accanews autumn10

accanewsTHE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AUSTRALASIAN CEMETERIES & CREMATORIA ASSOCIAT I O N

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accanews autumn10

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accanews autumn10

ContentsPage 2 President’s Report

Page 3 Board Activity

Page 5 State Reports

Page 10 Is Resomation Creating a Paradigm Shift?

Page 12 AFDA Report

Page 14

ACCA’s Mid-Year Seminar

Page 15

Ever-Rising Stone

Page 16

ACCA’s 23rd Annual Conference

Page 18

Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance

Page 20

Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

Page 22

Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

Page 25

Work Place Bullies

Page 26 What’s in a Name?

Page 28 Geelong Mausoleum

Page 30 Doorway of Hope

Page 33

Forever Shining Memorials

Page 36

Industry News

Page 40

Industry Events Calendar

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Cover photo - Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance – Wicks LakeMATTHEWS BRONZE Pty Ltd – A.C.N: 007 171 486

www.arrowbronze.com.au

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Formed 1986

Executive Committee 2009/2010

PresidentBrendan O’ConnorOperations ManagerLilydale Cemeteries TrustTelephone: 03 9737 2300brendan@lilydalecemetery.com.au

Vice-PresidentBryan ElliottCEO Centennial Park Cemetery AuthorityTelephone: 08 8276 6011bryane@centpark.org.au

Executive MembersPeter DeagueDirector PlanningMetropolitan Cemeteries BoardTelephone: 08 9383 5229peter.deague@mcb.wa.gov.au

Karen HinrichsenManagerToowoomba Garden of RemembranceTelephone: 07 4635 4866karen@gardenofremembrance.com.au

Michael McMahonCEO Catholic Cemeteries BoardTelephone: 02 8713 5777mgm@catholiccemeteries.org.au

Armen MikaelianGeneral Manager Cemeteries and CrematoriaInvocare Australia Pty LtdTelephone: 02 8841 7810amikaelian@invocare.com.au

Darryl ThomasCEO Geelong Cemeteries TrustTelephone: 03 5221 1077dt@gct.net.au

Executive Officer & SecretaryKen MandersSuite North 4, 215 Bell StPRESTON VIC 3057 Telephone: 03 9863 6914Facsimile: 03 9863 6901ken@accaweb.com.au

Unless expressly stated the views put forward in accanews are not necessarily the considered views or policy of the Association or the Publisher, nor is the Association or the Publisher responsible for the claims of its advertisers.

Graphic Design by Andrew Spicer @ Ravelston Designs

Printed by Excel Australia

Published by ACCA Secretariat

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President’sReport

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Brendan O’Connor

What a busy start to the New Year it has been for the association and many in the industry. The board met for the first meeting of the year in February at the Esplanade hotel in Fremantle Western Australia, the venue for this year’s conference. This allowed the board to carry out a full inspection of the conference venue and function rooms and judging by the effort and presentation given we can expect this conference to be something to which we can look forward.

Following the board meeting we held a meeting with representatives of all state associations as a Working Party, to discuss a proposal for the restructure of ACCA incorporating the states and NZ as branches. It is pleasing to report that the idea of developing a true national (including NZ) cemetery industry association is gaining a great deal of support and interest and is seen as a positive step forward for our industry. We will keep members informed as the proposal develops and the state associations have had time to report back to their members.

I would like to take the opportunity to remind members of the mid year conference to be held on the Gold Coast 27 – 28th May as it promises to be an exciting experience for all attendees. Eric bailey is a dynamic presenter and promises to inform and educate us all, as will Vicki Bennett who will be presenting on the second day. All of which augers well for a great seminar.

As in years past ACCA has been invited to attend and present at the state association AGMs. Unfortunately some AGMs were held at conflicting times which made it difficult for me attend them all, however in true team spirit each member of the board offered to attend in my place and present the update on the activities of ACCA. I take this opportunity to thank each board member for their assistance and compliment them on a job well done. Congratulations to all incoming members of the state associations, including the Presidential return of Pieter Den Boer in our 2010 conference host state. I look forward to working with all boards over the next twelve months.

ACCA will be attending the Chinese International Funeral Expo in Shanghai/Beijing during June and will be joined by Arrow Bronze - our Platinum Corporate Partner. If other members would like further information on attending with ACCA please do not hesitate to contact Executive Officer, Ken at the ACCA office.

Brendan O’Connor President

Melbourne Metropolitan Restructure

The restructure of the Victorian Metropolitan Cemeteries Trusts has been completed and was officially implemented on 1 March 2010. Elsewhere in this edition, we have a preliminary brief of both new Trusts, namely:

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, and

The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust.

Congratulations to all newly-appointed Trust Members and also to the interim CEOs – Liz Riley (GMCT) and Russ Allison (SMCT).

Corporate Partnership

We congratulate corporate partners, ARROW BRONZE (Principal/Platinum), PHOENIX FOUNDRY (Gold) and AUSTENG ENGINEERING (Silver Plus)

for continuing their invaluable sponsorship support of ACCA for the year 2010. We also welcome new corporate partner, NORWALK CONCRETE INDUSTRIES (Bronze).

To all our other corporate members and colleagues: It is not too late to join the program – please contact me at your earliest convenience.

ACCA Representation

The Board approved ACCA participation/representation at the following:

• ChinaInternationalFuneralExpo&FIAT-IFTA Convention: Beijing/Shanghai 22-27 June 2010.

ACCA will be exhibiting during the Expo (CIFE), which is expected to be the largest expo of our industry ever presented in SE Asia. We will be promoting membership, the ACCA Conference in Fremantle as well as advertising in, and subscribing

to ACCA News. We will be joined at the Expo by ARROW BRONZE – ACCA Principal Corporate Partner.

• CemeteriesConference:WellingtonNZ28-30 April 2010

This is an inaugural event to be presented by the New Zealand Recreation Association and will be directed toward cemetery managers and employees. ACCA commends the initiative and has been invited to make a presentation at the 3 day event. Note: All ACCA members are invited to attend at NZRA Member rates.

Please support ACCA News in 2009 – remember this is your journal and we encourage and welcome your input at any time.

Thank you and take care.KEN J MANDERS

From The Desk Of The Executive Officer

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BoardActivity

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The ACCA 2008/2009 Board. From left to right, front row: Vice President Bryan Elliott,

President Brendan O’Connor, Peter Deague Back Row: Darryl Thomas, Karen Hinrichsen, Armen Mikaelian, Michael McMahon

FUTURE STRUCTURE OF ACCAFollowing the Board meeting in February, a Working Party established to review the future structure of ACCA and in particular the (State) Branches proposal, met for the first time. A summary of this meeting was forwarded to all members through the Communique, however a shortened version follows.

1.1. The following was agreed as the basic concept-model for the purposes of this review:

a. Formation

• Eachbranchretainsitsown(reduced)State committee.

• LocalIssueswillstillbepursuedbyState/Territory Branches.

• StatesandTerritoriescouldamalgamatefor logistic and administration suitability.

• Otherindividualcountriescouldbeincluded as a ‘Branch - International’ (on application) in the future.

b. Representation on National Board

• TheNationalBoardcomprising 8 Directors would meet 5-6 times per year.

• EachBranchmaynominateonedelegate to the ACCA (National) Board

• Additionalmembers(2)requiredtocomprise the National Board are those nominated and elected at the ACCA AGM, subject to maximum of two from any one Branch.

• Anyofthe8Directorsmaynominatefor an office bearer (President or Vice President) position.

• Allpositionswillbeoftwoyearsduration with half retiring on alternate years.

c. Financial

• Subscriptions:ACCAinvoicesandreceives all member subscriptions and operates a national budget.

• Budgets:Eachbranchwillsubmittheirown annual budget to National for consolidation into National budget.

• CalculationofSubscriptionspayable:A comprehensive task of financial modelling will need to be prepared and presented.

• ExistingFunds:Furtherreview(inc.legal) and discussion is required.

1.2. Member Communication Process

Members will be kept fully informed at all times through ACCA News, Communiqué and Updates at Branch general meetings.

1.3. Constitution Changes

There will of course be changes required to the Constitution, although preliminary review and advice from Associations Forum consider these will be minimal.

1.4. Introduction of concept

Ideally on 1 July (commencement of financial year) and could effectively be created in stages.

The next Working Party Meeting will be held in May and will address implementation and operational issues.

EVENTS

Events 2010

- Mid Year Seminar Gold Coast: An excellent venue, Sheraton Mirage Resort has been booked. The theme is “A Winning Attitude” and will focus on teamwork. See Katrina’s report elsewhere in this edition.

- Conference Fremantle: The venue for the 2010 conference is to be held at the refurbished Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle. The theme is “Our Changing Landscape” and will provide a wide range of topics relating to our industry. See Report elsewhere in this edition.

NATURAL BURIALS

A guideline relating to Natural Burials has been prepared and has been uploaded to the website.

CERTIFICATE III IN GRAVE-DIGGING AND CREMATORIA OPERATIONS

Delivery of the Training Certificate 3 in Grave-digging and Crematoria Operations through the national training package is nearing completion. There are three RTO’s expected to submit an Expression of Interest, which are due to be received at time of printing.

NEW MEMBERS

Ordinary Member (Provisional):

Maunu Crematorium Ltd Whangarei NZ

Observer Members:

Silverton Village Committee Inc

Hazelwood Cemetery Trust

VALE

The Board sadly advises the passing of Mrs. Margot Rae O’Connor (wife of the late Tony O’Connor – ACCA Life Member and mother of Brendan – ACCA President) on 26 January 2010.

Rest in Peace.

Sincere condolences are extended to Brendan, Lorraine and family.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

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Cemeteries & Crematoria Association of New South Wales (CCANSW)

Annual General Meeting and Quarterly ConferenceWe have started 2010 with our Annual General Meeting and quarterly Conference which was held in the beautiful town of Kiama, approximately 60 kilometres south of Sydney.

The Conference, held on Thursday 18 and Friday 20 February, 2010, commenced with a welcome by Mr Joe Campbell from Phoenix Foundry – the major CCA Sponsor for 2010.

After our Annual General Meeting an open forum commenced with Gerard Robbers from Austeng Engineering providing an engineering update for our industry and Nadia Lanfranco from DDC providing an up-date of the products that are available.

On the Thursday evening at the Phoenix Foundry dinner we enjoyed a casual BBQ at the Sebel Harbourside Kiama and, ffollowing dinner, we participated in a fun ‘Vegas Night’ – a great time was had by all.

A number of presentations were held on Friday, February 19 and these included a presentation entitled “Trees are Assets in Cemeteries” by David Potts, a former lecturer in Horticulture for NSW TAFE for over 20 years. David provided information on tree inventories, risk assessments and surveys.

Dean Stratton of Clear Solar provided an update on Solar Technology and Energy Saving Strategies. These devices make a significant contribution to Australia’s ‘clean energy’ future and lowers energy costs for businesses and non-profit organisations.

Bruce Thomas (a Director of Carbon Training International - a specialist training and coaching organisation responding to low carbon economies) provided an overview on carbon emissions and managing carbon within the business processes of cemeteries. The presentation assisted us in gaining an understanding of where carbon is in our businesses and an understanding of the sources; the need to measure and manage carbon in order to maximise efficiency of operation.

I presented a paper on a study tour entitled “Woodland and Natural Burials in the United Kingdom” resulting from my visit to the UK in September/October 2009. I inspected four cemeteries, including Carlisle City Council Cemetery, and made a presentation to the Institute ofCemetery&CrematoriumManagementConference and Exhibition held at Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

The first natural and green burial facility is being opened at Kemps Creek Catholic Cemetery prior to June 1, 2010.

