Our Trainers

Beth OBrien
Company Director - Senior Trainer and Assessor
Queensland

Celebrant experience

Beth has been an Authorised Marriage Celebrant since 1995. Her own celebrant practice has been the catalyst for her to encourage celebrants, new and experienced, to enhance their skills and knowledge to design and perform heart-felt ceremonies for clients.

Beth specialises in ceremonies that are individually crafted for each client and has found the rewards of celebrancy far greater than she had originally imagined.

Along with ceremonies for families, Beth has also been commissioned to design corporate ceremonies. Beth’s passion for meaningful ceremony design is seen in the curriculum material and she often says to students, “you only get one chance at making someone’s lifetime memory, you have to design and perform beautiful ceremonies for your clients.”

Beth is a regular contributor to industry panels on the training of celebrants nationally. She also has many established international networks with colleagues in the celebrant community.

Her background has been primarily in business and marketing, always in educational institutions. It is her passion to see the profession of celebrancy highly regarded by the community.

Her career ambition is to be a holistic provider of training for new celebrants, offering marriage, funeral and general celebrancy courses, and to continue to offer ongoing professional development to existing celebrants.

Beth’s Masters Degree in Business focused on business development and this knowledge has been a foundation in designing the curriculum for the Certificate IV in Celebrancy and the Cert IV in Small Business Management.

Beth has also received a Smart State Queensland Award and been recognised by Business Review Weekly for her entrepreneurial business acumen.

Beth is currently researching the rise of secular humanism in contemporary Australia.

Educational qualifications

· Masters of Business (Marketing) QUT 2008
· Postgraduate Certificate In Educational Marketing 2002
University of Southhampton – England
· Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)Griffith University 1998

Professional Awards

· Award Winner – Rotary Group Study Exchange 2001

Professional Training

· Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy 2009
· Certified International Funeral Celebrant USA 2009
· Certificate in Web Content 2009
· General Funeral Celebrancy Unit of Competency 2009
· Certificate IV in Small Business Management 2008
· Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment (TAE)
· Certificate in Office Education 1980

Professional Associations

· Copyright officer, Australian Marriage Celebrants (Inc)
· Member, Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants
· Member, Alliance of Celebrants Qld Inc
· Member, Humanist Celebrant Network
· Member, Civil Celebrations Network
· Member, Funeral Celebrants Association of Australia
· Member, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
· Member, Australian Institute of Training and Development
· Member, Queensland Writers Centre
· Member, Marriage and Relationship Educators’ Association of Australia Inc.
· Member, American Humanist Association

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Spencer Flint
Trainer and Assessor
Victoria and Tasmania

Spencer has had a varied work life including Airline Captain, owning an olive orchard, and family dispute mediation. He has been registered as a marriage celebrant for 6 years and has been successful in creating a burgeoning celebrant practice.

His formal qualifications include:

· Certificate IV Marriage Celebrancy - Plan, Conduct Review a Marriage Ceremony
· Graduate Certificate in Management
· Certificate IV in Business (Small Business) Management
· Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA)
· Certificate IV in Community Mediation
· Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (Family Law)– Attorney General’s Department
· Nationally Accredited Mediator – General Practice
· Senior International Airline Captain – Airline Transport Pilots Licence – (Retired) Aircraft - Fokker F27, Boeing 727, Airbus A320 and Boeing 767
· Master Class V Coastal Maritime Operations
· Australian Approved supplier – Extra Virgin Olive Oil production
· Food safety Supervisor Certificate
· Liquor Licence holder
· Level 3 First Aid

His professional associations are:

· C A - Celebrants Australia
· ACMCV - The Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants of Victoria Inc.
· APA Pilots Association
· LEADR – Mediation
· Restaurant and Catering Association
· Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
· Macedon Olive Growers Association

Other professional skills that enhance his training abilities are:

During my career as an Airline Captain, I trained Pilots, Flight Attendants and Ground staff in Crew Resource Management, from 1992 until retirement in 2001. In the later years of my career I held a Management position with Ansett Australia Airlines as the Initial Command Manager, being responsible and managing the upgrade training of all First Officers qualifying for their Initial Captaincy in Ansett Australia Airlines.

