the southern ce meterian · smct news update | august 2013 chairman’s welcome sue renkin smct...
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SMCT News Update | August 2013
Chairman’s Welcome
Sue Renkin
SMCT NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 2013
Cemeterianthe southern
IN THIS EDITION• CHAIRMAN’SWELCOME
• FRESHFLORALARRANGEMENTSMADETOORDER
• SIXHUNDREDTOURMGC’SHISTORICGATELODGE
• SOUTHERNAGEINGFORUM
•MEETTHETEAM
•NEWRELEASEWITHINSONGHEYUAN
•COMMUNITY&EVENTSUPDATE
• SPRINGVALEBOTANICALCEMETERYUPDATE
• BUNURONGMEMORIALPARKMASTERPLAN
•GUESSWHOISATSTKILDACEMETERY?
•GUESSWHOISATBRIGHTONGENERALCEMETERY?
WelcometothelatesteditionoftheSouthernCemeterian,showcasingrecentprogressandactivityinandaroundoureightlocations.
Thishasbeenaperiodofenhancedstakeholderengagement,inlinewithourcommitmenttounderstandingthediverseneedsofthecommunitiesweserve.
SMCT’spriorityistodevelopenduringrelationshipswithclientfamilies,communitygroups,businesspartners,governmentandindustry.Asaclient-centricorganisation,weunderstandthat,bystrengtheningrelationshipsthroughopencommunicationandconsultation,weareabletoprovidethebestpossibleservicetoallstakeholders.
InrecentmonthsourfocushasalsobeenonmasterplanningforthefuturedevelopmentofBunurongMemorialPark(BMP)andalsoSpringvaleBotanicalCemetery’s(SBC)CentralPrecinct.Bothdevelopmentswillenhancethecustomerexperienceandimproveamenityforourcommunities,businesspartnersandemployees.
SMCT’svisitorexperiencehasalreadybeenenhancedbytherecentreception,chapelandfunctionroomrefurbishmentsatSBCandBMPandbytheinstallationofthenewchildren’srecreationalplayground,whichhasbeencarefullyintegratedadjacenttoSBC’sA.J.A.GardnerChildren’slawnarea.
Onapersonalnote,IwasdelightedtoparticipateinthelaunchofthesixthannualOpenHouseMelbourne,whichwasheldwithintheSaintMaryoftheCrossMausoleumwithinMelbourneGeneralCemetery.ItwasanhonourthatMGCwaschosentolaunchthisprestigiouseventandforourveryownCaféVitaetflorestoprovidethecatering.Congratulationstoallinvolved.
SMCTNewsUpdate|August2013|Page2
FRESH FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO ORDER AtSpringvaleBotanicalCemetery’sCaféVitaetflores,youwillfindabeautifulselectionoffreshfloralarrangementsdaily.Alternatively,ourhighlyexperiencedfloristswillcreatespecialarrangementsandfloraltributestoorder.
CaféVitaetfloreswillalsodeliverfloraltributestogravesandmemorialsonaweekly,fortnightlyormonthlybasis,oronspecialoccasions,byarrangement,asrequired.
Weareopenweekdaysfrom9.00amto5.00pmandonweekendsandpublicholidaysfrom9.30amto5.00pm.
Forallordersandfloralenquiries,pleasecall(03)[email protected].
www.cafevita.org.au
SIX HUNDRED TOUR MGC’s HISTORIC GATE LODGE - OPEN HOUSE MELBOURNEDuringtheweekendof27and28July,thedoorsofMelbourneGeneralCemetery’s(MGC)heritagelistedGateLodgewereopenedtothecommunityfreeofchargeaspartofthesixthannualOpenHouseMelbourne(OHM).ThisincreasinglypopulareventcelebratesMelbourne’smostremarkableandiconicbuildingsandarchitecture.
Over600visitorsenjoyedthisrareopportunitytoseeinsidethefascinatingformerresidence,withguidedtoursconductedthroughouttheday.
Selfguidedtournoteswerealsoprovidedforthosewhopreferredtowanderthroughthishistoricallysignificantcemeteryattheirleisure.