Nina Ngo from the Australian Federation of Employers and Industries (AFEI) spoke to the members on the changes to the industrial relations landscape and gave an over-view of the ‘Fair Work’ Act.

Finally, Christine Smyth, specialist in Succession Law and a regular presenter to CCA NSW, provided an over-view of the rights and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the funeral and burial process and touched on dispute resolution and strategies.

Christine Smyth (Robbins Watson Solicitors) has, for some years, been regularly updating members on issues affecting cemeteries in the areas of Inheritance law, Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Estate disputes and challenges to wills. Christine’s address was followed by an inter-active workshop dealing with three scenarios which involved disputes in the areas of funerals and burial practices. At the conclusion, Christine provided the information on the outcome of each of the cases and what implications they had on the various stakeholders involved in the dispute.

Industry Expo and Trade DayOn Wednesday 24 March, 2010, CCA NSW conducted its Industry Expo and Trade Day. Once again the Trade Day was hosted by Woronora Cemetery and Crematorium at Sutherland and over 29 exhibitors provided the latest information, equipment and facilities to 255 members and guests who were in attendance. Demonstrations were conducted by Stonelift Australia, Austeng, Work SmartEquipmentandtheAnglican&General Cemetery Trusts who advised on monumental construction techniques and inspection requirements.

The Expo and Trade Day was sponsored by Phoenix Foundry and Synthetic Grass &RubberSurfacesAustraliaPtyLtd.

Tea, coffee and lunch were provided for all in attendance, including representatives of the Queensland Cemeteries and Crematoria Association. All delegates thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of gaining up-to-date information on equipment, new systems, software, catering, memorialisation, ground penetrating radar, grave maintenance, power equipment, funeral and cemetery supplies including coffins, bronze and memorial plaques and products, vases and urns, personal protection equipment, lifting equipment and feral animal control services.

statereports

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statereports

CCA NSW plans to run a further Industry Expo in 2012.Next General MeetingThe next General Meeting will be held in Armidale, NSW, on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 May, 2010. We expect some 50 delegates and guests will attend this important General Meeting which will continue the success CCA NSW has been enjoying with its meetings in catering for the interests of its members.

Michael McmahonPresident

Cemeteries Association of South Australia (CASA)

CASA Information Day 22nd March 2010 Over 40 members of the Cemeteries Association of South Australia attended the annual Information day held on Monday 22nd March. Enfield Memorial Park was the kind host for the day which is a major annual event on the CASA calendar.

Members were treated to a background of the history of Enfield Memorial Park that was followed by a tour of the grounds including an inspection of the Wirra Wonga Natural Burial Ground and the Mausoleum. Later in the day a behind the scenes tour of the crematorium was followed by an inspection of new machinery (“tonka toys”) displayed by both Adelaide Cemeteries Authority and Centennial Park Cemetery Authority.

The day is also the opportunity for the Annual General Meeting of CASA to be held with members electing their executive for the ensuing 12 months. All office bearers were reappointed by the members.

Following the luncheon break funeral director, Tony Elliott presented the Body on Summerton Beach Case to a hushed audience. This was followed up by a presentation from the Monumental Masons on some operations concerns faced by their members when operating in cemeteries.

The day was a success thanks to the generosity of the sponsors, the efforts of the organising committee, and the staff of Adelaide Cemeteries Authority.

The information day is an opportunity for members to travel from far and wide to renew acquaintances, put faces to names of people they have spoken to on the phone when asking questions and gaining and sharing knowledge of how our industry operates.

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statereports

Darren Leuders Customer Service Award

President Brenton Hill on the left, with last years winner Leon Shillabeer and 2010 winners Rob and Jan Heaven.

A major highlight of the day is the presentation of the Darren Leuders Customer Service Award.

On October 28, 2007 CASA’s much loved and respected President, Darren Leuders died unexpectedly. Darren was a member of the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority for 10 years in the roles of Business Development Manager and Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

As a past CASA President and a highly valued, committed and driven member of the CASA executive, Darren had a gift for providing outstanding customer service. In recognising this, the CASA executive developed a fitting tribute to appropriately recognise outstanding customer service - the ‘Darren Leuders Customer Service Award’.

The award is presented to ‘any employee of a CASA member who has performed above and beyond the call of duty in providing excellence in customer service.’ Additionally, it is considered the award will assist in the promotion and improvement of excellent customer service delivered by CASA members.

The award is kindly sponsored by Phoenix Foundry and presented at the Annual General Meeting/Information Day. Last year was the inaugural award which most deservedly went to Leon Shillabeer, the curator of cemeteries in the District of Mt Barker.

This year’s most worthy winner of the Darren Leuders Customers Service Award went to:

Rob and Jan HeavenJoint volunteer curators of the McLaren Vale Uniting and Congregational Church Cemeteries.

The following comments were made by the judges about the winning nomination:

The areas identified were those which were important to Darren as he lead his team to provide excellent service to customers.

• ‘RobandJanarealwayswelcomingand prepared to spend time with people using the cemetery, 2 to 3 hours if needed.

• Theytaketimetoexplainalltheoptionsbefore making a decision.

• Developedcremationmemorialareasin what was a country cemetery and thereby giving people alternative choice. They have shown flare and compassion, with beautiful formal and informal areas. The infrastructure may have been done by others, but the planning, plantings and the ongoing maintenance is being done by Rob and Jan alone.

• Attentiontoupgradingrecordswhichisimportant in giving service and accurate information to families. Darren always placed great importance on accurate records which helped in dealing with people and in the case of historic enquiries it gives confidence in the detail given out.

• Assistingfamiliesinrepairingandrestoring old gravesites. This improved the presentation of the cemetery but also allows families to reengage with their history and care for the cemetery.’

Rob has been full time volunteer curator since 2000 and Jan became joint volunteer curator in 2001. Both cemeteries only have about 15 combined interments a year, but quantity is irrelevant here, as it belies the enormous effort both of these two remarkable people voluntarily put into maintaining and running two cemeteries in the Southern Districts.

Here are some other achievements listed in the nomination:

1. They have applied for Heritage grants and have co funded 50/50 out of their Cemetery income to achieve much needed new fencing.

2. They are working their way through both cemeteries and ensuring every grave is recognized. Rob and Jan believe no one should lie in an unmarked grave. The original records for the Congregational Church were poorly kept and Jan for the past 2 years has worked tirelessly to try and link the names she has with other burials in the Cemetery, searching the internet until finally she can put a marker on the grave denoting who is buried within.

3. If a family wish to upgrade a grave site – Rob is quick to ask if the original materials can be recycled to restore an existing grave, or alternatively use the material towards a simple memorial for another burial which lies unmarked.

4. As part of the work they are jointing undertaking, every grave in both Cemeteries, is being photographed together with a description, for historical/heritage purposes.

In conclusion, Rob and Jan are two amazing people who both have an enormous capacity for generosity. Despite Rob’s ill health in the past year, they have never let this interfere with their role as Curators and their service and responsibility to grieving families and the greater community. Both Rob and Jan are most worthy recipients of the 2009 Darren Leuders Customer Service Award.

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statereports

Queensland Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (QCCA)

LAW REVIEWRecently the Qld State Government reopened its investigation into the Laws Relating to the Disposal of Deceased People in Qld.

This was first flagged for review in the early 2000’s and due to other legislation reviews it was placed onto the backburner. We are now happy to report that the Attorney General in Qld has asked for the review to recommence this year.

The QCCA along with other interested parties will now provide information to the Law Review Committee and hope to have this can be completed sooner rather then later.

QCCA AGMFor those that may have an interest this years QCCA Annual General Meeting will take place in the beautiful central Queensland region of Mackay. The meeting will take place on Friday the 20th of August with a couple of social activities thrown in for good measure.

If you are interested in coming along please shoot us an email to qcca@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

QCCA 2011 CONFERENCETraditionally the QCCA Conference takes place in August, however there has been a date change. The next conference planned for 2011 will take place in June. There are a couple of reasons for this including the climate and the availability of venues in the middle of the year. Currently we are investigating opportunities for venues with out last venue on the Gold Coast being preferred by members. More information will be available on this soon.

CCANSW TRADE DAYThe QCCA would like to thank the CCANSW for the invitation to attend their recent trade day held at Woronora Cemetery in Sydney. The standard and volume of exhibitors and demonstrations was excellent with much information gathered.

We would also like to acknowledge the hospitality shown to those that attended by Michael and Mary and hope to attend more days in the future.

CYCLONE ULUISome cemeteries located around Mackay in the North of Queensland suffered damage from Cyclone Ului that crossed the Qld coast on March. Thankfully no injuries occurred with damage to infrastructure and structures.

The QCCA contacted those members that were affected and offered any help that may have been required.

We wish them all the best with their cleanup.

Cemeteries & Crematoria Association of Victoria (CCAV)

The CCAV Country Conference in Wangaratta was held on the 26th and 27th of March. The theme for the conference was cultural diversity and we are hopeful to develop a set of guidelines from each of the presentations on the basics of performing the burial or cremation process for different cultures and religions.

The March General Meeting was included in the Conference program held on the Friday afternoon. There were reports given from the Department of Health and ACCA. A tour on the Saturday out to the Wangaratta Cemetery occurred for a presentation on how that cemetery is involving the community through educating high school children on the 24th Battalion. A visit to Mason Park Funeral Home gave an outline of changing trends for funeral directors.

The Friday night dinner was held at the brand new Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre and the Saturday night dinner was at the Wangaratta Racecourse. The Committee were very pleased with the program and the great attendance.

CCAV would like to acknowledge the support of the following organisations as the CCAV Annual Sponsors for 2009/2010:

Principal Sponsors: DPJones&CoandArrowBronze

Pre-dinner drinks Sponsors: PhoenixFoundry,GloryMarble&Graniteand ME Bank

Lunch Sponsors: Austeng, Norwalk, Lite Industries and BedRock International

Bus Sponsors: Memoriam Glass and Millar Merrigan.

A Special General Meeting was held on the 25th of February and the CCAV would like to thank the Springvale Botanical Cemetery Trust for hosting the event. A new set of CCAV Rules of Association were accepted by the members on the day. The amendments were necessary to keep the Association operational after the metro re-structures took place.

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statereports

Blue Lake - Mount Gambier

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Cemeteries & Crematoria Association of Western Australia (CCAWA)

March 2010 has seen the start of the process for appointing directors to the cemetery boards in Western Australia. All board terms expire on 30th June 2010 and advertising has begun for interested persons to apply for board positions.

On the regional scene, Kalgoorlie continues to work towards their new cremator and building; Busselton is researching land needs to ensure future requirements and Bunbury Crematorium has settled on design plans for the rebuild of their condolence area.

The main event on the CCAWA calendar is the AGM and One Day Seminar. On the 19th March, 2010 over 60 industry members gathered in beautiful Busselton, situated in the southern portion of the West Coast Plain.

FuneralDirectorsWilliamBarrett&Sonsprovided their modern and spacious premises for the meeting and business sessions of the day. The seminar was opened by the Hon. Mr. John Castrilli MLA, Minister for Local Government (including cemeteries). Seminar subjects included natural burials, cemetery design, record keeping obligations and a funeral director’s view. This presentation explains the funeral director’s role in detail from “Death to the Cemetery Gates.”

The CCAV, on behalf of its members, would like to thank those that have served the industry and are moving on after the re-structures and wish them all the very best with their future endeavours. Congratulations must go to those that have been appointed new positions.

There are training courses coming up in regional Victoria so if you require further details please feel free to contact the CCAV Office ccav@pams.org.au

Darryl Thomas CCAV President

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statereports

All sessions were well received. ACCA Vice President Bryan Elliott gave a national report and sponsors Arrow Bronze, Phoenix Bronze, H.H. Webb, WilliamBarrett&Sons,Archer&SonsFuneral Directors, Shire of Busselton, Albany Monumental Works and Liteguard were all represented and given the opportunity to interact with members.

