Korean
laughter yoga students.
Sailing Solutions
Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors in Lower
Hutt is helping to create new opportunities
and foster a spirit of adventure for people with
disabilities by participating in the Sailability
program which is run out of the Evans Bay
Yacht Club, the Seaview Marina and the Lowry
Bay Yacht Club, all on Wellington Bay.
The Sailability program enables people with
disabilities to get out on the harbour and enjoy
one of the great activities the area is known for.
Yacht volunteers take guests out on the water
on all but the windiest of days. People of all ages
and a wide variety of disabilities have joined the
volunteers for these outings, leaving crutches,
wheelchairs and other aids behind to experience
the sensation of travelling across the water.
Guests with a total or a partial loss of sight have
also been able to experience the sounds and
sensations of the craft under full sail.
Laughter Yoga for Life
We all know what yoga is but do you know what laugher yoga is? According
to Agnes Yiu, Client Services Manager at Universal Chung Wah, the recipe for
Laughter Yoga is: laughing exercises + yogic breathing = laughter yoga.
Agnes says: “I first heard about Laughter
Yoga through a friend who asked me to
check out Laughter Yoga on the internet.
Laughter Yoga Clubs have spread to over
60 countries, and I was glad that I was
able to find an instructor here in Sydney.”
The yachts used by the program are wide
bellied dinghies with a weighted centreboard
for extra balance and Gee & Hickton Funeral
Directors have provided all of the lifejackets
the Sailability program requires.
Agnes was very impressed after her first
session. According to their literature, laughter
yoga is not only a therapy to help alleviate
stress, it also boosts the immune system
and promotes positive thinking.
The program has been so successful, demand for
time on the water outstrips the availability of boats,
volunteers and ramp time, but not so lifejackets.
Acting Chairman of Sailability, Warren Rankin said:
“This is so good for our health, and no
one had yet introduced this to the Asian
community in Australia,” says Agnes.
“Gee & Hickton have provided us with every life
jacket we’ve asked for and more. They have no
desire to meet anyone before their due time.”
Already, local councils and Rotary clubs are
looking for ways to extend the program by
increasing the number of available boats and
suitable ramps.
Involve congratulates all the participants in
the Sailability program.
Agnes discussed this with her instructor and
was soon participating in a training course to
become a Laughter Yoga Leader, certified by
the discipline’s founder, Dr. Madan Kataria.
“Right now I am helping my teacher to lead the
Club when she is not available,” says Agnes.
Laughter can be of help to those
experiencing grief.
“Laughter can help our brain to release
endorphins and I have recently introduced
this benefit to one of my clients who was
having a problem sleeping.
“It is my aim to start the Australasia Laughter
Club later in the year,” says Agnes.
Well done, Agnes.
Upcoming events
May (various dates) Biggest Morning Teas
May 25-26
Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
Guardian Plan has a range of
products that allow customers
to plan for their future funeral
costs and to gain peace of mind.
Prepaid funerals allow someone
to plan the funeral they want
and pay for it in today’s dollars.
Funeral bonds allow someone to
make regular contributions towards
the costs of a future funeral
which will be arranged when
the funeral is actually needed.
Both products are available
throughout InvoCare’s funeral
homes and provide great
peace of mind to families.
Introducing the
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I N V 6 LV E
Take a look at some of the new creative designs coming out of LifeArt.
To the right are some of the new coffin designs which are available
“off the shelf”, including a strikingly-yellow Australian Wattle and a stunning
Red Myrtle, which is known as a New Zealand Wattle. Both designs
have proved popular on their respective sides of the Tasman.
Australasia
LifeArt leads the way in two
important modern funeral trends.
The first trend is towards
increasing levels of
personalisation. This is achieved
through the use of high quality
printed images. Families can
choose from a selection of
designs or with the assistance of
our graphic designer create their
own. The result is a coffin that
reflects the life, loves and interests
of the person being farewelled.
On the far right is a coffin design that
has been named Emerald Wave. This
was created to celebrate the life of
someone who loved the freedom of scuba
diving in Australia’s tropical waters.