I have been training pilots since 1977 in initial pilot training for Private Pilots Licence, and Commercial Pilot’s Licence , in ground based classroom and Simulator Training. I have also conducted courses in Plan Conduct and Review and Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy.

Why was Spencer attracted to the profession of celebrancy?

During my Airline Career, I was the President (South Pacific Region) for a worldwide welfare organisation within the Aviation Industry. I served on the International Board of Directors, and was responsible for the Organisations operations in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific Islands, including Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands. I was often called upon to carry out Funeral services for families of Airline Employees and had many requests to conduct Civil Marriages for members of the organisation within the region. I undertook training as a Marriage Celebrant to fulfil this role within the welfare Organisation. I was responsible for training staff in welfare and organising annual Conferences within the Pacific Region and after registration, it gave me many opportunities to conduct Marriages for my Airline colleagues and their families.

Great moments in Celebrancy

There have been many great moments. One particularly is a wedding that I conducted for a couple who both had very violent backgrounds from their previous marriage. Scripting a ceremony that brought healing and strength to such people, brought an added sense of purpose, as a Marriage Celebrant. The couple both found great comfort, restored confidence and a new hope in their lives as they both understood each other’s difficulties and committed to support each other to grow and trust again in a stable and loving environment. They keep in touch with me and it is very rewarding to see both of them flourish in their new Marriage and trust again. It is great to see their renewed confidence as they both take steps to reach their full potential and sharing this with each other to further enrich their Marriage, their family and friends.

Other information
I majored in Piano studies and also play Pipe Organ and Concert harp.

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Lisa Greenfield
Trainer and Assessor
Essendon, Victoria

Lisa has been a Registered Marriage Celebrant for over 5 years. She conducts civil ceremonies including weddings, funerals, baby namings, reaffirmation of vows and commitment ceremonies.

Lisa was instrumental in the revised writing of Australian Celebrations Training Namegiving Manual, and was generous enough to include some personal poetry of her own.

Her formal qualifications are:

· Plan, Conduct and Review a Marriage Ceremony – unit of competency from Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy.
· Diploma of Training and Assessment
· Certificate IV Training and Assessment, Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment
· Bachelor of Arts

Her professional associations are:
·
Member of Australian Marriage Celebrants.
· Member of coordinating committee of the North West Melbourne Celebrants
Network Group (not actually a professional association – it’s a network
group)

Other professional skills that enhance her training abilities are:

Twenty years’ experience in Learning and Development, developing and delivering training programmes, managing training projects and mentoring L&D teams.

Why was Lisa attracted to the profession of celebrancy? And what were some of her fondest memories?

I became interested in celebrancy when my husband and I were married by a Civil Celebrant. This was my first experience of a civil ceremony, and apart from being a wonderful day for all the right reasons. I realised how special it was to transform an average garden to a sacred space that honours one of life’s greatest milestones. I was in awe of the power of ceremony and from that day, I decided that I would be a civil celebrant. It took me five years, but I got there!

I have had the privilege of conducting marriage ceremonies for dear friends of mine. I conducted the wedding of one of my dearest friends of 15 years – and the bonus was that it was at Circular Quay with the Opera House in the background – what a setting! I have officiated at the wedding of two other dear friends, and I will be marrying my niece and her fiance in May 2010. One of my recent brides is a lady who does voluntary work with disabled children, and she has looked after my son Tom a couple of times. I am so grateful that I was able to give something back to her for everything she has done for Tom and me – I hope I helped create a beautiful memory for her.

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Pastor Mark Reid
Trainer and Assessor
Queensland

My name is Mark Reid,

I live and work in Brisbane, Queensland, and am a Minister of Religion to a growing congregation in Rochedale.

Experience as a Celebrant My first exposure to officiate at marriages came as a young man who had entered the ministry. Child dedications (Naming ceremonies) Marriages and funerals were some of the common pastoral activities we experienced as we started a new fellowship in the Blue Mountains and in the ministry around Australia; we continued ministering through till 1988.

In 1988 we moved as a family back to our home in Brisbane and began to work on starting a local independent fellowship in the South East Brisbane region.