On completion of the afternoon teas, attendees boarded the Albany Monumental Works sponsored bus for a trip to the Busselton Cemetery for a tour and further networking opportunities. The day was completed with a sundowner at the Busselton Shire Offices and the informal seminar dinner in the evening.

On a minor side note the AGM included the election of office bearers. The new board is as follows:

President: Pieter Den Boer Bunbury Cemetery Board

Vice President: Peter Deague MCB

Secretary: Geraldine Bowman Donnybrook/Balingup

Finance Director: Gaye Newton Kalgoorlie

Director: Jan Hatch Geraldton

Director: Cathryn Hutton Busselton

Director: To be advised

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The Challenge Facing us all.

Resomation is an alternative to cremation and burial with significant and validated environmental benefits. It is a true paradigm shift that allows the public a third choice more in tune with their environmental awareness and concerns.

Since 1874 when commercial cremation was first introduced the global population has rocketed from 1.6 billion to 6.7 billion today. Cremation is now the most popular choice of disposition available and growing worldwide. Without the introduction of cremation , burial spaces would have ran out in most highly populated areas many years ago and most people struggling to pay the fees associated with this choice of disposition. However it does carry with it some critical negative environmental impact through the large carbon footprint, level of fossil fuels used, dioxins produced and harmful mercury vapour released from amalgam fillings. In the UK for instance government figures show cremation related mercury to be the second largest emissions polluter of all industries in the UK.

So why Resomation?

The Resomation process is a water and alkali based alternative that utilises natural decomposition chemistry but applies it in a way that achieves much accelerated rates of tissue breakdown so that a body is reduced to ash in three hours rather than months or years as in burial.

In a recent independent UK study Resomation in a direct like for like comparison was shown to have a carbon footprint approximately 4 times less than a typical cremation process. Furthermore there are no dioxin emissions and amalgam mercury is recovered and safely recycled. It also uses around six times less energy. In June of 2008 the UK Cremation Society changed its 134 year old charter to allow Resomation to be adopted since they recognised it was a probably a better alternative from an environmental perspective than cremation on which their organisation was founded.

A key strength of the process is that the equipment can be installed in a crematoria and the public will see little or no difference regarding the ceremony, the cost or the returning of the ashes. The real change is the lower impact on our environment.

The impact of the public having access to Resomation is I believe “cause and effect”. The availability of Resomation automatically brings ethical choice and empowerment to the public allowing an outlet for their increasing environmental awareness to be expressed and for the ecosystem to benefit as a result.

Is Resomation Creating a Paradigm Shift?

Resomator Lhs Door Open With Tray

Sandy Sullivan and Remomation Ltd’s employees with their John Logie Baird award for Innovatiion

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Currently in the UK alone over 600,000 people depart this world each year and in virtually every case a wooden coffin will be either buried (28%) or cremated (72%). This is a massive waste of a natural resource and the energy associated in the manufacture of the coffin. Since wood (coffins) cannot be used in the Resomation process we have adopted a sustainable silk or wool coffin. To conform with traditional practice however a decorative wooden transfer casket is used during the ceremony. This transfer casket can be used many times.

It is also worth noting that the process is much less energy intensive than cremation saving on finite and rapidly diminishing fossil fuels.

As our population’s lifespan increases the quantity of expensive titanium and cobalt medical implants utilised (such as hip joints) is increasing. With cremation these are effectively destroyed after death and mostly sent off as waste. In burial they are essentially lost forever. Following the Resomation process the implants exit the process in pristine condition and reuse of these very expensive and medically useful parts is a viable option. We can foresee these being repackaged, sterilised and re-used in third world countries or in certain countries for uninsured people where private medical cover is required for costly implants.

How real are the environmental claims and public acceptance expectations?

Resomation Ltd prides itself in independently validating all claims and assumptions we make. Environmental claims have been based on a commissioned life cycle analysis by a credible environmental consultancy firm. This is a government accredited organisation and the generated data stands up to close scrutiny.

To ensure our assumption of public acceptance was accurate we had independent market research carried out to test this hypothesis in the UK and our exclusive US partners have done likewise in the USA. The results are highly encouraging.

Sandy With Resomator

We clearly have green credentials and as such are now, by invitation, affiliated members of the SETN (Scottish Environmental Technology Network) organisation.

We decided early on to manufacture through a third party. Our chosen partner is a 118 year old family run engineering business LBBC Technologies based in Leeds UK with deeply entrenched core values. We have agreed that as we move forward our joint goal is to achieve ISO 14001 accreditation to ensure managed environmental systems are in place.

Our medium to long term manufacturing policy is to move equipment assembly, whenever viable, into the geographies where the Resomation units are used. This reduces needless and environmentally challenging intercontinental transport.

Where are we today?

The disposition of human bodies after death is invariably a highly regulated process and rightfully so. For Resomation to have maximum positive environmental impact our challenge is to continue to inform, educate and gain legislative changes step by step worldwide. We have already gained legal approval in five US states and parts of Canada. Three units have currently been ordered two of which have been built and in the process of being installed in Florida and Toronto and another order in Minnesota. We are also under draft legislative consultation in Scotland and await approval in England and Wales after extensive funeral industry support.

We have many excited clients awaiting the first results in Florida after which they will be ready to emulate the fist worldwide commercial system there in their home states.

Elsewhere in the world we are working on legislative barriers in several other countries with support of key partners from the funeral industry. It is only a matter of time. The process has been proven to work, it has validated environmentally beneficial credentials and the public are ready for as third choice such as Resomation.

By progressing widespread installations we create choice for more environmentally conscious people across the globe and also offer a non-burn, non-burial option for others who are simply looking for a more personally acceptable alternative.

We have very recently won the Scottish John Logie Baird Award, a very prestigious award for innovation in honour of the Scotsman who invented the first ever operating television process.

For industry to change their fundamental offering after 135 years of virtual status quo is a big step. Change is never an easy process in any walk of life and as once said by the first American black president...” Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for, we are the change that we seek”

The Future?

As far as product development is concerned we are already investigating energy sharing synergies with cremation systems where their waste heat energy can be captured and utilised by our equipment to gain massive heating efficiencies where both types of equipment are installed side by side. Essentially a working cremation system has the ability to run the Resomation system using its waste heat energy.

Our success will be success for our environment in terms of dramatically reducing CO2, mercury and dioxin release into our atmosphere from body disposition. By 2050 the global population will have risen to around 9 billion. From a perspective of land availability, burial is not a viable option and cremation is increasingly damaging with population growth. We urgently need a non-burial alternative that achieves what cremation achieves but without the environmental side effects. Resomation we believe is the solution to carry the baton.

In Australia I presented Resomation at the 2007 ACCA conference and the keen interest was clear from many. Again it will take only one intuitive and environmentally focussed group or individual to break the inertia then history down under will begin again in your industry. Others will be afraid not to follow as the benefits are clear and I believe the public will vote in its favour. It is only timing.

Our agents in Australia and New Zealand is Austeng based in Nth Geelong. (03) 52 78 2044. The contact there is Ross George

For more information please go to www.austeng.net.au

or

www.resomation.com and for access to the trade site request by email

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Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) Report

AFDA President, John Scott

We have also had a reasonably busy year in raising our profile and awareness of the AFDA in media circles. I have personally given three public addresses to organisations seeking advice and awareness of AFDA. This has been met with a wonderful response.

Finally, as I end this message, I am extremely grateful to all National and Divisional Councillors both current and former who have given me so much of their time and their expertise in leading this proud and highly professional Association over the last 75 years.

John Scott National President

The last twelve months have certainly passed very quickly for me in my role as National President.

It has been an exciting, though busy year. The challenges that have faced our industry this past year have been dealt with very successfully with the help of my wonderful Executive, Bernardine Brierty, Darren Eddy and Martin Tobin. Needless to say the valuable input of all National Councillors and the tireless work of all of the National Office staff, lead by our CEO Deanne McLeod has been of great benefit.

The success of the last twelve months is due greatly to all Divisional Councils and those that serve on them. As we celebrate our 75 year anniversary this year, it is important to acknowledge the commitment of those that serve on our Councils and all those that have served before them. Without their continued efforts and the input of our Members, the AFDA would not be what it is today.

Additionally, to our very generous Sponsors whom we acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful relationship we share with them.

Our goals and aims set out at the start of my term were to meet the challenges that face our industry. I believe through the combined efforts of our National Council we have come a long way over the last 75 years. There is still a ways to go but with the foresight for the future not only will our challenges be met, but hopefully our membership numbers will also increase. There is a lot of work going on in the background to achieve this goal.

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M I L N E C O N S T R U C T I O N A U S T R A L I A P T Y . L T D .Toll-free USA: 1-800-547-4909 • Toll-free Australia: 1-800-121-310 • www.milneconstruction.com

A T r a d i t i o n o f Q u a l i t y

TABS is a long standing consulting business with almost 20 years experience working with Cemeteries and Crematoriums and other industry sectors around Australia.

• SpecialisesinOccupationalHealth&Safety and operational documents and training delivery.

• Excellentreputationforitswork.

• Willsuitasoleoperatorwithofficesupportand has plenty of scope for market expansion if desired.

• Vendorsavailabletoprovideacomprehensive handover.

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• Alsoanopportunityforanyonewithsomebackground in OHS/Training to build on a successful business.

Further information on Business Scope, Accountant’s Valuation is available for genuine interested parties – initially contact Ken Manders at the ACCA Secretariat on 03 9863 6914.

BUSINESS FOR SALE

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In recent year’s we have seen our annual Mid-Year Seminar prove itself as a great opportunity for Members to focus on a variety of topics relevant to today’s industry.

This year’s one and a half day seminar on Thursday 27 May and Friday 28 May will be facilitated by Eric Bailey (Thursday) and Vicki Bennet (Friday) and will focus on the topic of team work. Eric will teach you or your team the strategies to meet challenges head on, think outside the box, adapt to change, and cultivate passionate in everything you do. Vicki’s workshop will provide you with the skills and knowledge to build effective team synergy, innovation and cooperation.

We will focus on how operational teams can work effectively and the skills / attitudes needed to go forward positively about the future.

Eric Bailey’s guiding principle can be summed up in a single word – vision. Whether creating a successful business or the life of your dreams, the outcome you truly desire is not something that happens magically. You need a clear picture of what it is and what it looks like. Eric has helped over 1.5 million people craft visions for themselves and their organizations and manifest these into reality! His message has been delivered across media channels. Eric hosted an Australian radio call-in show for 3 years and also wrote a weekly newspaper column called Body and Soul, both on the subject of health and motivation. He has appeared on television as an expert in the field of personal development as well as an ex-pro athlete.

Vicki Bennett is a well renowned keynote speaker, corporate trainer, life strategist, management consultant, author, and mentor on the topic of leadership. Her presentations are vibrant, energetic, fresh, and thought-provoking, leaving the audience with practical and user-friendly knowledge and skills to take back to the workplace to share with their teams. Vicki is committed to raising the benchmark of leadership in Australia and has worked with many leadership teams helping them to build their leadership skills and strategic direction. Her vision is to assist others to use, expand and share their vibrant energy level; to encourage them to find their talent and realise their full potential.

Gold Coast, Queensland has been selected as the destination for this year’s seminar. The famous Gold Coast experience is Australia at its best. Explore the beaches, rainforests, theme parks, nightlife, shopping, unique animal adventures and accommodation of Australia’s playground.

The Sheraton Mirage Resort is the seminar venue. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens and sparkling blue lagoons, Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa Gold Coast is a place where memories are made. Step from your room onto pristine white sands and dive into the rolling surf of the Pacific Ocean. An oasis of rare beauty, we are the Gold Coast’s only resort located right on the beach. The resort is conveniently located 35 minutes from the Gold Coast International Airport and approximately 55 minutes from Brisbane International Airport.