Below and below right are two new
advertisements which are designed to show
funeral directors how a LifeArt coffin and
LifeArt portraits can be incorporated into a
funeral service for maximum impact. The new
advertisements also show the unique and
patented design and construction of LifeArt
coffins. It is this patented technology that
gives LifeArt its ability to be personalised,
as well as its environmental benefits.
Australasia
The second is the drive to make
funerals, burials and cremations
more environmentally friendly.
LifeArt does this through the use of
Enviroboard™, a strong, recycled
material made from cardboard.
lifeart.com.au
ENVIROBOARD
CLEAN COFFIN TECHNOLOGY
Australasia
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I N V 6 LV E
Provides families with a simple,
dignified, respectful and affordable
approach to arranging a funeral.
Simplicity offers:
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a funeral an easy to
understand and smooth
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Australia including the
following providers:
Reed & Bottcher Funerals
Southern Cross Funerals (VIC)
Twin Town Funerals
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Members of the Burwood SOLACE
come together to support one another.
Pictured left to right are: Neil Tregenza,
Location Manager Simplicity Funerals Black Forest,
Tim Colgen, Lion Club President and Steve Gregory,
Simplicity Funerals Regional Manager SA.
SOLACE for
the Grieving
Birthday
Lions Roar
Paul Davison, Simplicity Funerals
Area Manager Central Coast and
Carol Thackray, Location Supervisor
Simplicity Funerals Newtown felt
privileged recently when they
were able to attend the meeting
of Burwood SOLACE.
As part of the activities Simplicity
Funerals Black Forest regularly
undertakes to support the community,
members of staff attended the 48th
Birthday Meeting of the Charles Sturt
Lions Club held at the Alberton Hotel
in Adelaide.
SOLACE or Support, Ongoing Love,
Acceptance, Care and Encouragement is
a not-for-profit volunteer organisation that
offers grief support to those whose life
partner has passed away.
Guest speaker at the event, Steve Gregory,
Simplicity Funerals’ South Australian Regional
Manager, provided an enlightening presentation
on the hot topic of prepaid funerals vs. funeral
insurance. This was followed by an enthusiastic
question and answer session from club
members. A great night was had by all.
The aims of the organisation are to provide
support for, and to normalise the grieving
processes of the bereaved, assisting
them with the basics of beginning a new
life. Within the safety of a supportive
environment, those who have lost a loved
one can hear from those who have already
learned to live through their grief, finding
new hope and meaning along the way.
SOLACE is not a counselling service, but
referrals to a counsellor can be provided
should this be required.
Simplicity’s Paul Davison led the meeting,
which consisted of twenty people. The
participation and interaction between
attendees was very encouraging and
Simplicity Funerals looks forward to
continuing its association with this
important organisation.
Simplicity Funerals has long been a supporter
of Lions Clubs Australia. Not only is it involved
in the collection of glasses for the Lions
Recycle for Sight program but it also provides
practical event and fund-raising support so that
the Lions can do what they do best: making
communities a better place to live, work and
grow in.
It also provides practical event
and fund-raising support
so that the Lions can do
what they do best: making
communities a better place
to live, work and grow in
Simplicity Funerals’ Stephen Crow with (centre) OPSO Ambassador Noeline Brown and an award winner.
Speaking Out with Simplicity
Orange You Glad
for a Healthy
Breakfast?
The OPSO Media Awards were held recently and Simplicity
Funerals Queensland was there to lend its support.
Older People Speak Out (OPSO) was formed
in the early 1990’s and aims to improve the
social justice shown to older people. It
does this by promoting positive aging,
by enhancing the voice of older people
through media training, and providing
strategies for interacting with bureaucracies.
The OPSO Media Awards run each year,
recognising and rewarding positive coverage of
aging and aging related issues across a wide
variety of media. This year, Simplicity Funerals
joined with the journalists, celebrities and
community leaders that had gathered for
the event as one of the major sponsors.
Stephen Crow, Location Manager Simplicity
Funerals Kedron took an active part in the
proceedings, announcing the runners up and
the winners, who then received their award
from the Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Mental
Health and Aging.
Also on hand for the evening was OPSO
Ambassador, Noeline Brown, who epitomises
the positive aging message the organisation
strives to promote.