I have had for many years a conviction that Pastor’s are not a breed set apart from their parishioners but are in fact part of the local church body; with differing functions, as such I maintain a business presence in Building though my company Reidbuilt Pty Ltd and as every other member within our fellowship, we live our Christianity out in our community lives. Our fellowship believes that every member has a significant role to play in church life and community life and that ministry is the function of all believes as they explore their own gifts and talents connecting with others in the community to make a difference in their world.

Education
2010 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40110
2010 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAA40104
2006 Certificate IV in Building
1996 Certificate IV Workplace Training
1984 Diploma Theology Studies
Carpentry and Joinery

I suppose the thing that attracted me to Celebrancy Training was the hope of inspiring , encouraging and equipping other Pastors in the wonderful service that they provide to their communities. I suppose I sense the burden of care that these fine men and women have for their flocks personally and I would love to see courses that could facilitate their work and assist them in some very practical ways.

One of my fondest moments in celebrancy was officiating at the Weddings of my Son and Daughter, it was a particularly joyous wedding for my daughter who had just recovered from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She is now fit and healthy and just last year gave birth to our first grand child. We have much to thank God for.

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Kate Thomas
Trainer and Assessor
Western Australia

Kate was awarded the Home Based Business Award from Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2009, and was also a runner up and finalist in previous years. She has built a strong reputation in celebrancy both marriage and funerals for her gentle caring ways and professional service to clients.

Her formal qualifications are:

· Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy
· Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
· Registered General Nurse since 1976

Her professional associations are:

· Member Marriage Celebrants Association of WA
· ANF and Royal College of Nursing

Other professional skills that enhance her training abilities are:

· Running an accommodation business
· Communicating with clients
· Really listening to people – particularly in ceremony designing

Why was Kate attracted to the profession of celebrancy? And what were some of her fondest memories?

I was attracted to Celebrancy as I feel interconnected with people. I have experienced the most amazing moments in time with clients as a nurse. Celebrant work has allowed me to also assist clients & walk along side them on the journey, be it at a Wedding, or Funeral.

I am very passionate about Ritual within Ceremonies; my clients have made comment on the beauty & inclusion of same within Ceremonies I have performed during Weddings & Funerals.

I value sense of occasion, have a wonderful sense of humour, & am committed to the highest professional standards in both my occupations as a nurse and a celebrant.

Since becoming registered as Celebrant, I can honestly say every Ceremony has been a memorable moment for me. My first Wedding was extra special. I feel incredibly privileged to be invited into clients’ lives for their Ceremony.

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John Scanlon
Trainer and Assessor
New South Wales

John has been a Registered Marriage Celebrant since 2005, during this time he has conducted hundreds of ceremonies, as well as funerals, naming and commitment ceremonies in dozens of varied locations.

His Formal Qualifications are:

· CHCMCEL401A – Perfom a Marriage Ceremony
· WFSFNL407A - Perform General Funeral Celebrancy
· Naming Ceremony course
· Advanced Diploma in Business Management
· Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA) · Justice of The Peace

His Professional Association Memberships are:

· Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants (AFCC)
· Australian Marriage Celebrants Inc.

His Work Experience is:

· Retail Pharmacy
· Industrial Engineer
· Factory Manager
· Transport Company Owner
· Newsagent
· Past President Apex, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce
· Foundation Chairman and Managing Director of News Extra, News N More and Radio Extra Australia.
· Conducted marketing sessions for prospective newsagents on behalf of Newsagents Association of NSW & ACT
· Supervised training for newsagency staff undergoing Cert II and IV in Retail

Why was John attracted to the profession of celebrancy?

Dealing with people one on one gave me an insight into who they were, how they reacted to situations and more importantly how I handled these people and situations. After many years of prompting by my wife the time came when I was ready to heed her suggestion and pursue marriage celebrancy.

Defining events in my life conditioned me to know that it needed a special mind set to become a successful celebrant. I felt that the expression of love was something different for each of us and if I could feel with the couple the love they had for one another and how it was expressed then I could create a ceremony that imaged their unique feelings. Each of my ceremonies are uniquely created to express their individuality. My mission statement was not to do the most weddings but do the best that I possibly could.