Dinner will follow Eric’s workshop on Thursday night at the Sheraton Mirage’s Horizon Room which overlooks the picturesque pool and beach. The following day Vicki will conduct a half day workshop before touring Allambe Cemetery.

Registration information was forwarded to all Members during March via email. If you would like to attend this event, please return your completed registration form to the Secretariat Office by no later than Friday 30th April. If you would like to receive a copy of the brochure please visit the ACCA website www.accaweb.com.au or if you have any questions about the seminar please contact the ACCA Secretariat Office on (03) 9863 6914 or email katrina@accaweb.com.au

This year’s seminar is shaping up to be one of our most successful to date and it is hoped Members will strongly support this valuable and worthwhile event.

ACCA’s Mid-Year Seminar“A Winning Attitude” & “Creating Inspirational Teams”

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Mausoleum has long been a traditional way of memorialisation. Cemeteries and churches build mausoleum constructions to suit this demand, which requires a vast amount of investment and takes significant time to return on investement. Private Mausoleum is another option for the families and cemeterians. It is a pre-assembled granite mausoleum ranging from 1 crypt to 6 crypts for a family. The grandeur of Private Mausoleum endures the family to memorize their beloved ones in a unique way, and Granite strengthens that for a long period. Moreover, it improves the investment potential and return for the cemeterians.

In a time when money is tight, cremation is becoming a stronger force in the cemetery industry. With the increasing rate of cremation, scattering gardens, indoor niches and columbariums are becoming more and more popular. Concrete has been widely used for interior and exterior columbarium; however it requires constant maintenance and will not be lasting, while granite is the opposite. Natural stone with its enduring

strength and natural beauty can be utilized in building interior niches and columbarium. And the pre-assembled granite columbarium is economical and easy to build, lasts forever and saves the land resources. The designs, sizes and colors can be customized according to the surrounding environment.

The concept of creating a cemetery park with greens, life animals and lifelike statues incorporating columbariums, cremation memorials and mausoleums are leading trends in the world, as they enhance the beauty of the cemetery whilst resulting in increased value.

So, just imagine it, and create it!

Preparing for the Beauty that is a Cemetery

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View our full catalogue at www.forevernear.com.au or call 0403 202 430 with any enquiries

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On behalf of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA) Board I am pleased to invite you to participate in ACCA’s 23rd Annual Conference, which will be held at the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle Australia 10 - 14 October 2010. The Conference will provide a platform for your company to associate with many of the major decision makers in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Europe, Malaysia, China, Mongolia, Canada and the USA cemeteries and crematoria industry, creating a valuable networking opportunity for sponsors and exhibitors. Currently we are anticipating a conference attendance of around 300 delegates.

The conference theme is ‘Our Changing Landscape.’ Our landscape is constantly changing in response to forces both natural and artificial. The actions of wind, water, and people all change the land surface. Some changes occur over centuries, whereas others occur within weeks. Changes may be global in extent or have only local effect. Regardless of the type of change or length of time over which the change occurs, our environment remains a fundamental source for sustenance and inspiration. If you have a desire to be a part of its shaping, and want to preserve it for generations to come, this conference should definitely not be missed.

An invitation to participate in the 2010 Conference will be forwarded to all Corporate members and clients in coming weeks. There are LIMITED opportunities available, so if you are keen to demonstrate a commitment to the cemetery and crematoria industry, then register your interest now and you will be assured of a sponsorship package to suit your requirements and budget. Phone +61 3 9863 6914 or Email admin@accaweb.com.au and a Prospectus will be forwarded immediately.

Ken J MandersExecutive Officer

ACCA Conference 2010Sponsorship Invitation

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To know what’s going on in the cemeteries and crematoria industry, subscribe to accanews For full details contact the ACCA Secretariat:

Suite North 4, 215 Bell St Preston, Victoria, Australia, 3072 Tel: +61 3 9863 6914 Fax: +61 3 9863 6901 Email: admin@accaweb.com.au

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accanewsTHE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AUSTRALASIAN CEMETERIES & CREMATORIA ASSOCIAT ION

autumn10

ac

ca

news

At Best Friends Memorial Services we not only help people with the loss of a beloved Pet our aim is to help all people in their time of a loss.

Our extensive range of Cremation Urns, Keepsake and Memorial Jewellery and our Grief Resources are suitable for anyone experiencing a loss in their Family.

Please visit our website to view our catalogue of over 1000 Very New Products available to you and appropriate for the Cemetery and Crematorium Industry Not Just the Pet Industry.

Prices shown on the website are recommended retail prices and not applicable to Cemetery and Crematorium Wholesalers for your price list please email sales@bestfriendsmemorials.com.au or telephone on the listed number. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

PO Box 2057 Bennettswood Victoria 3125 Phone 0402 031 670 www.bestfriendsmemorials.com.au

“Honouring Their Unconditional Love”

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Families Find aHelping Hand inTimes of Grief

Not many people could cope within the industry of burials and cremations but it is the only job Toowoomba woman Karen Hinrichsen has known.

Mrs Hinrichsen is the manager of the Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium and has worked there for 34 years.

“I started in 1975 as a junior office girl,” Mrs Hinrichsen said. “I’ve never had another job.”

Mrs Hinrichsen’s decades of dedication to the industry were recently recognised as she was elected the first female board member of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA).

The ACCA is a non-profit professional organisation that exists to provide leadership, professional services and communication to the cemetery and crematorium industry.

Mrs Hinrichsen’s job entails overseeing the day-to-day running of the crematorium and dealing with families during the most difficult time of their lives.

“I’ve always been a people person,” she said. “(What I like most) I think is the fact that I’m able to help families in a time when they need it the most.

“Their grief is so great, and we can help them through that. “We’ve had lots of young people (die) recently and that has been very hard.

“We’ve got families that continue to come here so there is an ongoing relationship with them.” Mrs Hinrichsen said the most common myth of the industry was the re-use of coffins. “People often ask if we reuse the coffins but we don’t.”

The crematorium is the only one in the Darling Downs and has conducted 14,000 cremations since it started in 1969.

Mrs Hinrichsen said national figures showed that cremation had overtaken burials as the most popular method.

The current figure stands at 65% cremation and 35% burials.

However, this is not the case for Toowoomba. “Burial still far outweighs cremations in this region,” Mrs Hinrichsen said. “I think Toowoomba is very conservative.”

Mrs Hinrichsen said the most difficult part of her job was seeing people in pain and not being able to “wipe it away”.

She has also had the emotional strain of having to deal professionally with the deaths of some of her close friends.

Mrs Hinrichsen and her husband Neil have three adult sons. Her hands-on experience together with a love and passion for the industry paved the way for her ACCA board appointment in October last year.

Cremation: The process • Eachcremationtakesanaverageof70minutes.

• Eachnaturalgas-firedprimaryfurnaceisratedat1.5gigajoulesperhourproducing690degreesCelsiusfurnace.

• Certainitemsareremovedfromthecoffinpriortoplacinginfurnaceincludingglass,flowerarrangementsandwreathswithwirebindings,andexteriorcoffinfittingsthatdon’tburn(nameplate,metalhandles,andcrucifixes).Theseareburiedinthecemeteryandnotre-used.

• By10minutes-thecoffinhascollapsed

• By30minutes-bodyfathasbeenburntwiththeblacksmokeofvolatilegasesbeingburntina900degreesCelsiussecondaryfurnace.

• By50minutes-mostoftheotherpartsofthebodyareburnt,withtheheartandbrainthelastoftheorgans,leavingtheskeleton.

• Overthenext20minutes,theskeletalremainsbecomebrittleandarereducedtoash.

• Residualbonemaybegroundtoashthenanymedicalmetallicpartsremoved

Informationobtainedfromwww.ayton.id.au/gary/History/H_cremation.htm

‘This Weekend’ The Chronicle Saturday, January 30, 2010

Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium

manager Karen Hinrichsen

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THE Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance’s crematorium has conducted 14,000 cremations since it opened 40 years ago.

Manager Karen Hinrichsen said the opening of the Darling Down’s first crematorium was a milestone in September 1969.

“The opening of the crematorium was a significant change to the conservative Toowoomba of the 1960s,” Mrs Hinrichsen said.

“The crematorium brought an end to the need for families having to travel to Brisbane for their loved ones’ cremation.

Crematorium Opening Meets the Needs of Conservative Residents

“The need was met for the community to have its own crematorium.”

The Garden of Remembrance lawn cemetery opened three years earlier in 1966.

The crematorium consists of a modern chapel for services and a cremator facility.

Local funeral director Hiram Philp conducted the first cremation on September 2, 1969.

In the first year of operation there were 143 cremations.

Cremation: The History Untilthelate19thcentury,theBritishEmpireviewedcremationasapracticeofheathensandpagans.

ThepushforcremationaroseduringtheBritishfuneralreformmovementofthelate19thcentury,whichwasspurredbytheexcessofVictorian-erafunerals.

Cremationbecameaveryemotionaltopiclikeeuthanasiaistoday.

Themedicalprofessionwereamongtheadvocatescitingsanitationargumentswhilethechurchesopposedit.

In1886,theVaticanissuedadecreelabellingitapaganpractice.

ThemainadvocateofcremationsinAustraliawasDrJohnMildredCreed.

Earlynon-indigenouscremationsinAustralia:

• AChineseleper,MrFooChoo,wascrematedin1890attheQuarantineStationinPortsea,VictoriaattheheightoftheWhiteAustraliapolicyfor“hygienereasons”.

• In1895,MrSingh(aSikh)wasthefirstconsentingnon-indigenouspersontobecremated.ThiswasperformedatSandringhambeach(apopularbathingbeach)inVictoriawithoutanypermits.

• Laterthatyear,an83-year-oldpianoteacher,MrsElizabethHennickerbecamethefirstEuropeantobecrematedinAustralia.ThisalsohappenedatSandringhambeachandwasperformedbytheundertakerJosephLePine.Themediaattendedandgeneratedpoorpublicityaspeoplecouldwatchtheremainsburning.

• Afteryearsofpoliticallobbying,crematoriumsbegantobebuilt.

• 1903-SouthAustralia’sWestTerrace.ThiswasthefirstcremationinAustraliawithinacrematoriumandwaswitnessedbyanunrulycrowdandmedia.

• 1925-Sydney’sRockwood

• 1927-Melbourne’sFawkner

• 1934-Brisbane

• 1936-Hobart

• 1937-Perth

Gradual acceptance• Earlycoke-firedfurnacestookaday-and-a-halftocremateabodytoashesandbone(thebonesthenhadtobeplacedinagrinder)

• Untilthe1950s,thegeneralpublicopinionregardedcremationasbeingforloopyradicals.

• In1963,therisingpopularityofcremationspushedtheVaticantograntCatholicspermissionforcremationaslongastheremainswerenotscatteredbutwereburiedorentombed.

• Inthe1960s,cremationsbegantoovertakeburialsasthepreferredoptionforAustralians.

• By2000,Melbourne’sSpringvaleCrematoriumwasprocessinganaverage25cremationseachday(max.50to60eachday)withfiveburningatanyonetime.

Information obtained from www.ayton.id.au/gary/History/H_cremation.htm

Mrs Hinrichsen said there had been several cremator operators over the past 40 years.

Roy Roser was the first operator and still lives in Toowoomba. Gregory Crawford was perhaps the longest serving operator of 10 years. After his retirement, Steve Smoothy joined the team.

Mrs Hinrichsen said Mr Smoothy had served in the Royal Australian Air Force. “He exemplifies the caring, meticulous person who is required to hold this position,” she said.