Stephen greatly enjoyed being a part of the
OPSO Media Awards and looks forward to
following up on the many great and positive
relationships he formed on the night.
The children of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary
School with (back row) Chris Anson of Simplicity
Funerals Mascot, Senior Constable Renee Simpson
and School Principal, John Farrell.
Categories of awards included:
Print
Best news item or article/s in
a metropolitan newspaper
Leanne Edmistone, The Sunday Mail
Best news item or article/s in a regional
or suburban newspaper
Shane Desiatnik, The Blue Mountains Gazette
Best article/s in a magazine
Keeley Henderson, That’s Life!
Best article/s in a senior-specific newspaper
Heather Grant-Campbell, The Senior QLD
Best article/s in a senior-specific newsletter
Donna Bowring, Community
Connection Newsletter
Radio
Best current affairs segment/series
Paul Robinson, ABC radio Capricornia
TV
Best news item
Lexi Hamilton-Smith, Channel Ten 5pm News
Last year, Involve reported on the activities
of Chris Anson, Location Manager Simplicity
Funerals Mascot as he joined with a range of
community groups and businesses to ensure
local primary school kids got a healthy
breakfast each day before the start of class.
Well, the fortnightly deliveries of breakfast
supplies still continue, and as you can see
the program is bearing fruit.
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary
School in Waterloo is supported by Simplicity
Funerals, the Redfern Local Area Command
and other local businesses. The aim of this
collaboration is to deliver to the student
benefits such as improved behaviours and
concentration, reduced fatigue, reductions
in class disruptions and improved immune
response. It achieves all of these benefits
thanks only to a regular, healthy breakfast.
Well done to Chris and all of those involved
in making a healthy breakfast available to all.
Best current affairs
Catherine Hunter, Artscope ABC 1
and Mandy Lake ABC TV Compass
Photography
Best image in a metropolitan newspaper
Chris Kidd, The Hobart Mercury
Best image in a regional or suburban
newspaper or newsletter
Melvyn Knipe, Southern Courier
Upcoming events
May 28
“Simply Legendary” Victor
Harbor Award Presentation
I N V 6 LV E
White Lady Funerals and Mareena
Purslowe & Associates are staffed
entirely by women bringing
a refreshing, modern touch
to the funeral industry.
They:
s 5
NIQUELYFEATUREALLFEMALE
staff, elegant white uniforms
with burgundy hats and a
fleet of white vehicles
s /
FFERFUNERALSERVICESFORTHOSE
who want greater diversity in
honouring the life of a loved one
s 2
EmECTANEYEFORDETAILASTHEY
draw on a loved one’s life to
personalise arrangements as
well as producing attendance
cards and memorial books and
providing memorial candles to
families at the end of the service
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ROVIDEANAFTERSERVICE
care that is second to none
throughout the White Lady
funeral homes Australia wide.
whiteladyfunerals.com.au
mareenapurslowefunerals.com.au
Pam Castensen, Regional Manager Mareena
Purslowe & Associates with Gay and Val
from the Scarborough Sportsmen Club.
Always a
Pleasure
Mareena Purslowe & Associates
were pleased recently to be able
to spend some time with longterm friends, the ladies of the
Scarborough Sportsmen Club.
Pam Castensen, Regional Manager
Mareena Purslowe & Associates, has
been supporting the lady bowlers at the
Scarborough Sportsmen Club for 18 years
and over this period she has made good
friends with many of the members.
One of the pleasures of sponsorships of
this kind is being able to attend the club for
official presentations, and this year Pam was
on hand to congratulate the bowlers on their
performance in local competitions as well as
to make presentations to the winners and
placegetters from the 2013 Ladies Gala Day.
Pam greatly enjoyed the chance to drop
into the club once more. Along with giving
out the prizes, Pam was asked to deliver a
short talk to the members. The topic she
chose to speak on was “the importance of
getting to know your local funeral director”,
and it would seem that this is something
the Scarborough lady bowlers know and
understand very well.
Well done Pam!
White Lady Funerals
Like
WhiteLadyFunerals
White Lady Funerals staff and family members turn
out to support the Very Special Kids Foundation.