His Greatest Moments:

· To be voted celebrant of the year by the Newlyweds.
· To be chosen by industry associates to perform their weddings and the funerals of their loved ones.
· To completed a course in Spiritual and Pastoral Care With The Ageing.
· Becoming a volunteer, visiting the aged in the local Uniting Care facility “Kombala”

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Dr. Irena Yashin-Shaw
Guest Presenter
Queensland

Dr. Irena Yashin-Shaw PhD, Managing Director of Speaking Edge is an accomplished educator, workshop leader and professional keynote speaker with an amazing breadth of experience across academia, government and business. With a PhD in Educational Psychology and a Masters degree in Adult Education, Irena understands what works and why when it comes to helping people learn and develop. Clients who complete her workshops consistently confirm that she has a talent for bringing out the best in a person.

Irena is an expert in teaching people how to acquire excellence in communication skills. Through her innovative and interactive methods Irena shows how mastering some basic yet powerful principles can transform an individual’s sense of personal power, a business’s bottom line profit or a company’s corporate image.

An award winning entrepreneur and prize winning speaker, Irena is the 2009 President of the Queensland Chapter of the National Speakers Association of Australia.

When you engage Irena you can be completely confident that you are working with a total professional.

“I personally was extremely impressed with Dr. Yashin-Shaw’s attention to detail and enthusiasm. She is an excellent presenter, trainer and public speaker and I would have no hesitation at all recommending her to other public and private sector organisations”. P Cantwell LL.B Solicitor Assistant Ombudsman – Major Projects Team Office of the Queensland Ombudsman

Educational Qualifications:
· Doctor of Philosophy (Griffith University)
· Master of Adult Education (Griffith University)
· Bachelor of Arts (Qld University)
· Associate of Trinity College London
· Diploma of Teaching (QUT)

Professional Associations:
· Professional Member of the National Speakers Association of Australia
· 2009 President of Qld National Speakers Association
· National Board Member of NSAA
· Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Facilitators
· Certified Learning and Development Professional

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Judy Aulich
Trainer and Assessor
Canberra, ACT

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts Degree
Diploma of Education
Justice of the Peace
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Plan Conduct and Review a Marriage Ceremony

Professional Associations
Australian Marriage Celebrants

Experience as a Celebrant
Judy has been a full time professional marriage celebrant since 2006. She brings rich life experience and much enthusiasm to her role as celebrant. Judy is also a Civil Partnership Notary and recently conducted the first ceremonies to legalise gay unions.

Originally from Tasmania she has lived in the ACT for over 30 years. Her background is in Education. Before becoming a celebrant she was a teacher and Deputy Principal of a primary school, a profession she loved. This experience is invaluable in her new profession of celebrant.

Judy is an internationally published author and has wide experience in public speaking, to a variety of audiences and in a variety of media. She has spoken to professional groups, parent groups, at conferences and to literary gatherings.

What attracted me to celebrancy?
A friend mentioned that she had decided to train as a celebrant and convinced me that I should train with her. The irony is that she does not like the role and is no longer active and I find it so enjoyable and rewarding.

A great moment in my celebrant practice
It was very special to conduct the first ceremonies in Australia to legalise gay unions, only days after the ACT legislation was passed. The first men and first women to have such ceremonies had drinks with my husband and me a few days later and we celebrated the significance of the occasion. There really was the feeling for all of us involved that we were part of the history of human rights in Australia.

I enjoy all aspects of being a celebrant but especially the opportunity to meet such a variety of interesting people and having the opportunity to share with them a highly anticipated and important milestone in their lives. And marrying ex students and the children of friends is also very special.

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Shari Treuren
Trainer and Assessor
Queensland

Originally from Canada, Shari now makes Australia home. In 2004, she became an Authorized Marriage Celebrant in Australia. She has a successful celebrancy business that focuses primarily on Wedding, Vow Renewal, Commitment and Naming Ceremonies.

Sharis educational background is in Laboratory Science, Nuclear Medicine and Tertiary Education. She has held several supervisory positions in these fields as well as lecturing at university level. Shari has previously been a tutor for the Aspiring Distance Education Marriage Celebrants of Australian Celebrations Training and was also responsible in modifying the Directing Life Ceremonies Manual for Australian Celebrations Training. She finds a very positive balance between performing weddings, teaching and her other work commitments.