Memorialisation has changed from the traditional columbarium walls and simple rose gardens to include family estates and lakeside memorials.

Cover Story by Lacey Burley

Crematorium Superintendent Steve Smoothy with the cremator.

Wicks Lake, Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance andCrematorium

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In July 2008 the Government announced a number of changes to the 10 major metropolitan and 4 regional cemetery trusts that report to Parliament under the Financial Management Act 1994.

On 1st March 2010 two new major metropolitan cemetery trusts were created in Victoria under recent reforms to the cemeteries sector.

The two new trusts are made up of between six and nine remunerated members and chairpersons appointed by the Government for a maximum term of up to three years.

The trusts have new statutory responsibilities, including an expanded leadership role to assist other cemetery trusts in their areas.

The structural changes are designed to strengthen their capacity to plan for and provide cemetery services which meet the changing needs of the community into the future.

The Government’s intention of these reforms is to strengthen the expertise and accountability of cemetery trusts to give greater peace of mind to Victorians. This follows reports by the Auditor-General and the State Services Authority into the sustainability of Victoria’s cemetery sector, the Government recognised that it was no longer appropriate to rely on volunteers to govern large multi million dollar public cemeteries.

Changes were also announced to the four major rural and regional trusts at Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Mildura, which will have enhanced statutory responsibilities including a formal leadership role to guide and assist the volunteer rural and regional trusts in their areas. This provides opportunities for many smaller volunteer trusts to access business advice on a regional basis.

The Government has paid tribute to the contribution of all trust members and expressed thanks for their many years of service to the community.

Greater Metro Cemetery TrustThe Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) covers Melbourne’s North, East and Western metropolitan areas. It is made up of Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park Trust, Altona Memorial Park Trust, Keilor Cemetery Trust, Preston Cemetery Trust, Wyndham Cemeteries Trust, Anderson’s Creek Cemetery Trust, Lilydale Cemetery Trust and Templestowe Cemetery Trust. It governs the following cemeteries - Altona, Andersons Creek, Burwood, Emerald, Fawkner, Healesville, Keilor, Lilydale, Northcote, Preston, Templestowe, Truganina, Werribee, Williamstown and Yarra Glen. The Trust is made up of Chair, Ms Catherine Brown and Trust members Gary Jungwirth, Barbara McLure, Neil Greenaway, Jennifer Kearney, Janice Penney, David Cleland and Graeme Shaw. These seven professionals all bring an extensive array of skills and expertise to the table.

Book of Rememberance Fawkner Memorial Park

Chapels at Altona

A Garden of Music Altona

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Ms Catherine Brown, Chair, The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust said; “Former Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park General Manager, Ms Liz Riley has been appointed Interim CEO for the GMCT. Liz has performed to the highest level in ensuring the most efficient and productive operation of one of Melbourne’s largest cemeteries and has had extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. She is well-placed to manage the amalgamation of 8 Metropolitan Cemetery Trusts”.

“The Trust will continue to serve the diverse cultural and religious needs of their communities. New Trust Members have a wide range of skills and experience, including three Members with previous experience on board’s of Cemetery Trusts. The new trust is well positioned to provide leadership and support to the cemeteries they represent.” said Ms Brown.

The first Trust meeting was held recently at Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park and meetings will be rotating around the various locations. A Community Advisory Committee is being established to advise the trust on community issues and expectations. The Committee will comprise three Trust Members and community members. These positions will be publicly advertised as soon as the selection criteria and process are in place.

We will be looking to build on the strengths of all the cemeteries within the Trust and to plan for the future.

As a new entity, The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust requires a new logo and this work has been commissioned. The Trust is keen to preserve the local identities of all the cemeteries and memorial parks. The existing cemetery names will sit alongside the new Trust name and logo at each location.

The new Trust is looking forward to working with staff, local communities and other stakeholders to ensure a strong future for all the cemeteries.

Williamstown Cemetery Fountain

Yarra Valley Mausoleum Lilydale

Mt Olivet View Altona

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Fiona Bennett is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

Fiona is Chair of WPC Group Limited and a Director of a number of entities including Alfred Health, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, V/Line Corporation and Heide Museum of Modern Art. Fiona is a Chartered Accountant, has held senior executive positions at BHP Billiton Limited and Coles Group Limited, and has been Chief Financial Officer at several organisations in the health sector.

Susan Heron has a Diploma of Applied Science from RMIT and a Bachelor of Economics Degree from Monash University. Susan Heron is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Management, Victoria and Tasmania.

Prior to joining AIM, Susan held various senior corporate management positions including Chief Operating Officer and Head of Corporate Strategy, ANZ Institutional Banking; Executive Director and Head of Banking (Melbourne), Rothschild Australia; and Chief Manager at Westpac responsible for one of Institutional Bank Victoria’s largest teams as well as responsibility for Institutional Bank Perth.

Currently Susan is a Board member of Museum Victoria and a member of the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Skills Consultative Committee. Previous Board appointments include NM Rothschild&Sons(Australia)Limited,Malthouse Theatre, the Australian Institute ofManagementVictoria&Tasmania,Southern Health Care Network and Water EcoScience Limited. She was also Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council (Victoria), Deputy Chairman of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and was a member of the Victorian Government’s Finance Industry Consultative Committee.

Introducing the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

Sue Renkin commenced her career as a Registered General Nurse, before moving into management roles. She undertook a Bachelor of Business Studies at RMIT, and has an MBA from Monash University, a Diploma in Corporate Governance from University of New England and studied Competition and Strategy at Harvard Business School.

Sue is currently CEO of Open Family Australia and previously held CEO roles with St John Ambulance for six years and Mercy Private Hospital for three years. Before this, Sue was CEO (Vic) and National Policy Development Manager for Ramsay Health Care for eleven years. Her previous Board experience includes Australian Private Hospitals Association, St John Ambulance and Shelford Anglican Girls’ School.

Currently, Sue is a Director of General Practice Victoria, GMHBA Health Insurance and Northern Health. Sue also Chairs Monash Centre for Bio Medical Imaging and Research together with Monash Centre for Green Chemicals Future. Sue is the Prime Minister’s representative on the Australian Bravery Decorations Council having held this position since 1999.

On 1 March the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) became responsible for the eight cemeteries which had previously been managed by the Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries Trust and the Trustees of Necropolis Springvale. Combined these sites cater for approximately 3150 interments and 8,450 cremations with $40 million in revenue. The SMCT is Chaired by Sue Renkin. Amongst the seven other trust members three have previous direct cemetery experience. Russ Allison has been retained as Interim CEO of SMCT.

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Richard Jones has a Master of Business, FCPA, ACIS, AFIN, Graduate Diploma Business Technology, AAIM.

Richard recently retired from a career in accounting, finance and governance across a range of organisations in industry, commerce and government. He spent the last 16 years in CFO and corporate planning roles within Victorian local government and retains his involvement in the sector through consulting projects and also membership of both the Brimbank and Casey City Councils’ Audit Committees.

Richard served as a member of the Lilydale Cemeteries Trust from 2007 and chaired the Trust’s Administration and Audit Committee from 2008. In early 2010 he completed a two year term as Coordinator of the Vermont Uniting Community Centre and continues with other local community volunteering roles.

Gaye Mason has a Master of Business Administration Deakin, Graduate Diploma Applied Corporate Governance (Chartered Secretary), Graduate AICD Diploma course, Graduate Diploma Applied Information Systems RMIT, Bachelor of Business Accounting RMIT and is FCPA, FAICD, ACIS. Gaye is a CPA with relevant Board experience and community exposure. She was, until the amalgamation, an independent member oftheCheltenham&RegionalCemeteriesTrust Audit and Risk Committee. She is a member of the Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria and the Victorian Physiotherapists Registration Board.

As well, Gaye is a member of the Victorian DepartmentofHealthAudit&RiskManagement Committee, the City of Port Phillip Audit Committee, and the Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) FinanceandAudit&RiskManagementCommittee. She is a Director of the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) Foundation and a Victorian CPA Divisional committee member dealing with public community accounting.

Ian Pollerd has completed a Bachelor of Education (Business Studies), Bachelor of Education (Administration), Graduate Diploma Education Administration, Diploma in Criminology and the Company Directors Course and is a Member AICD.

Ian has had a successful career with the Victorian Public Service as a senior manager in Education, Health and Community Services. He is Principal Director of Eureka Solutions, a policy and governance consultancy. He is a Director of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and is member of the Audit Committee, Quality Committee and Community Advisory Committee. He is a member of the Chinese Medicine Registration Board and a member of the Governance Committee. He is also member of the Board of Governance Uniting Care Connections and a member of the Policy Committee.

As well, Ian is a nominee of the Health Services Commissioner’s Investigation Review Panel. Ian is an assessor with the Quality Improvement and Community Services Accreditation program (La Trobe University).

Introducing the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

John Saddington is a carpenter and joinerbytradeandhasextensiveOH&Sexperience. Having been a union official for more than 36 years, John has recently retired from the position of Senior Organiser with the Australian Workers’ Union. Previously he was Organiser and Assistant Secretary of the Building Workers Industrial Union for 20 years.

For the last 12 years John has been Treasurer of the Monash Rate Payers Association and Secretary and Founder of the Historical Labor Graves Association for the past 19 years. His community service involvement has been within other committees ranging from Corrective Services to Housing Co-operatives, kindergarten and schools and the Vietnamese Welfare Centre.

Stephen Shipp graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Economics, accounting major and Bachelor of Laws.

Stephen has more than 20 years experience as a solicitor in property, commercial law and deceased estates. He currently practices with Taylor Splatt &Partners.HeisamemberoftheLawInstitute of Victoria and the current president of the Mornington Peninsula Lawyers’ Association.

Stephen is a past president of the Rotary Club of Seaford-Carrum Downs and past president of the Frankston Primary School Council. He is a past trust member of the Necropolis Springvale and was Chair of its Information Technology committee.

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GRAVE SHORING SYSTEMS

All our products meet the Australian, USA, British and European standards

q Safety lids for open graves

q Hand rails to meet the falling from heights regulations (if grave is 2000mm deep)

q Checker plate flooring systems for around grave sites

q End closure panels

q Monument stabiliser

,mesh or solid aluminium. Can be lockable and attach to the decking and shoring

Customised solutions for your industryPanels are very light, approximately 30kgs each. The standard panels are 2400mm long x 600mm high x 40mm thick of structural grade aluminium, painted green or any colour on request. Other sizes are available.

Panels can be handled manually or by small machinery often used within cemeteries.

Base panels come with 600mm high legs in the corners to save damaging the coffins on removal of the shoring system. Ideal for use in sandy soil, panels can have built in or clip on edges.

Lifting lugs on all panels. Panels can be stacked 4 high to a depth of 3000mm.

Spreader bars, either screw jack adjustable or fixed length. Spreader bars double as a ladder for entering and exiting the excavation.

Also available, extendable (lengthways) shield for monuments.

Lite Guard are specialist aluminium fabricators of ground support and shielding systems.

Lite Guard can manufacture to your individual designs or requirements. We can fabricate whatever you require.Other products are:

Phone: +613 8768 8670 Fax: +613 8768 8671P.O. Box 428 Hampton Park, VICTORIA 3976Web: www.liteguard.com Email: info@liteguard.com

We also supply synthetic grass

Welcome to Print-A-Plate, the new name plate system, which completes ALL sizes of coffin name plates and plates used on grave markers in seconds.

