Did You Know

Macquarie Park

Turning the sod at Macquarie Park’s new crematorium.
From left to right: Ross Davis (CEO), David Lusby
(Chairman), Edna Wilde (Mayor, Ryde City), Father Janusz
(North Ryde Presbytery), Lyn Langtry (Councillor), Errol Davis
(Trustee), Rev. John McDonald (Trustee), Nadia Caravello
(Trustee).

The AFDA’s First Female President

The Australian Funeral Directors Association, WA
Division (AFDA), appointed the industry’s first female
State President ever elected in Australia on September
15th 2003.
In what is a predominantly male dominated industry,
the appointment of Ms Bernardine Brierty reflects a
change in outlook for the association and WA’s funeral
services industry.
Ms Brierty has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences
and combined with her skills as a social worker and her
extensive experience in the many aspects of funeral
services, she is the ideal candidate to contribute to the
ongoing public education process.
Ms Brierty said of her appointment; “I feel both
humble and honoured to be elected as President of the
AFDA...I see the funeral industry as a different way to
utilise the communication skills I had learned as a social
worker. Throughout my life, I had an awareness of what
‘the funeral’ was all about and I felt it was an area in
which I could make some positive contributions.”
The Western Australian Funeral Director’s Association
was formed in 1938. The association is represented in
every metropolitan and regional in the State.

The Wayside Stream - Reconciliation

Paul Glynn's new book is a reference to Psalm 110:7. The
psalm refers to the Messiah to come. He will be victorious
because he will humbly accept the difficulties of his mission, to
"...drink from the stream by the wayside". Fr Paul observes
that we live in angry times, indicated by rising divorce rates,
terrorism and new expressions in the vernacular like 'road
rage.' "Jesus calls us to become peacemakers and reconcilers.
This new book is a series of stories about people who
have responded to Jesus' call," Fr Paul said. It features stories
on Mother Teresa and the late Cardinal Francis Thuan who
spent nine of his 13 year jail sentence in solitary confinement.
Each book costs $12.00 (includes postage)with all proceeds to
help the missionary work of the Church. The book is available
from the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need PO Box
6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Ph/Fax (02)9679-1929 or
email: info@aidtochurch.org.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

An estimated two out of five Australians die without making a will because they “just never got around” to it. To help overcome this problem, the Heart Foundation has launched a free Guide to Wills and Bequests.
The Guide to Wills and Bequests includes information on how to make a will, a will and codicil form, and encourages people to speak to a solicitor, a trustee company or the Public Trustee about making a will.

Heart Foundation National Bequests Manager Ian Gordon said: “The Heart Foundation strongly recommends people seek professional advice about making a will, but we have launched the Guide to Wills and Bequests as a great starting point for the large group of Australians who do not currently have a wil.

“People often want to make a gift to charity after providing for family and friends so they can help make a difference to the future,” said Mr Gordon. “The Heart Foundation values any gift, small or large, to help us continue our fight against Australia’s leading cause of death and disability – cardiovascular disease.”

As the largest non-government funding body for cardiovascular medical research, the Heart Foundation utilises a large proportion of donations to undertake health, medical and scientific research.
The Heart Foundation also develops best practice guidelines for health professionals, provides support for people with heart disease and conducts community health programs.

Despite the advances of the past four decades, cardiovascular disease (which includes heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) is still Australia’s number one killer, and is responsible for more then one in three deaths.
Your donation does make a difference. You can help stop people dying needlessly by making a bequest in your will to the Heart Foundation and chances are your bequest could help save the life of someone you love.
For a free copy of the Guide to Wills and Bequests contact the national information service Heartline on 1300 36 27 87 for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia.

The Heart Foundation’s Guide to Wills and Bequests is not taxation, legal or financial advice. The information in the booklet has been checked against the laws of all six states and two territories and is current as at January 2003.

Glass Headstones

Acompany called Memoriam Glass is introducing a
new concept to Australians. A perfect example of the
‘new age’ options increasingly available in the funeral
industry, Frank Kos and Carole Pemberton of Memoriam
Glass are currently presenting the concept of glass headstones
to the Australian funeral industry and consumer.
Popular in Europe, the product developed for Australia
meets all the Australian standards and safety requirements
relating to headstones and their installation. Set to be an
attractive new addition to Memorial Parks throughout the
nation, the headstones will boast ‘Clear Shield’, a new
product that coats glass and repels dust and rain. For
more information please call (03) 9820 9688.

Pancake Day!
A National Day

On Shrove Tuesday, February 24th 2004, communities
across Australia will shake, flip and sell pancakes
to support UnitingCare.
UnitingCare is the largest non-government provider
of social services and represents the social, justice and
advocacy activities of the Uniting Church of Australia. Its
services are for all Australians of all creeds.
‘UnitingCare’ is, however, almost a secret! But mention
Wesley Mission, Exodus Foundation, Blue Cross, Frontier
Services and Burnside - which are all part of UnitingCare -
and recognition sets in!
‘Pancake Day’ addresses this ‘secret’ by increasing
awareness of UnitingCare within our communities and
so help strengthen its voice for those most in need; the
aged and children, families in crisis, children in trouble,
youth in despair, the disabled, those who can only trust
in the anonymity of a crisis line, the homeless, abused,
neglected and hungry.
Monies raised in a community stay in that community, an
important notion - especially in regional and rural areas. An
extraordinary number of Australians support social services
in the not-for-profit sector and without this groundswell of
generosity our society would be in a sorry state.
Pancake Day is an old Christian festival. In past times
there were many foods that Christians would not eat during
Lent, foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and dairy
products. A feast before Ash Wednesday cleared the
home of such foods.

Funeral Finery

An innovative company called Funeral Finery offers a
range of shrouds and sashes specifically designed to
reflect the personality of the deceased. The garments are
used to drape the coffin or casket during the ceremony and
are then taken home to be used as a wall hanging, a throw
rug or simply to be kept as a treasured keepsake. For more
information visit www.funeralfinery.com or see page 48.