Having traveled extensively around the world, Shari is well versed in many cultures, traditions and a wide variety of faiths. It is with this knowledge that she helps to design ceremonies that create an atmosphere where the words of the ceremony reflect the importance of the occasion.

Shari’s Academic Achievements

Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology
Diploma in Nuclear Medicine Technology
Radiation Safety Officer Licence
Bone Mineral Densitometry Technologist License
Industrial Accident Safety and Prevention Certificate
Heart and Stroke Foundation Basic Rescuer Certificate
St. Johns Ambulance Emergency First Aid Certificate
Completion Certificate Occupational Health and Safety Representative
Certificate IV Assessment and Workplace Training
Statement of Attainment: Plan, Conduct and Review a Marriage Ceremony

Professional Associations

Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists
College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario
Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists
College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario
National Certification Agency of America
Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Queensland Justices Association Inc.
Alliance of Celebrants Queensland Inc

Professional Appointments

Appointment by the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music - Adjudicator
Appointment by the Registrar General of Ontario - Justice of the Peace
Appointment by the Attorney General’s Office of Queensland -Justice of the Peace Qualified
Appointment by the Attorney General’s Office of Australia -Authorized Marriage Celebrant

What attracted Shari to Celebrancy and some of her fondest moments.

I was attracted to Celebrancy as I love to meet and talk to people. In my medical and teaching careers, I have met some fantastic people and have heard some incredible stories. My personal nature is to nurture and assist, so I decided as an extension to my other vocations, it would be nice to have another road to travel. For me, when I sit down with a client and listen to their hopes, plans and dreams for their future, it is an honor to know that I will play a part in helping them to fulfill their wishes, no matter what type a ceremony it is for.

From the smallest ceremony to the largest, it is always my pleasure to be a part of the celebration. At weddings it is especially lovely when a grandparent comes up at the end of the ceremony and offers their “Thanks” and usually tells me a little story about their own wedding day.

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Ann Dally
Trainer and Assessor
New South Wales

Ann was registered as a Civil Marriage Celebrant in June 2004. Prior to becoming a celebrant Ann was managing an Asia Pacific Training Environment for 2 years, acting as Administration Manager servicing over 200 clients and had her own team of experienced administrators. Ann spent twelve years as Advertising and Marketing Manager for a well known Australia-wide publication. Ann is also a trained proof-reader and sub-editor which she says has proved invaluable in her role as a celebrant, writing personalised ceremonies. She also enjoys writing poetry.

Since 1998 Ann had sought to become a Marriage Celebrant but found the doors were not open at that time so waited until 2004 before she could be trained (by Australian Celebrations Training) and become accredited.

Her break came when she was a Rotarian and a Guest Speaker happened to talk on a topic of “Hand Writing Analysis” – at the end of the talk the speaker announced she was also a marriage celebrant. Ann gravitated towards this lovely lady who helped her on the road to realising her dream.

Ann absolutely loves her role as a Marriage Celebrant. She enjoys the privilege and the pleasure of assisting her couples from the time they first meet through to the rehearsal and then the big day. She says she has finally found her “niche” in life and although it took many years to attain her authorisation says it has been worth the wait. She also enjoys mentoring aspiring celebrants.

Ann is very much a people person and is always striving to create a difference in the lives of people she becomes in contact with; be it in the field of celebrancy, training or volunteer work.

Formal Qualifications

Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (TAA401104) 2010 (14 units)
Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy (3 units)
Justice of the Peace NSW 1998

Professional Associations

Vice President of Australian Marriage Celebrants Inc - 4 years

Work Experience

Thirty years collectively in advertising, marketing, administration, office management, sub-editing, script writing, photographic modelling.

Twelve months On-going Professional Development training of Marriage Celebrants on behalf of Australian Celebrations Training.

Mentor to new and aspiring celebrants.