There are NO set-up costs at all, all you need is a basic PC and a laser printer, we will supply the rest. When comparing the Print-A-Plate system to existing method of completing plates please bare in mind:

l Print-A-Plate is the fastest way of completing name plates in the world.l The choice you will have with this system as opposed to your existing system.l The ability to complete ALL sizes of plates without wasting time adjusting machine settings.l There is ABSOLUTLY no maintenance cost with the Print-A-Plate system.l These name plates are completely weather resistant, and have been tested outdoors for years.l The number of plates destroyed by engraving mistakes.With this system you can see the finished article on the computer screen before printing, so printing mistakes will no longer be an issue.

For further information or to organize a promotional CD to be forwarded to you please call The Minter Group

LARGE SIZE -200MM X 150MM plates - gold and silver. PLATE + VINYL SET = $ 9.50

MEDIUM SIZE -150MM X 100MM plates - gold and silver. PLATE + VINYL SET = $ 9.00

SMALL SIZE -100MM X 60MM plates - gold and silver PLATE + VINYL SET = $ 8.60

150MM X 100MM OVAL plates - gold and silver. PLATE + VINYL SET = $ 9.00)

220MM X 80MM Flexible plates - gold and silver. PLATE + VINYL SET = $9.50

*Plate has a coloured vinyl and a clear vinyl included as a set because it must be flexible and the clear vinyl over the print

ensures the print is not effected when there is a bend on the plate

Complete Print-A-Plate system including vinyl applicator Funeral Director handbook, CD with word files and fonts and demo DVD

how to use the system = $180.00

Grave markers - 25 per box Grave Marker including the 6x4 plate and vinyl

$ 25.00 per unit

* ALL PRICES INCLUDE G S T *

THE MINTER GROUP OF COMPANIES

17 Park Road Oakleigh Victoria 3166

T: 03 9568 6999 F: 03 9568 1813 Email: info@rhminter.com.au info@hhwebb.com.au

accanews autumn10 25

A recent prosecution (2010) in a Victorian Court involving the persistent bullying of an employee by other employees, which resulted in the bullied employee’s death, brought heavy fines amounting to $335,000. These fines were imposed on three individual employees, the company and the company’s owner, who it was revealed, had known what his employees were doing and had allowed them to continue.

The problem with workplace bullying in workplaces is extensive. The Productivity Commission estimates 2.5 million Australians in the workplace have experienced some bullying in their working lives. In many cases neither the boss nor the employees are aware that their behaviour is contrary to the law even if a death is not involved.

Bullying is a contravention of the Health and Safety laws in all States and Territories. Employers in your industry – Trusts/Councils/Company Directors/Managers/CEO’s are required to provide a safe workplace and a workplace which permits individuals or groups to be bullied is not safe for them. In South Australia, this type of inappropriate behaviour is explicitly addressed in their Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act while other states have Codes of Practice or Guidelines on what is, or is not, appropriate behaviour in the workplace.

Many workplaces tolerate bullying because it is seen as ‘a bit of fun’,’ harmless’, or ‘always happens’. None of these or any other excuses for that matter will hold up in court. In fact, a proactive stance is required of Trusts/ Councils/Company Directors/Managers/ CEO’s to prevent bullying occurring in the workplace.

To avoid an inquest and/or prosecution and penalties, the people responsible for all workplaces are required to assess the risk, and monitor, their workplace for inappropriate behaviour. Implementation of appropriate policies and procedures, along with information, instruction, training and supervision, which is a specified requirement in all OHS laws in Australia, is a requirement no one can hide from.

Our experience from working in many industry classifications over 19 years suggests that there are a number of employers/managers and employees who do not understand what bullying entails and also do not recognise the consequences that an individual may suffer from bullying.

Worker advice

Bullying and harassment can continue unchecked because people often don’t want to talk about it. Bullies come in all shapes and sizes; they can be men or women, managers, supervisors or other workers. Bullies can harass one person or a group of people.

We have included a checklist to stop the workplace bully.

What you should do

1. Identify the bully or bullies - Make sure you know exactly who is doing the bullying. Is there a ringleader? Who has the power?

2. Keep records - Keep a diary of bullying incidents, when and where it happened, who was responsible and how you felt

3. Talk about it - Discuss the problem with other workers, health and safety representatives and union officials.

4. Do not retaliate - Don’t become a bully yourself or use physical violence - you may be seen as no better than the bullies themselves

5. Stay where you are - Don’t resign or seek a transfer - this would be letting the bully win

6. Make a formal complaint - A formal complaint should be in writing and you need to keep a copy. Make sure your complaint shows a consistent pattern of mistreatment and that you use the correct procedure (get help if you are not sure).

More information:

National

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC),

GPO Box 5218, Sydney. NSW 2000

Ph: (02) 9284 9600 or 1300 369 711

TTY: 1800 620 641

Fax: (02) 9284 9611

E-Mail: paffairs@humanrights.gov.au

Website: www.hreoc.gov.au

OryourState&Territory Anti-Discrimination Boards

WORK PLACE BULLIES

an article from Ian & Ann Aitken (TABS)

accanews autumn10

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MACQUARIE PARK CEMETERY AND CREMATROIUM in Sydney celebrated 200 years of the most important Governor of the 19th Century, Governor Lachlan Macquarie, at their Open Day on 28th March.

Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium played host to nearly 1000 people at their annual ‘Open For Inspection Day’ for the public.

The Open for Inspection Day was designed to showcase the many aspects of the local funeral industry and to encourage people to consider and talk about the important choices associated with death.

It also showcased the many facilities the Park has to offer families in this modern and diverse community.

Linked in with Open for Inspection Day was the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the appointment of Governor Lachlan Macquarie (after whom the Park is named), the 5th Governor of NSW (1810-1821). Governor Macquarie was responsible for changing Sydney from a penal colony to nation in the making.

Governor Lachlan Macquarie had farsighted ambitions for Sydney. He was the first NSW Governor to envisage a future for the town beyond its origins as a penal settlement.

As Sydney’s first town planner, he engaged craftsmen and artisans, often from the ranks of the convicts, to realise his ambitious program of public works, parks, roads, townships and, above all, gracious public buildings.

Governor Macquarie was responsible for opening a new market place, created coinage and established the first bank and made new schools so the children could become wiser.

Macquarie founded new towns to the west of Sydney (Richmond and Windsor) and Port Macquarie in the north. He commissioned Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson to find a passage over the Blue Mountains that eventually opened up new areas for agriculture.

Under his direction, was built the first Sydney hospital, the first Army barracks and the road to Parramatta. He was the first Governor to be concerned over Aboriginal welfare.

As a link to this important period in history, organisers brought up from Melbourne (courtesy of TJ Andrews) a genuine 1827 horse drawn funeral carriage as well as the most modern hearse produced in Australia especially for the Australian market.

In keeping with the Colonial celebrations, staff were dressed in period costumes and colonial High Tea was served in the Banksia Room by Celeste Catering.

People and families entered into the spirit of the day and came in Colonial costume.

Tours of the Park, the Chapels and Crematorium were scheduled throughout the day as well as a horticultural walk by the Park’s qualified horticulturist.

The day culminated with the traditional PALM SUNDAY Service and Stations of the Cross Walk for the Christian community in preparation for the Easter season.

For more information call 0411 709 380 or 9805 0499.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Horse Drawn Hearse

accanews autumn10 27

A private company has been given the contract to run Whangarei’s public crematorium.

The Whangarei District Council will lease the crematorium, at Maunu Cemetery, to Maunu Crematorium, a company set up by the Auckland-based Hill family which ownsWhangarei-basedMorris& Morris Funerals.

The cost of a cremation is set to rise from $450 to $595.

Maunu Crematorium will spend $500,000 replacing the crematorium’s ageing cremator and pay rent to the council.

Council infrastructure services manager Simon Weston said that as landlord, the council had a management contract in place with a series of performance standards that must be adhered to.

Cemetery staff and Maunu Crematorium management will work together and Morris&Morriswillpaythesamefees as any other funeral service to use the crematorium.

New Zealand CrematoriumThe council and the company had agreed to lift the cremation fee and the new cremator would be able to do almost double the 450 to 500 cremations carried out in Whangarei every year.

There are also about 140 burials in Whangarei a year.

Mr Weston said the venture followed several years of investigations by the council into ways to replace the district’s ageing cremator and provide better cremation services, at a reasonable cost to the ratepayer.

“Morris&MorrisFuneralshadbeeninvestigating establishing its own crematorium in Northland during the same period and approached the council with a proposal to work together,” he said.

“By combining resources, the council andMorris&MorrisFuneralswillbeableto make use of the existing chapel and surrounds rather than duplicating them with a second cremator sited elsewhere in the region.”

The council will lose approximately $200,000 per year income from the crematorium.

But it will not have to fork out the $150,000 annual running costs as Maunu Crematorium will be financing the operation.

The new cremator could be up and running in April.

It will be capable of handling an expected increase in demand for cremations as the district’s population grows and ages.

The council and the new company have also agreed on a set fee for cremations, ensuring that all funeral companies and any other parties booking a cremation will be charged the same set fee by the cremation company.

“The council is keen for the price to be held to the lowest possible figure, although there will be an initial increase to enable the costs of the new cremator to be covered,” Mr Weston said.

“The council would have had to increase prices if it had purchased and installed the new cremator, but this way much of the cost was being carried by the new company rather than the ratepayer,” he added.

accanews autumn1028

The new Geelong Community Mausoleum at Geelong Eastern Cemetery was opened on Friday 25th September 2009 by the Victorian Government Minister of Health, the Honourable Daniel Andrews. The Parish Priest of Geelong, Father Kevin Dillon consecrated the new mausoleum in front of a large assembly of people, including the Italian community, cemetery industry representatives and the Trust Members of Geelong Cemeteries Trust, whom the Minister praised for their excellent governance and management of ten cemeteries in the region.

The Trust, chaired by Lawrie Miller, had planned the mausoleum for many years and commissioned Harmer Architecture in early 2007 to commence design and construction drawings.

The Trust specifically requested that all of the 105 crypts front onto a sheltered interior space and with a high level of finish not only to establish a bench mark level of pricing as a first venture, but also to ensure longevity and minimal maintenance and therefore ensure minimal life cycle costs.

The mausoleum is sited on a sloped section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery overlooking Corio Bay in Victoria. The mausoleum interior is conceived as a triangular space with three crypt blocks forming the triangle, the gaps between the blocks providing daylight and views of either the bay or the surrounding landscape.

Our aim for this interior was to provide a space rich in colour and detail to give a comforting and tranquil environment in which people can reflect and remember their deceased relatives. The organising principle for the interior is the geometry of the equilateral triangle. Central focal points of the space are the coloured glass inverted pyramid skylight and the purple and bone ottoman both designed by Harmer Architecture, the latter made by Gordon Mather. The coloured glass ceiling panels soften the glare and heat from the roof skylight and throw washes of coloured light onto the floor and walls. The three memorial walls are each lined with different stone to provide choices for buyers of burial space as most Italians like to purchase crypts before they are needed. Rosso Levanto (red), Emperador Dark (Brown) and Verde St Denis (Green) marbles are used. Each stone is richly veined so that the three patterns are balanced and the colours are complementary to provide a level of integration.

The floor of honed and polished bluestone triangular panels adds to the textural pattern of the space and the polished tiles throw light reflections onto the timber ceiling. Entry doors are clad in stained hardwood and copper and each active door leaf is articulated by coloured glass ‘portholes’ fitted by Andrew Ferguson stained glass, who also supplied the skylight panels.

Memorial vigil lamps are fitted to each burial space and powered by LED lamps to minimise energy use. The lamps were designed by Harmer Architecture, manufactured in Melbourne, and are made of pale gold anodised aluminium with sandblasted glass lamp lenses.

The space is naturally ventilated using electronically operated glass louvres and the main south west window is shaded by panels of mirror blue stainless steel, the cut outs of which were used to decorate the external spire and the cut-outs form an intricate shade pattern on the floor.