Very Special
Kids Helped
Out by Very
Special Ladies
White Lady Funerals Victoria were pleased
to be able to support the Very Special Kids
Foundation during their recent Fun Run, held at
the Essendon Football Club.
The Very Special Kids Foundation supports
families of children with life-threatening illnesses
by providing them with family-centred care.
Services such as counselling and emotional
support, respite and end-of-life care, and
bereavement support are vital to families
coping with a terminal, or potentially-terminal
illness in a child.
Several leading members of the White Lady
Funerals team in Victoria; including Regional
Manager, Tia Worrall; Location Managers
Heidelberg and Caulfield, Danielle Chirgwin and
Anita Connolly; White Lady Funeral attendants,
Louise Powell, Mandy Malcmann, Lynda
Lammin, Coralie Cazaly, Alicia Holding, Jennifer
Law and Christina Mooney; along with members
of their families all attended the Fun Run.
Beyond her participation on the day, Anita
Connelly played an important role in organising
the Fun Run, working in conjunction with her
local Weight Watchers group to bring the event
together.
Well done to all the White Ladies, and their families,
for helping this important cause.
For more information about the Very Special Kids
Foundation, visit www.vsk.org.au.
Valentine’s Day colour makes all the difference for
residents at the centres visited by White Lady Funerals.
White Lady Funerals Rockdale shares
Valentine’s Day love.
White Lady Vanessa Reeves delivers delicious
lamingtons on Australia Day.
Making Special Days Special
There have been a number of special days recently and White Lady Funerals has gone
that extra step on each occasion to make sure they are as special as they can be.
Remembering family
Celebrating Australia
Valentine’s Day
In December 2012, White Lady Funerals
hosted a record number of Christmas
memorial services, with more than 20
services taking place around Australia.
These moving events provide those who,
at this family-focused time of year, are
missing a departed love one with a forum
where their thoughts and feelings can be
acknowledged in a supportive environment.
Earlier this year on Australia Day, White Lady
Funerals arranged for activities to share this
celebratory day with elderly members of
the community.
For the same reason as it is difficult for people
in care facilities to enjoy a day like Australia
Day, Valentine’s Day can be difficult too.
However, unlike Australia Day, Valentine’s can
be more difficult for some in care, especially
when infirmity or the passing of a loved one
mean that partners can’t be together.
Uplifting in nature, these services include
elements like popular Christmas songs, the
lighting of tribute candles, messages of hope
and celebration, as well as an opportunity
for guests at the service to mingle with each
other, and the White Ladies who have served
them throughout the year, while enjoying a
range of light refreshments.
When people move into residential aged care,
it is not always easy for them to enjoy the full
range of activities they may previously have
enjoyed. And this is where the White Ladies
come in.
Whether it is arranging for music and songs
in the Australian tradition, or stopping by to
share some cheer with staff and residents,
White Lady Funerals knows how to make a
day come to life. This year, activities ranged
from delivering lamingtons to staff and
residents at local nursing homes to arranging
for an Australia Day concert complete
with Aussie ballads. Thanks to White Lady
Funerals, Australia Day was made that little
bit more special.
This is why the visits White Lady Funerals
makes to local nursing homes are so important.
Not only are they comforting to residents, they
are also greatly appreciated by staff. With
decorations, gifts and flowers in tow, White
Lady Funerals are able to add a splash of red,
ensuring that the day is commemorated in
style.
Well done White Lady Funerals!
Uplifting in nature, these services include elements
like popular Christmas songs, the lighting of tribute
candles, messages of hope and celebration
I N V 6 LV E
White Lady Funerals’ new Cairns location opened early in 2013.
An arrangement room within the new
White Lady Funerals location in Cairns.
Tropical Care
White Lady Funerals is making a fresh start to 2013, opening its first Far North Queensland premises in Cairns.
The Mulgrave Road address was selected for
its central location, which is close to public
transport and offers ample parking for the
convenience of families arranging a service.
And the new White Lady Funerals uniforms are
a perfect match to the conditions in Cairns.
“We’re very pleased to have this new location
from which to serve the community and offer
support to local families in their time of need,”
says Christine Thompson, Regional Manager,
White Lady Funerals.