ThisisonlythesecondyearthatMGChasparticipatedinOHM,howeverSMCTwashonouredtohostthelaunchoftheannualeventwithinMGC’slowergroundleveloftheSaintMaryoftheCrossMausoleum.Thelauncheventwasahugesuccess,withover150invitedguestsmeanderingthroughMGC’sPrimeMinister’sGarden,greetedby‘PrimeMinisters’,SirRobertMenzies,SirJohnGreyGortonandHaroldHolt.TrustChair,SueRenkinwelcomedtheguests,toursoftheGateLodgewereconductedbyourresidenthistorian,DrCelestinaSagazioandexceptionalcateringwasprovidedbySMCT’sCaféVitaetflores.
GuestswereintriguedbythedesignofthestateoftheartmausoleumandOHMAmbassador,PeterMaddison,listedMGCasoneofhistopfivelocationsinthe2013program.
SMCTNewsUpdate|August2013|Page3
SMCT’S SOUTHERN AGEING FORUM (SAF) IS A PLATFORM FOR NETWORKING AND ENGAGING WITH SENIORS GROUPS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPALITIES AND AGED CARE PROVIDERS.Itisapodiumforthediscussionofvariousage-relatedissuesandprovidesSMCTwithanopportunitytoexploreandunderstandtheneedsofthecommunity’sageingpopulation.
ThethirdSAFforumwasheldatSpringvaleBotanicalCemeteryon6Augustwithapproximately30attending,includingmembersofCOTAAustralia,whichisthepeaknationalorganisationrepresentingtherights,needsandinterestsofolderAustralians.
Afocusofthisforumwastopromotesocialinteraction,educationandwellbeing.Asanageing-friendlyorganisation,SMCTactivelyencouragestheuseofourgroundsandfacilitiesandprovidescomplimentarytours,talksandget-togethersforcommunityenjoyment.Forfurtherinformationregardingutilisingthecemeterygroundsorarrangingacomplimentarytourortalk,pleasephoneSpringvaleBotanicalCemeteryon(03)85588278.
www.smct.org.au/southern-ageing-forum
MEET THE SMCT TEAM
LEANNEGUNNULSONCONSUMERINSIGHTSMANAGER,EASTERNREGION
LeannehasworkedextensivelyinConsumerInsightsandjoinedtheSMCTConsumerInsightsteaminJulyofthisyear.
WhenaskedaboutherrolewithinSMCT,Leannesaid,“Excitingly,stakeholderengagementisaprioritywithinSMCTandintegraltoourvision.Itisaboutlisteningtoneeds,respondingappropriatelyandchangingdirectionbecauseyouvaluethefeedbackfromthecommunityyouarelisteningto.Italsomeansgoingwherethepeopleare,joiningintheconversationsandrespectingthestatusofotherswhoareleadingtheconversation.”
NEW RELEASE WITHIN SONG HE YUANSongHeYuancatersforAsianstyleburialandcremationandisdesignedinaccordancewithFengShuiprinciples.AsthefirstofitskindinAustralia,theSongHeYuanrepresentstheclearcommitmentSpringvaleBotanicalCemeteryhastotheAsianCommunity.
Duetodemand,anumberofnewlimitedopportunitieshavejustbeenreleased.SuperDeluxeandPremiumgraves,limitedFamilyGraves(6mx6m)andavarietyofcremationmemorialsarenowavailable.
Takeadvantageofinterestfree,extendedpaymenttermsandsecureapositionattoday’sprice.Pleasecall(03)85588278oremailsbc@smct.org.auformoreinformationortoarrangeatouroftheSongHeYuan.
SongHeYuanbrochureisavailableinEnglish,MandarinandVietnamese.
Toorderacopy,pleasecall(03)85588278.
SMCTNewsUpdate|August2013|Page4
Community & Events Update
FATHER’SDAYREMEMBRANCESERVICE,THURSDAY29AUGUST,BUNURONGMEMORIALPARK,7PM
On29Augustat7.00pm,BunurongMemorialPark,inconjunctionwithAllisonMonkhouse,willhostourannualFather’sDayRemembranceservice.Followingtheceremonytohonourfathers,commemorativelanternswillbeplacedonBunurong’stranquilLakePeace.Forfurtherinformation,pleasephone(03)[email protected]
www.smct.org.au/events/details/44
POLICEREMEMBRANCEDAYENDOFDAYREFLECTIONSERVICE,FRIDAY27SEPTEMBER,SPRINGVALEBOTANICALCEMETERY,4PM
EachyearSpringvaleBotanicalCemeteryhoststheofficialcloseofNationalPoliceRemembranceDaytohonourmembersofthepoliceforceandtheirfamilies.The4.00pmservice,conductedbyRev.Dr.JohnBroughtonwillbeheldatthededicatedPoliceMemorialwithinourgrounds.Allwelcome.
www.smct.org.au/events/details/45
ALLSOULSDAYMASS
Tocommemoratethefaithfuldeparted,SMCTwillhostfiveholymassesinfourofourlocationsthisNovember.
