Immediate Past President’s Message

The past two years have certainly been an interesting time to be President, culminating in the surreal experience of our first AFDA Convention in three years, just a few short weeks ago in Canberra.

It was an honour to have the opportunity to wear the chains of office for just the second and final time since receiving them in Perth via a zoom changeover ceremony with attendees in various stages of lockdown in capital cities across the country.

In some ways the last two years seem to have flown by, and in other ways they seem like the longest two years of my life. Looking back at photos from when I first came to office compared to today it appears the years haven’t necessarily been kind, although my wife Taryn would tell me that shaving off my beard would help me in that regard.

I’ve had lots of comments from people over the last few weeks noting what a strange and unique presidency I’ve had navigating through COVID-19, but it must be remembered that I split the pandemic with our Past President Andrew Pinder.

A lot of this outgoing message will be about thanking those that have had a positive impact on my term, and Andrew is the first person I’d like to acknowledge. During that first year of COVID-19, immediately after the 2020 joint Conference with FDANZ in Auckland, Andrew quickly introduced a number of measures to guide the industry through that first year of uncertainty, scheduling weekly conference calls with state Presidents and industry stakeholders, and managing AFDA’s initial response and communications at an industry leading level.

As we are all well aware, our industry and country has faced an unprecedented time. Over the last two years we’ve had restrictions on funerals, restrictions on travel, lockdowns, PPE shortages and vaccine shortages, followed by RAT shortages and isolation of staff and families. Through this all, AFDA has had to raise its voice to be heard as an industry, often being an after-thought by decision makers.

Apart from COVID-19, the past two years has also seen many other challenges to our industry from various fronts. The ACCC inquiry, the ATO draft determination on GST and Burial Rights, three states introducing pricing transparency legislation, negative media stories, difficulties with staff retention and recruitment, and operating in a climate of rising inflation.

But the lesson to be learnt from this time is that together we are stronger.

Even in trying times, over the last two years we have had many successes and remained progressive as an association, implementing many measures to help our members, which brings me to the second person I need to thank, Dale Gilson, our CEO.

For the first few years of his time with us, we kept telling Dale, ‘Don’t worry, it isn’t always this crazy!’ but I think he stopped believing us after about year three having faced the Banking Royal Commission, the $10,000 Cash Bill, the IPART and ACCC inquiries, five sets of state based funeral legislation and a global pandemic.

Somehow Dale has managed to remain calm and navigate a path through all of those obstacles, as well as reducing fees by $77,000 to members, introducing the Funeral Industry Data Hub, purchasing an office and refunding sponsors through COVID-19, as well as bringing real progressive change to many aspects of the Association. Dale has been a pleasure to work with and most of the credit I get as President should really go to him.

Of course, Dale leads an excellent and capable team at the National Office. Nothing is ever too much for any of the AFDA staff. They get things done promptly, efficiently and without fuss. Deanne, Sherida, Kate, Lucinda and Theresa truly all go over and above for our members, and for our industry.

And finally, the best part about being President is the close working relationships which are developed among colleagues from across the country, all working towards a common cause. This goes for all our members but also our sponsors and supporters. But most closely of course to the tirelessly committed National Council and Executive team of Kelly Scott, Asha Dooley and James MacLeod, with a special mention to Travis Tann.

And so it is with unwavering optimism that I hand over the duties of AFDA President to Kelly Scott, in whom I have every confidence will represent the industry and Association impeccably over her term.

Thank you all, it’s been an honour.

Warm Regards,

Adrian Barrett