Cairns’ newest funeral service provider offers
the community a real choice in services.
“White Lady Funerals provides a woman’s
understanding, which sets us apart from
other funeral homes. We’re staffed entirely
by women, and our focus is on providing
warmth and compassion, as well as
professional dedication, to assist grieving
families with their funeral arrangements.”
With their modern new uniforms, still white but
with a more contemporary tailored cut, iconic
burgundy Akubra hats and distinctive fleet of
white vehicles, White Lady Funerals is a wellestablished brand with plenty to offer to the
Cairns community. Every White Lady Funerals
location makes it a priority to support local
community programs and charitable initiatives,
with recent contributions including Christmas
toy drives for ill and injured children and the
collection of eyeglasses for the Lions Club’s
Recycle for Sight program.
“Not only are we here to provide support
for people when they need us, but we also
encourage anyone wanting more general
advice or answers to their questions about
funerals to come in and see us.”
White Lady Funerals supports families with
compassion and understanding during the
funeral arrangement process, and tailors
services to accommodate each family’s
individual requirements.
“For example, online memorial tributes and
webcasting of the funeral for family members
overseas who are unable to attend have
become increasingly popular in recent years.”
“Our attention to detail is renowned,” said
Christine Thompson. “We believe that a funeral
service should be as individual as the person
whose life it commemorates.”
White Lady Funerals also supports families by
arranging memorial services at special times
of the year, and offers community information
sessions on coping with grief and planning
for future funeral costs by request.
Involve wishes good luck to all at the
new location.
Being compassionate and
caring is a very natural
approach for most women,
whereas men often find it
harder to offer sympathy
and express how they feel
White Lady Funerals Regional Manager Queensland, Christine Thompson with Geoff Provest MP,
Member for Tweed and InvoCare General Manager Corporate Projects, Doris Zagdanski.
Women in the Funeral Industry
Christine Thompson, White Lady Funerals’ Queensland Regional Manager, has been working in the funeral industry for
almost two decades.
“I was one of the first people in Queensland to
work for Guardian Plan prepaid funerals. It was
something I felt very passionate about because
I’d lost my mother to cancer at 52, with only
a month’s notice. We were very unprepared.
Nobody had ever told us to do something in
advance, and I wish they had.”
Several years later, Christine was invited to
work with White Lady Funerals, which was
founded in 1987 in Adelaide and expanded
from there across Australia.
“I embraced the concept. It was – and still is –
a wonderful way for women to do something
really worthwhile by helping people going
through such a difficult time. We may not be
statesmen, Mandelas or Gandhis, but in a small
way we do make a genuine difference.”
When Christine first started managing White
Lady Funerals Queensland, some people used
to say they weren’t “real funeral directors”.
“I thought, right I’m going to prove you wrong!”
To achieve this, Christine focused on ensuring
that White Lady Funerals staff can drive hearses,
know how to bring the deceased into their care
and spend time in the mortuary, learning about
every aspect of being a funeral director long
before they set foot in an office environment.
Along with recognising the paramount
important of patience, Christine’s experience
in the industry has taught her to appreciate
life and be grateful for every day you’re alive.
And for women who are thinking about a
career as a funeral director, Christine has the
following advice to offer:
“All our staff are multi-skilled. No-one is
just an order taker – they’re very much real
funeral directors.”
“Be prepared to give a lot of yourself to the
people you support, and you’ll receive even
more back in return.”
Christine believes the natural compassion,
empathy and a willingness to express those
sentiments that is in many women’s DNA is
one of the reasons that White Lady Funerals
is so special.
Well done Christine!
“Being compassionate and caring is a very
natural approach for most women, whereas
men often find it harder to offer sympathy and
express how they feel.”
Upcoming events
May 12
Mother’s Day Memorial Services
I N V 6 LV E
The White Lady Funerals team outside the new Cairns location.
Involve welcomes your contributions:
Locked Bag 8000, Crows Nest NSW 2065 Australia
or fax to: +61 2 9459 3906
or email: kwolfenden@invocare.com.au
© 2013 InvoCare Limited ABN 42 096 437 393