Association News

Tasmanian Division

Events And Training

A joint training day with the Victorian Division will be held in Melbourne on 23-24 June 2023. A networking function will be held on the Friday night followed by Arranger Training on the Saturday facilitated by Don Burstow and Martin Tobin. The Divisional Annual General Meeting Weekend will be held on 1-3 September 2023 at Barnbougle.

Divisional Council

Krysta Brocklehurst from Millingtons Funeral Services has resigned from Council after leaving the industry. Monique Gregory from Millingtons Funeral Services has been accepted by the Divisional Council to fill the vacancy.

NSW/ACT Division

Events And Training

Arranger Training in NSW with Don Burstow and Martin Tobin will be held on 11 November.

Prescribed Business Register

The Division has drafted a letter to the Department of Premier and Cabinet recommending the Director of Local Government inspect the premises of businesses on the Prescribed Business Register, in particular new businesses to ensure requirements under the Act are being upheld and to protect the reputation of the Tasmanian funeral industry.

Jan Field will conduct Mortuary Training for the Division in Fyshwick, ACT on 27 May and Lidcombe, NSW on 22 July.

Planning is underway for the next General Meeting to be held on 28-30 April 2023 in Albury. The AGM Weekend will be held on 20-22 October 2023 in Wollongong.

Peter Fuglsang Scholarship

Applications for the 2023 Peter Fuglsang Memorial Scholarship will open on 27 May 2023. The scholarship provides an opportunity for the successful applicant to receive complementary registration and accommodation to attend the 2023 Tasmanian AGM at Barnbougle. Applicants are asked to write a short essay on the benefits of attending the AGM.

Nsw Health Regulations

The recent changes to the NSW Health Regulations are being addressed by the NSW/ACT Divisional Council working party comprising of Asha Dooley, Nick Maurer, Fiona Pollard, Steve Kellaway and Scott Bance. The NSW/ACT Council will meet to confirm the contents of a letter to be sent to NSW Health.

Divisional Council

With the change to the Bylaw allowing members who conduct less than 500 funerals to have two representatives on the Divisional Council, Judy Cole from William Cole Funerals has joined the NSW/ACT Divisional Council.

Western Australian Division

Divisional Council

WA Divisional Councillor Craig Renshaw from InvoCare Australia has accepted the position of Junior Vice President on the WA Divisional Council.

Events And Training

The WA Division will hold a training day at Fraser Suites, Perth on Saturday 8 July 2023. Planning is well underway for the WA Annual General Meeting weekend which will be held on 6-8 October 2023 in Mandurah. A Christmas function will be held on 24 November 2023 to end the year.

Victorian Division

Events And Training

The first Zone Meeting for 2023 was received with great success in February with nearly 60 guests present. The event featured a Funeral Industry Members Discussion Panel represented by four members and was moderated by past Victorian Divisional President Cathy Tobin. The remaining Zone Meetings for the year will be held on 29 March at Café Evviva

Several members attended a Graveside Training session in late November, and the Division would like to thank MCB for facilitating this training. Driver training was held in Perth on 8 February and 22 February with both sessions well attended.

Advocacy

The Divisional Council continues to advocate with a number of Government departments and industry organisations on behalf of members. This focus has helped the Division form strong relationships with key stakeholders like the MCB and the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), who oversaw the Pricing Code of Conduct recently introduced in WA. in Traralgon and 10 May at De Bortoli Estate in Rutherglen.

Divisional Councillors reach out to members prior to each Council meeting and bring any matters raised to Council meetings to be discussed and action taken as required.

Positive feedback was received for the Mortuary Training facilitated by Funeral Industry Development Australia on 4-6 February in Melbourne. Spots are sold out for an additional session taking place 5-6 August.

Planning is well underway for the Victorian AGM weekend which will be taking place at Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel Hepburn in Daylesford on 21-23 July.

CORONERS COURT OF VICTORIA (CCOV)

A formal response was received from CCOV regarding the Division’s complaint around wait time fees not being approved by CCOV for members waiting over 30 minutes at CCOV. The response advised that an investigation concluded several members wait time charges were erroneously rejected by CCOV which would be rectified directly with the impacted members.

Cemeteries Sector

The Division wrote to Remembrance Parks Central Victoria (RPCV) in December 2022 regarding concerns that members would be unable to place bookings for up to five days over the Christmas period. RPCV were quick to respond and resolve the matter.

The Division met with SMCT in February for a stakeholder meeting and relayed further feedback on the possibility of more comprehensive grave checks occurring prior to burials. Discussions are continuing around the use of mechanical lowering devices, and the lead time for collecting cremated remains. The Division also raised member questions and concerns around grave markers, ledger removals and the condition of monumental graves after burials.

The Division wrote to the Cemeteries & Crematoria Association of Victoria (CCAV) in February regarding safety standards across cemeteries in Victoria. A meeting in April with CCAV has been scheduled to discuss improving the standards so families and funeral staff are less at risk of injury.