VIETNAMESEALLSOULSDAYMASS,SATURDAY2NOVEMBER,SPRINGVALEBOTANICALCEMETERY,11AM
www.smct.org.au/events/details/46
ALLDENOMINATIONSALLSOULSDAYMASS,SATURDAY2NOVEMBER,SPRINGVALEBOTANICALCEMETERY,3PM
www.smct.org.au/events/details/47
ALLDENOMINATIONSALLSOULSDAYMASS,SATURDAY2NOVEMBER,CHELTENHAMMEMORIALPARK,3PM
www.smct.org.au/events/details/48
ALLDENOMINATIONSALLSOULSDAYMASS(inItalian),SUNDAY3NOVEMBER,MELBOURNEGENERALCEMETERY,3PM
www.smct.org.au/events/details/49
ALLDENOMINATIONSALLSOULSDAYMASS,SATURDAY9NOVEMBER,BUNURONGMEMORIALPARK,3PM
www.smct.org.au/events/details/50
CHILDREN’SCHRISTMASREMEMBRANCESERVICE,SUNDAY1DECEMBER,SPRINGVALEBOTANICALCEMETERY,7PM
Amovingannualserviceheldforfamiliesduringthisveryspecialtimeoftheyear.
www.smct.org.au/events/details/51
MELBOURNEGENERALCEMETERYPRESENTATION,THURSDAY24OCTOBER,GENEALOGICALSOCIETYOFVICTORIA,12.30PM
AtalkbyhistorianCelestinaSagazio.Allwelcome.
www.smct.org.au/events/details/52
HISTORICHALLOWEENTOURS,THURSDAY31OCTOBER,MELBOURNEGENERALCEMETERY,FROM7.20PM
Duringournighttours,ourexperiencedguideswill‘introduce’youtoMelbourneGeneralCemetery’swho’swho,whilegivingyoufascinatinginsightsintooneofAustralia’smosthistoricallysignificantcemeteries.
www.smct.org.au/events/details/36
HISTORICALANDBOTANICALWALKINGTOUR,SATURDAY15NOVEMBER,SPRINGVALEBOTANICALCEMETERY,2PM
AwalkwithhistorianCelestinaSagazio.
www.smct.org.au/events/details/39
SMCTNewsUpdate|August2013|Page5
RECEPTION UPGRADEToenhancethevisitorexperience,SpringvaleBotanicalCemeteryhasrecentlyrefurbishedthereceptionarea,whichiscomplementedbybeautifulframedimagesofSMCTlocationsandiconicmemorials.
Adigitalscreenwasalsoinstalled,whichprovidesclientswithinformationregardingallSMCTlocations,memorialoptions,planningaheadandupcomingevents.
Adigitalkioskattheentranceoftheadministrationbuilding,provideseasyaccesstoinformationontheday’sservicesandmapsofchapelsandburiallocations.ClientscanalsosearchourDeceasedSearchsite.
WeareintheprocessofdevelopingphasetwoofthekioskandarelookingtoinstallmorescreensandkiosksacrossSpringvaleBotanicalCemeteryandBunurongMemorialPark.
NEW CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDAfterconsiderablethoughtandplanning,wearedelightedtoannouncethataspecialChildren’sRecreationalPlaygroundhasbeencarefullyintegratedintoanareaadjacenttotheA.J.A.GardnerChildren’sareaatSpringvaleBotanicalCemetery.
Specificallydesignedtoensurethatitcomplementsthisspecialarea,thepurposeoftheplaygroundistoprovidechildrenwithafocalpointaftertheyhavepaidtheirrespects.Withyoungerchildrensafelyoccupied,itishopedthatparentsandotherfamilymembershaveadditionaltimetoreflectandremember.
AllfamilymembersarewelcometoenjoythebeautyandtranquillityofSpringvaleBotanicalCemeteryandwehopethatthisinnovationwillnotonlyhelptodemystifyourcemetery,butalsomakeyoungchildrenmorecomfortablewhenvisiting.
