Mark Dreyfus – a contribution – – what to do for celebrants.

There are 10,000 celebrants out there. 8000 more than is needed.

Stephen Brook asked me what would I do if I was Attorney-General for two hours. I would call in the best public servants I had and —
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• I would show leadership and encouragement.
  
  I would tell every single civil celebrant that their task is an important one. It is worthwhile and that every ceremony should be done really well.
  
• I would place a moratorium on all appointments indefinitely.
  
  The exceptions would be for truly outstanding candidates, and for geographical areas (very few) which need a celebrant, The law and/or regulations will need to be changed something that in the past has been done easily.
  
• Ask all celebrants whose heart is not in it, and who are not contributing, to resign.
  
  Some sweetener would be needed here. One idea would be to refund the past five years of paid registration fees and the application fee.
  
• Encourage all celebrants to do the full range of ceremonies.
  
  Issue media releases pointing out that celebrants can oblige the public with ceremonies for all significant events and enrich their communities by doing so.
  
   Some examples:-
  
  Birth – Namings
  First Days of (School or Kindergarten)
  Graduation (primary, secondary school, College, University).
  Significant Birthdays
  Engagements
  Weddings
  Commitment
  Dedication of house
  Leaving a House
  Death of a special pet
  Reaffirmation of Vows3
  Change of Career
  Menopause
  Retirement
  Funerals
  
  
• Ask the Universities to restore the Graduate Diploma In Arts (Celebrancy)
  
  Make it a “distinct advantage” for applicants in the future. This was taught at Victoria University from 1997 and was also a great success at Monash University until the public service so reduced the standard of entry to celebrant authorisation that person ceased to enrol.
  
  It needs to include most of the following oriented to ceremonies.
  Music
  Poetry and Literature.
  Storytelling
  Myths
  Choreography
  Symbolism
  Diction and Public Speaking
  Creative Writing (vows, personal story, eulogies etc)
  The nature and importance of culture
  The nature and Purpose of ceremony
  The range of practical skills required.
  Legal requirements for marriages.
  
• Defend and recommend an hourly rate for paying celebrants.
  
  Condemn unseemly and undignified cost cutting and competitiveness
  
• Free funeral celebrants from the control of Invocare and other Funeral Directors.
  
• Put  in place an appointment system based on geographical need, interviews, short listing and careful selection by an independent panel.
  
   ….. and that is just for starters.

Dally Messenger III