This interior is 8 metres across with a ceiling height of 5 metres and the patterns of daylight and varied colours and materials create a richly decorated environment to inspire the senses and comfort those who visit.

The cemetery sales staff have sold more than 60% of the crypts already and the Italian community of Geelong have welcomed this new memorial place which has been provided for them.

The Trust Members of Geelong Cemeteries Trust all provided input in the design of this mausoleum, with the key people involved in the projects inception being Lawrie Miller Trust Chairman and Darryl Thomas CEO, whilst Frank de Groot Deputy CEO/ Operations Manager coordinated the construction process as The Geelong Cemeteries Trust completed this project as Owner Builder.

Andrew Briant of Harmer Architecture provided contract administration services, and Philip Harmer acted as design architect throughout the project, including Interior design.

GEELONG MAUSOLEUM by Philip Harmer

accanews autumn10 29accanews autumn10

accanews autumn1030

Daniel Morcombe, one of the most prominent Missing Person’s cases in Australia - was last seen on December 7th 2003 whilst waiting for a bus.

Six and a half years later and Daniel is still missing, without a trace.

Daniel’s parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe, along with friends and family, cannot rest or have closure until there is an answer.

Whilst Daniel Morcombe’s case is one of the most prominent in media, there are currently over 1,600 missing person’s case in Australia. It is said that for each missing person, over 12 people are affected and left with no way of celebrating the life of the missing person or being able to honour their lives, until their search is over and an answer is provided.

For the first time at The Doorway of Hope, founded by Woronora Cemetery, loved ones can place a personal message of hope and photo at The Doorway of Hope. Graham Boyd, CEO of Woronora Cemetery, hopes that The Doorway of Hope will help provide comfort to families and friends.

The Doorway of Hope Missing Person’s Remembrance Garden is a unique and innovative development established in New South Wales. It has been set up to honour missing persons and offer comfort for those impacted. It is a place where family, friends and the public can attend to honour and pay respect to those lost, but not found.

The message of hope plaque is an innovative product that is produced by Life’s Memories.

Life’s Memories glass memorial plaques allow images and messages to be printed into glass using world first patented technology ensuring that the plaques are able to withstand the elements and maintain their colour in the most extreme conditions.

The Doorway of Hope has made the message of hope plaques are available (up to 200mm X 200mm in diameter) at manufacturer’s cost for the first six months. They also provide an option for a replica plaque to be ordered for the home of loved ones.

Daniel’s parents, Bruce and Denise Morcombe, will be present at the launch to receive the first official message of hope plaque. “It will be extremely sad, however we are honoured to receive the first official plaque in memory of Daniel and we will do anything we can to help keep the awareness out there.” says Denise.

The Doorway of Hope’s official opening is on the 11th April 2010, 1pm, at Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland, NSW.

For further information please visit www.woronoracemetery.org.au

For media enquires please contact Amiee McCahon on +61 433 231 349 or am@pinkdiamondevents.com.au

THE DOORWAY OF HOPEINNOVATIVE

HOPE FOR THOSE LOST

accanews autumn10 31

Daniel was last seen waiting for a bus near his family home. He was to travel to the Sunshine Plaza,

Maroochydore and purchase Christmas presents. Tragically he has never been seen again.

The Morcombe Family sincerely thank the many SES volunteers, the Queensland Police Service, generous

businesses and the large number of individuals for the extraordinary support and sustained effort, each and every day, in our search for you.

Daniel was a much-loved brother of Dean and Bradley (twin), and son of Denise and Bruce.

- THE MESSENGER -

From an Angel on highA tender message of love was softly whispered

into the ear of this humble scribe...

Weep not for meNow that I have passed.

Remember the laughter, the affection, the joyNot just recent tears.

Cherish the memories, our hopes and dreams.Hold fast to the love we shared.

Be happy with the time we spent togetherAnd being anew.

For I am not really gone,I am closer than before.

I am the wind in the treesAnd the song of a bird.

I am moonbeams in a midnight skyAnd a glorious rainbow after the storm

I am the morning dewAnd freshly-fallen snow.

I am a butterfly flying overheadAnd a puppy happily at play.

I am a smile on a stranger’s faceA gentle touch

A warm embrace.

I am hereHave no fear

I am with you,Always.

IN MEMORY OF

Daniel James MorcombeBorn 19.12.1989 Missing 07.12.2003

May peace be with you.

01199AF

Visual 1

accanews autumn1032

THE MINTER GROUP OF COMPANIES

The Minter Groupof Companies17 Park RoadOakleigh Victoria 3166

T: 03 9568 6999F: 03 9568 1813Email: info@rhminter.com.au info@hhwebb.com.au

Champagne Dog H

Shell BIO

The JourneyAqua BIO

The AquaticaBIO

Embrace Autumn LeavesS BIO

Embrace Autumn LeavesMe BIO

Embrace Autumn LeavesL BIO

Embrace Floral Bouquet BIO

Embrace White Hemp BIO

ChestBIO

The Journey KeepsakeAqua BIO

The Journey Natural BIO

The Journey KeepsakeNatural BIO

The JourneyNavy BIO

The Journey KeepsakeNavy BIO

Embrace Green Photo BIO

Embrace Maroon Photo BIO

ShellBIO

ShellBIO

Purity BIO

ReflectBIO

Simplicity Wood GrainBIO

SimplicityBIO

Cocoa Teddy Bear H

Cocoa Teddy Bear Wings H

Huggable Cat H

Snow AngelH

Snow Angel WingsH

Comfort Club & Gold Locket H

ALL HUGGABLE TEDDYS AVAILABLE WITH PINK, BLUE OR WHITE WINGS OR RIBBONS H = Huggable BIO = Biodegradable C = Cloisonné * = Other colours available

Unity SBIO

Unity MBIO

Unity LBIO

Unity Pastel SBIO

Unity Pastel MBIO

Unity Pastel LBIO

Unity Wood Grain SBIO

Unity Wood Grain MBIO

Unity Wood Grain LBIO

Crucifix Stand Redwood13", 10", 7", 4"

Crucifix Stand Maple13", 10", 7", 4"

Crucifix Stand Walnut13", 10", 7", 4"

Crucifix Stand White13", 10", 7", 4"

accanews autumn10 33

THE MINTER GROUP OF COMPANIES

The Minter Groupof Companies17 Park RoadOakleigh Victoria 3166

T: 03 9568 6999F: 03 9568 1813Email: info@rhminter.com.au info@hhwebb.com.au

Champagne Dog H

Shell BIO

The JourneyAqua BIO

The AquaticaBIO

Embrace Autumn LeavesS BIO

Embrace Autumn LeavesMe BIO

Embrace Autumn LeavesL BIO

Embrace Floral Bouquet BIO

Embrace White Hemp BIO

ChestBIO

The Journey KeepsakeAqua BIO

The Journey Natural BIO

The Journey KeepsakeNatural BIO

The JourneyNavy BIO

The Journey KeepsakeNavy BIO

Embrace Green Photo BIO

Embrace Maroon Photo BIO

ShellBIO

ShellBIO

Purity BIO

ReflectBIO

Simplicity Wood GrainBIO

SimplicityBIO

Cocoa Teddy Bear H

Cocoa Teddy Bear Wings H

Huggable Cat H

Snow AngelH

Snow Angel WingsH

Comfort Club & Gold Locket H

ALL HUGGABLE TEDDYS AVAILABLE WITH PINK, BLUE OR WHITE WINGS OR RIBBONS H = Huggable BIO = Biodegradable C = Cloisonné * = Other colours available

Unity SBIO

Unity MBIO

Unity LBIO

Unity Pastel SBIO

Unity Pastel MBIO

Unity Pastel LBIO

Unity Wood Grain SBIO

Unity Wood Grain MBIO

Unity Wood Grain LBIO

Crucifix Stand Redwood13", 10", 7", 4"

Crucifix Stand Maple13", 10", 7", 4"

Crucifix Stand Walnut13", 10", 7", 4"

Crucifix Stand White13", 10", 7", 4"

The mission of Forever Shining is to produce beautiful, durable, long lasting memorials that allow the family and friends of the deceased freedom to choose the type and style that best suits their needs. These memorials are designed to be low maintenance and to preserve the memories of loved ones for now and future generations.

Forever Shining products include:

• Stainless steel, laser etched granite and laser etched granite inlaid stainless steel headstones.

• Stainless steel, bronze, laser etched granite, kiln fired porcelain and single thickness laser etched stainless steel plaques.

• Laser etched granite or kiln fired porcelain inlaid stainless steel and laser etched granite urns.

• Tri laminate, leadlight effect, stainless steel panels for headstones, mausoleumdoors&panels,displaypanels and signs etc.

• Laser etched granite, aluminium and/or glass panels for architectural or commercial purposes.

• Laser etched granite pet headstones and plaques.

Customers and distributors can design and order their own personalized memorial online at www.forevershining.com.au

When you loose someone close, you want to remember their life with a suitable memorial that reflects your love and what made them so special.

FOREVER SHINING MEMORIALS

What motivated Allan and Albert to start Forever Shining Memorials?

Allan’s daughter, Nicole, was a vibrant, energetic, artistic, high achieving, talented young woman. She was diagnosed with a serious brain tumour in her fifth year of medical studies and was so determined to become a doctor that she successfully completed her Medical Degree after brain surgery. Many people in similar circumstances would have given up. Nicole successfully completed her internship while battling with a life threatening brain tumour but passed away during her specialist training and studies.

After Nicole’s death, Allan and Albert realized that conventional monuments were not Nicole’s style. Furthermore, they met people who had lost a loved one and, like them, were dissatisfied with the memorials currently available. They realized that there was a need and desire on the part of loved ones for a beautiful, long lasting, stylish alternative from those traditionally available.

Being engineers, Allan and Albert drew upon their knowledge and expertise to produce low maintenance memorials that were modern, structurally sound, long lasting and colourful.

They initially designed a prototype, full size stainless steel monument complete with patented laser cut inscription and motifs backed by glass which produced vibrant colour. This monument was featured on the New Inventors on ABC Television.

Since that time, much research and development has taken place and their range of products has expanded considerably.

accanews autumn1034

Modern Burial SystemThe new approach to interment that

significantly increases cemetery revenue

Fawkner Memorial Gardens - Melbourne, VIC

Patented lid lifting machine

The Modern Burial System comprises a series of underground interlocking precast concrete crypts. Lawn is grown over the crypts and a patented lid lifting machine jointly removes the lid and the overlay of lawn when a crypt is ready for a burial. This system offers many advantages over the traditional burial process including:

Quicker and more efficient• Actual interment time is quicker,

(one hour turn-around)

Greater land utilisation• Up to 60% more than traditional methods

Safety advantages• Eliminates need for grave shoring

Flexibility• Allows installation in any soil type

Aesthetically pleasing• Clean and tidy with no excavation mess

Long term advantages• Makes grave re-use and maintenance easier

Significantly increases revenue• The above factors will result in greater

revenue for your cemetery

The Modern Burial System is presented by Austeng working together with the manufacturer of the crypts, Humes. Austeng can provide advice and an overall systems proposal that would best suit your cemeteries circumstances.

Working in partnership

For further information please contactGerard Robbers on 0419 361 348

or email: mbs@austeng.net.au

accanews autumn10 35

Austeng is pleased to announce that it has recently purchased the intellectual property rights of the Modern Burial System from Rockhampton Regional Council including the innovative lid-lifting machine (previously Austeng acted in a marketing role in relation to this product). Modern Burial System is a series of underground interlocking concrete burial crypts.

Austeng is excited about the possibilities this product offers to members of the industry to use land that is otherwise unuseable such as in rocky, unstable or high water table areas. Even in land suitable for conventional burials it yields higher density allowing more burials in a defined area.