A great experience

As a Rotarian, I went to Vanuatu a few years ago with Epping rotary. A team of 40 volunteers were deployed. The mission was to build from scratch, an eye clinic for the natives. Many people had lost their eyesight or were losing their eyesight due to disease and poor diet, and a clinic was desperately needed. Unbeknown to most Australians, Vanuatu is very much a third world country where poverty is rife. This was a time when I was taught many new skills by qualified tradespeople and was physically involved in the actual building of the clinic, learning to sort, measure and cut huge beams of timber and how to use electrical tools. I was nominated to head up a team of 6 ladies who had to paint and prepare the clinic for the opening by the then Prime Minister. It was one of my most memorable lifetime experiences.

A great moment as a celebrant……the fairytale

I have married many wonderful couples, some love stories would make the perfect movie script – I married a “mature aged” last year who were young sweethearts in the 80’s in Poland. His family fled to Australia when the solidarity movement caused a revolution and the subsequent downfall of the communist government followed. The sweethearts were separated for the first time - they lost touch - both were devastated. She was 16, he was 17.

After working and saving, he returned to Poland in the 90’s to search for her and when he arrived in her small village he was told she had left a few years prior after marrying someone else.

He came back to Australia broken-hearted.

A few years later, out of the blue, an old friend from Poland contacted him. The friend advised that the marriage of the girl had ended, no children were forthcoming, and she had divorced and was now studying architecture at university in Poland.

After a few phone calls to Poland he was convinced he could find her again.

He was off! He waited for her at the university gates. Apparently the scene that took place was of the “Hollywood Fairytale”. Their relationship was instantly rekindled. He had to return to Australia to apply for a fiancé visa. The wait was long and painful but I finally performed their wedding with Sydney Harbour as their backdrop - the tears flowed. Only 8 guests attended but it was one of the most moving love stories ever shared with me.

To have the pleasure of actually performing their marriage and then declaring them husband and wife is a privilege that only a celebrant truly understands. Starting them off on their new journey in life is about as good as it gets.

I wouldn’t trade being a marriage celebrant for the world! And now, find I am enjoying training just as much.

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Gayle Ford
Trainer and Assessor
Victoria

Gayle was appointed as an authorised celebrant in 1992 and has as much enthusiasm for her celebrant role today as she did when she first began. During that time she has helped many couples to celebrate their legal unions, named many babies and children, conducted renewal of vows ceremonies, special anniversary ceremonies, commitment ceremonies and funerals. Gayle finds her role as a celebrant both rewarding and fun.

Formal qualifications

Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)
Diploma of Counselling
Cert. IV Community Mediation
Cert. IV Marriage Celebrancy
Cert. IV Assessment and Workplace Training
Justice of the Peace
Authorised Celebrant – Commonwealth of Australia

Professional associations

La Trobe University Alumni
Australian Association of Social Workers
Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices
Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants of Victoria

What attracted Gayle to Celebrancy

Gayle says she feels honoured to be invited to take part in the rituals that mark the milestones of people’s lives.

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Ray Roth
Trainer and Assessor
Queensland

Ray was registered as a marriage celebrant in 2005 and has performed Marriage ceremonies all over Brisbane, the Coasts and in New South Wales. Ray’s motto is “Your Ceremony, Your Way, Any Time, Any Place’ and that has led to a very wide variety of experiences.

Ray has also been active with Namings, Reaffirmation of Vows, Funeral and and Commitment Ceremonies.
Formal qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy – University of NSW
Bachelor of Engineering - University of NSW
CHCMCEL401A – Perform a Marriage Ceremony
WFSFNL407A - Perform General Funeral Celebrancy
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE)

Why was Ray attracted to the profession of Celebrancy?

After an academic career of 32 years teaching and researching Engineering in Universities around the world I retired to cruise the Australian coastline with my wife Sally in our 46 foot catamaran sailing vessel “Raptor”.

After six years of bliss we decided there should be more to life than just lazing around under coconut palms on deserted islands and in 2006 at the urging of a good friend who had performed over 700 weddings, I qualified as a Celebrant and with some great mentoring from a number of celebrants started performing ceremonies under the Truly Romantic Ceremonies banner.

