Other Ceremonies

 

Baby Naming

Naming ceremonies have a history almost as old as the human race. It is a rite that publicly welcomes a new life into the family and in the company of loved ones. These ceremonies help to ensure that family relationships are deepened and parents, grandparents and guardians (or god parents) become more fully aware of their responsibilities. I aim to assist you to create a memorable personal experience for your child's introduction to family and friends. The use of readings, music, candles and a unity bowl are all additions to make your ceremony more expressive and to suit your cultural beliefs and will be carefully tailored to suit your needs. You will receive a specially printed certificate of naming and a special copy of your ceremony.

 

Commitment Ceremony

Although not legally binding a commitment ceremony are a special way in which a gay or lesbian couple can share their commitment of love with family and friends. It would be my pleasure to assist you to design a ceremony to reflect this. May be also for heterosexual couples who for personal legal or religious reasons are nor able to have a legal wedding in Australia. This can a deepening experience and it would give me great pleasure to assist you and present you with a bound copy of your ceremony.

 

Reaffirmation of Marriage Vows

This ceremony is to reaffirm your love and commitment to each other privately or with friends is indeed an enriching experience It maybe conducted in a lovely place or on a special anniversary so as to strengthen your relationship I would be delighted to assist you to prepare a ceremony with music and appropriate readings designed especially for you. Such a ceremony may also be for couples who for personal, legal or religious reasons are not able to have a legal wedding in Australia.   I will provide a bound copy of your ceremony and a Reaffirmation Certificate.  

 

Funerals

As a Nursing Sister of over thirty years I have some deep reflections on life and death that are acceptable to most people at this sad time. These include the intrusion of death in our lives and the debt we owe to those who are gone before us. Human instinct is to pay tribute by offering sympathy to the bereaved family. At this sad time we need to put our values of human relationships and life into perspective.
A funeral ceremony may be held in a chapel, funeral parlor, a home or a garden and begins with a visit to the family to discuss the format and prepare the Eulogy and about the deceased's life. It would be my privilege to assist you to prepare a meaningful service for your loved one.

The ceremony consists of the following:
    Introduction: Though general should be modified to suit the general tone of the eulogy and the assembled people.
    Eulogy: Usually delivered and composed by the Celebrant on behalf of the family and relate the deceased's contribution to mankind - "A Celebration of a Life".
    Reflections or Prayer: Most families agree to have an optimal time of silence in which those who wish to do so may simply reflect or pray according to their wishes, during this time of silence appropriate music should be played.
    Readings: Selected texts may read by the celebrant or readers.
    Committal: Chosen words are said when the coffin is lowered into grave or crematorium chamber.

Anniversaries or Special Occasions

As a Celebrant I am delighted to work with you to arrange any special occasion, such as birthdays, anniversaries and graduations.   These Celebrations usually involve music, singing, story telling, poetry and dance entertainment, I am able to tailor any of these with  a format to make your special occasion memorable.  It could be a "This Is Your Life" for an Anniversary and I could invite the family to prepare a  bound album with wonderful memories of the years gone by.