Austeng Purchases Modern Burial System

Ross George, managing director of Austeng stated that, “Our faith in system is demonstrated by the fact we have purchased these rights. We are keen to take this niche product to the next stage of its development in providing tailored solutions to the industry. In case studies for customers we have been able to demonstrate that the system can reap significant economic benefits due to increased land utilisation and efficencies in operational practises such as quicker interment. This is in addition to the associated environmental and safety advantages the product affords. Finally, as far as the end cemetery users are concerned, the asthetics of the cemetery are significantly improved by ensuring a smooth presentation with no unsightly digging.

We are currently talking to a number of cemeteries about proposals and look forward to working with members of the industry in this regard”

accanews autumn1036

Industrynews

An aim of Waitakere City Council is to incorporate corporate sustainability in its day to day operations with the objective of stabilising corporate greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 and reducing them by 50% by 2021.

WaikumeteCemetery&Crematoriumwasrecently awarded the Council’s Innovator trophy for reducing its gas usage by 70 per cent. That’s 673,045 kWh less gas compared to the peak year of 2003/2004. This was achieved by first of all, making the decision to purchase the “Joule” cremator supplied by Austeng that is specially designed as a fuel efficient unit when the crematorium was replaced in 2004/2005. This resulted in a 50%

Waikumete Cemetery & Crematorium Wins Council Innovator Award

reduction in gas usage for that period. A further 20% reduction was achieved in the 2007/2008 period by Daniel Sales, manager of the Waikumete Cemetery implementing more efficient use of the crematorium and good management.

“Waikumete Cemetery has shown that resource efficiency can be achieved through good asset replacement decision making and day-to-day operational management”, says Michelle Dawson, Manager, Corporate Sustainability.

“This is the type of change we need to create a more sustainable New Zealand, and in realising the Eco City vision, she says and Waitumete Cemetery is a worthy recipient of this award”.

Attached is a photo showing Daniel Sales accepting his Innovator award from Michelle Dawson from Waitakere City Council.

accanews autumn10 37

Cremation & Burial Conference & Exhibition 2010Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th July

The Holiday Inn Bridgefoot Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 6YR England

FULLY INCLUSIVE FEES**3 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION**

Delegates’ Fee: £527.66+VAT(£92.34)=£620.00

Includes: THREENIGHTSaccommodationattheHolidayInnwithfullEnglishbreakfast,plusconferencedocumentation,admittancetoallworkingsessionsandtheexhibition,buffetlunches,dinners(includingconferencebanquet),fulluseoftheleisureclubfacilities,refreshmentsbetweenworkingsessions,anddrinkreceptionsatcloseofconferencesessionsonMondayandTuesday.

Partner’s Rate Per Day:£55.32+VAT(£9.68)=£65.00

Includes:AccommodationattheHolidayInnwithfullEnglishbreakfastanddinnerandentrancetotheexhibition,plusdrinkreceptionsatcloseofconferencesessionsonMondayandTuesday.Fulluseofleisurefacilities.

Excludes:Admissiontoworkingsessionsoftheconference.

Day Delegate Rate:£127.66+VAT(£22.34)=£150.00

Includes:Conferencedocumentation,admittancetoallworkingsessionsandexhibition,buffetlunchandrefreshmentsbetweenworkingsessions,plusdrinkreceptionsatcloseofconferencesessionsonMondayandTuesday.

Exhibition Fees: Thechargeforexhibitionspaceincludesdocumentation,admittancetoallworkingsessions,morningandafternoonrefreshmentsandbuffetlunchforONErepresentativeforthreedays,plusdrinkreceptionsatcloseofconferencesessionsonMondayandTuesday.

Forfulldetailsofchargesvisitwww.tcp-events.co.uk/CBCE2010

Additional Representative: £105.00+VAT(£18.38)=£123.38

Includes:Documentation,admittancetoallworkingsessions,morningandafternoonrefreshmentsandbuffetlunchforthreedays,plusdrinkreceptionsatcloseofconferencesessionsonMondayandTuesday.

CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS:

SituatedontheRiverAvonandsetinbeautifullandscapedgardens,the4starHolidayInnStratford-upon-AvonistheperfectlocationfordiscoveringthedelightsofShakespeare’sbirthplace,whileotherlocalattractionsandhistoricalsitesarewithinwalkingdistance.

All259refurbishedbedroomshaveair-conditioning,wirelessinternetaccessandteaandcoffeemakingfacilities.

Todineinstyle,theTerraceLoungeandBar,RiversideRestaurantandG’sBarofferexcellentfoodtosuitalltastes.Ortoreallyunwindandrecuperate,theleisureclubisavailableforallgueststousewithawiderangeoffirstclassfacilitiesincludingafullyequippedgymnasium,indoorheatedswimmingpool,saunaandwhirlpool.

To book or obtain further details about this event visit the official conference website atwww.tcp-events.co.uk/CBCE2010

E-mail:CBCE2010@confpeople.co.ukTelephone:01323637704The Cremation Society:conference@cremation.org.uk

TheFederationofBurial&CremationAuthorities:fbcasec@btconnect.com

accanews autumn1038

Industrynews

Cemeteries in Poland a member-submitted news story.

By Von Karpinski

On a recent trip to Poland John and I were amazed to see the differences in cemeteries and of course the cultural differences between our two countries.

Apart from the fact that they drive like crazy people ....and on the wrong side of the road!!

We stayed with John’s relatives who took us to visit a local cemetery where his uncle is buried

This photo shows how they back fill the land as it is needed...to save digging the hole later. They create a concrete slab lined hole and cover it with a temporary ledger till required and just keep moving down the hill backfilling as required

Wow! I had never seen a cemetery so full of flowers; they seem to be on 99% of the gravesites creating such a beautiful vision... I saw the same thing in every cemetery.

And along with the flowers they place glass lanterns with candles in them as you can see in the following photos there are many on each grave.

In Poland they don’t celebrate birthdays but name days and once a year they have a huge procession throughout the township to the cemetery to pay homage to their loved ones memory.

I have shared a few of our photos with you.

NEWS ITEM:

GMS Innovation Pty Ltd now offers a beautiful range of imported Terrybear Urns from the USA and also a quite unique range of urns from Thailand the SIAM range. The SIAM range is made by a family who were chosen by the Royal Family to produce pieces for their palace. They are made from fine bone china and are finished with real gold.

All urns are handmade and are very well priced. Call us for a catalogue and price list.

I think the monumental masons get plenty of work in Poland

Shops within the cemetery grounds sell these items.... this is a small section of the display and makes quite a beautiful vision upon entering.

Row upon row of Paupers graves

accanews autumn10 39

Major is based in Melbourne with experience in cremation technology commencing in 1936.

Stringent wordwide environmental pressures and health regulations, the company's dedication to excellence, superior quality and advanced technology has lead Major developing upgraded combustion technology, advanced PLC controls and cremator exteriors designed along more aesthetic lines.

Today the company is a leader in this technology throughout the world market.

Major has an extensive portfolio of reference plants.

Please visit our upgraded website www.majoreng.com.au for details of our cremation technology.

M A J O R F U R N A C E A U S T R A L I A P T Y . L T D .100 Fai rbank Road, Clayton,

V ic tor ia , 3169, Aust ra l ia

Telephone: +61 3 95581700 Facsimile: +61 3 95581744 Email : major@mojoreng.com.au Web: www.majoreng.com.au

Major - Fuel Savings of 30% on your cremation cycle

Major have recently installed its third Major HD90 Cremator at North Shore Memorial Park in New Zealand. What is unique to this installation is that an oxygen control system has been fitted to the cremator to optimize fuel usage.

Major have previously implemented oxygen control systems in industries where fuel use is high such as aluminium smelters and steel processing plants. This technology is now finding application in crematoriums where facilities’ carbon footprint has become an issue of concern.

In many countries, oxygen monitoring is a requirement of the emission consent for a crematorium. Major have taken this philosophy one step further. By optimizing the combustion process through continual monitoring of the oxygen level, savings in the magnitude of 30% fuel usage can be obtained during the cremation cycle.

Major’s oxygen control system is a small stand-alone unit that can be retrofitted to an existing cremator. Contact Major on how we can assist your crematorium to optimise its process.

accanews autumn10

ACCAwww.accaweb.com.au

AFE www.asianfuneralexpo.co

AIEwww.aieptyltd.org

AFDAwww.afda.org.au

CANAwww.cremationassociation.org

CASAwww.cemeteriessa.com.au

CCANSWwww.ccansw.org.au

CCAVwww.ccav.org.au

Cremation Society of Great Britainwww.cremation.org.uk

Devotawww.devota.at

FBCAwww.fbca.org.uk/news2.asp

FDANZwww.fdanz.org.nz

FIAT-IFTA www.thanos.org

Funerairewww.salon-funeraire.com

ICF www.int-crem-fed.org

ICCFAwww.icfa.org/educ2.html

ICCMwww.iccm-uk.com

NAFD (UK)www.nafd.org.uk

NFDAwww.nfda.org

NFDA (Southern Africa)www.nfda.org.za

Shanghaiwww.chinafuneral.org

TanExpowww.tanexpo.com

Weblinks201028 – 30 April

Cemeteries & Crematoria Conference NZSt James Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand

13 – 15 MayAsia Funeral ExpoHong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

27 – 28 MayACCA Mid Year SeminarGold Coast, QLD

2 – 5 JuneFSAC Convention & ExpoMont Tremblant, Quebec

17 – 20 JuneAIE ConferenceMercure Hotel Hobart, TAS

22 – 27 June11th FIAT-IFTA International ConventionCultural Palace of Nationalities, Beijing

22 – 23 JuneCIFE 2010 China International Funeral ExpoCultural Palace of Nationalities, Beijing

5 - 7 JulyCremation & Burial Conference & ExhibitionStratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire UK

We are increasingly becoming an international/global business community. Following is a snapshot of the industry conferences and seminars we have been informed of for 2010. Web links to the organisations are below, if you would like further contact details of any of the organisations listed, please contact the Secretariat Office.

INDUSTRYEVENTS 2010

6 AugustCCAV AGMMoonee Valley, VIC

4 – 7 AugustCANA 92nd Annual ConventionSheraton Waikiki Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii USA

27 – 29 SeptemberICCM ConferenceChesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth UK

10 - 14 OctoberACCA Annual Conference and AGMFremantle, WA

10 – 13 OctoberNFDA International Conference and ExpoErnest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

accanews autumn1040

Lakeside Memorial Park - Dapto NSW, Australia

Office & Showroom:6 East Pde, Eastwood, NSW, 2122T: +61 2 9804 7232F: +61 2 9804 6077 E: nicola@arciuli.com.au

Factory & Warehouse:18 Links Rd, St Marys,

NSW, 2760T: +61 2 96238774

N&F ARCIULI PTY LIMITEDEstablished 1970

Designers and Builders of First Quality Mausoleums, Garden Crypts, Family Vaults, Cremation Niche Walls, Monuments and other cemetery related works

Arciuli AD Spring 2009 V2.indd 1 16/9/09 7:08:11 PM

26 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN INNOVATION

Phoenix Foundry 44 Duke Street, PO Box 5 Uralla NSW 2358TEL 1800 806 064 OR +61 2 6778 4803 FAX +61 2 6778 5069

EMAIL orders@phoenixfoundry.com.au www.phoenixfoundry.com.au

* Sculptured woodgrain edge;* Natural looking finish;* Perfect for bush gardens or Natural Burial settings;* Range of sizes available.

Woodgrain Plaques

* Completely redesigned safe and reliable interface;* Secure Username and Password;* Full colour layouts;* Complete design flexibility;* Real time layouts to aid sales process;* Increase end customer satisfaction while decreasing costly administration expenses.

New Improved On Line Ordering