It may seem like a big shift from Engineering to Celebrancy but not so. My earlier career had involved working with enthusiastic young people who were setting out on a lifetime journey and that fits Marriage Celebrancy perfectly. The planning and communication skills were also totally transportable.

This was to be my business and Sally said that she would not be a part of it. After the first ceremony, which she attended out of curiosity, she has not missed a single one. In fact Sal is often mistaken as the Celebrant. She types at a ferocious speed and we make a great team.

A great moment in your celebrant practice

It is a great honour when a couple ask you to come into their lives at such an beautiful time. I never fail to get a kick out of declaring them to be husband and wife and watching their first kiss as a married couple.

The other great moment is when a funeral service concludes and family members give you a big hug and tell you how much your efforts have helped them through a difficult day.

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Brad Whitelock
Trainer and Assessor
Western Australia

Brad had a very successful career in Sales and Marketing in the Pharmaceutical industry, before becoming a Marriage Celebrant. At the same time Brad and his wife started a family he was authorised as a Marriage Celebrant, now he divides his time being a full time Marriage Celebrant, a stay at home dad to his beautiful son and a house husband to his wonderful wife.

Brad was authorised as a marriage celebrant in 2006 and has been very fortunate to perform over 600 weddings all over Perth and in many regional parts of WA even as far as the far north such as Kununnurra.

Formal qualifications

Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)
Plan, Conduct and Review a Ceremony
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment


Professional associations

Australian Marriage Celebrants
Marriage Celebrants Association (WA)

What attracted Brad to Celebrancy

I was always looking for a vocation in life, something I could do that involved helping others. When I married my beautiful wife my wedding day was such a wonderful event for me, I soon after began the process of becoming a marriage celebrant. After waiting years on the waiting list and forgetting about my application my authorisation came through on the day my son was born and now I am blessed with being a successful celebrant as well as being a stay at home dad and house husband.

As I have a background in Marketing I now look forward to passing my knowledge onto other celebrants here in WA.

A great moment in your celebrant practice

Each weekend is a great moment for me as a celebrant because I hear couples who truly love each other say their vows, exchange rings and promise to share their lives with each other. It gives me goose bumps and always sends me home with a great smile on my face. When I arrive home from my weddings I always get a question from my wife: “you love what you do don’t you?”. However one moment that particularly made an impact on me was the occasion I was asked by an Aboriginal Elder in Far North WA to travel up to perform their marriage ceremony. It was very humbling as the openness of his people and acceptance was quite awe inspiring.

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Judy Hogan
Funeral Celebrancy - Trainer and Assessor
Queensland

Judy’s background for the last seven years has been in the funeral Industry. When Judy first joined the funeral industry, she had no previous funeral knowledge. Judy had been a community representative for 15 years working with the community and on many and varied community groups. Judy always loved the interaction with people from all walks of life, and particularly loved a challenge and to make things "right" for people. When she started meeting bereaved families, she found she could continue with almost the same role, making sure she could help people in need.

Although Judy has been a Civil Marriage Celebrant since 2005, her interest lay primarily in being a funeral celebrant. Judy resigned as a funeral director to become a funeral celebrant full time, and has enjoyed every minute of doing this. "Enjoyed" may seem to be the wrong word, but she finds funeral celebrancy to be both extremely satisfying and self rewarding. It is a challenge to write a service for a family that they will always remember as a true reflection of their loved one. Crafting an accurate service is a must, as we only have one chance to get it right, we cannot go back the next day and do it again. It is a privilege to have families welcome you into their homes at the lowest time of their lives, and the feeling to do a good job for them is overwhelming.

Formal Qualifications

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE)
Civil Marriage Celebrant
Perform General Funeral Celebrancy
Certificate IV in Funeral Services (partial)
Justice of the Peace

Best Moments in Celebrancy

The best moments of being a Funeral Celebrant are when the family tell you that the service was perfect, exactly what they wanted, and that "Mum would have been pleased". A hug, and telling you they couldn have got through the day without you, is very rewarding. One of my fondest memories was to visit a dying lady who wanted to meet the celebrant who would conduct her service. Together we wrote the service to the last detail. An experience like that makes being a Funeral Celebrant the extraordinary life journey that it is.

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