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorwouldliketoprovidefeedback,pleasecontactCherylMorrison(03)85588273between10.00amand2.30pmweekdaysoremailcheryl.morris@smct.org.au.
WILSON AND BLAIR CHAPEL UPDATESThetwosmallerchapelsatSpringvaleBotanicalCemeterywererecentlyrefurbishedandnowprovideamorecomfortableexperienceforourvisitingclientfamilies.Therefurbishmentsincludequalityreupholsteringofthepews,leatherottomanswithinthefoyers,newcarpetandfurniturethroughout.
CRYPT OPPORTUNITIES AT SMCT - SPRINGVALE SOLD OUTWhileSpringvaleBotanicalCemetery(SBC)housesthousandofcryptsforabove-groundinterment,thelastremainingcrypthasrecentlybeensold.Manyclientfamilieshavetakenadvantageofthebenefitsofpre-payingwithanot-for-profitorganisationandassuchtherearenofurtherpositionsavailableatSBC.
However,BunurongMemorialPark(lessthan15minutesdrivefromSBC)hasalargerangeonhighqualitycryptsavailableonalllevels.SMCTalsohascryptopportunitiesatCheltenhamMemorialPark,MelbourneGeneralandBrightonGeneralcemeteries.
Bypre-payingacryptatanSMCTcemeteryyounotonlysecureadesiredlocation,butyoulockinthefeesattoday’spriceandcantakeadvantageofinterestfreeextendedpaymentterms.
Planaheadwithanot-for-profitorganisation–NoRisk,NoOngoingFees.
SPRINGVALE BOTANICAL CEMETERY UPDATE
SMCTNewsUpdate|August2013|Page6
TheSouthernMetropolitanCemeteriesTrustisanot-for-profit,communitybasedorganisationthatcaresforBrightonGeneral,BunurongMemorialPark,CheltenhamMemorialPark,CheltenhamPioneer,DandenongCommunity,MelbourneGeneral, SpringvaleBotanicalandStKildacemeteries.
Telephone(03)95469377Facsimile(03)95468628 PrincesHighwaySpringvale–POBox1159,ClaytonVic3169 [email protected]
BUNURONG MEMORIAL PARK MASTER PLAN
Establishedin1995,BunurongMemorialPark(BMP)isthenewestSMCTpropertyandislargelyundeveloped,withlessthan26hectaresofa100-hectaresitecurrentlyutilisedasanoperationalcemetery.
InMay2012,TheTrustapprovedanewmasterplanforBMP,whichrepresentsanaturalprogressionandimprovementofformersiteplanningandprovidesaroadmapforstageddevelopmentacrossthelocation.Theplanpromotesafunctionalandenjoyableenvironmentandkeyelementsinclude:
•Aflexibleframework,maximisingtheabilityofBMPtorespondtocurrentandfuture
communityneeds.
•Stagingandphasingtominimisedisturbancetothecommunity.
•Easeofpedestrianaccess.
•Developmentofnewwaterfeatures,park-likelawnenvironments,vistasandsightlines.
•Transparencyofbasicfunctionsofthecemetery,toassistindemystifyingourindustry.
•Establishmentofdroughttoleranthorticulturalandarboricultureregimes.
•Creationofnewadministration,chapelandfunctionfacilities.
•Respectfulacknowledgementofexistingintermentobligationsandintegrationof
establishedareas.
•Retentionofallexistingmatureriverredgumstoprovidecharacterandmaturityinthe
landscape.
SMCTwillensurethatthedevelopmentwillnotinterferewithdailyservicesatBunurongMemorialPark.
Keepuptodateonlineatwww.bmp.smct.org.au/planningprogressorpleasecalluson(03)97889488.
GUESS WHO IS AT BRIGHTON GENERAL
CEMETERY?
TheinfamouscriminalSquizzy Taylor,whoisthesubjectofarecentTVseries,isburiedinthecemetery.
Sir John Monash,engineer,militaryleader,administrator,wasbroadlyregardedasthegreatestlivingAustralianinthe1920s.
Premier Sir Thomas Bent was aptlynamedashewasassociatedwithanumberofscandals,includingreroutingtransportlinestofavourhislandinvestments.Hisdeathin1909waspartlytheresultofthestrainoffacingaroyalcommissiontoinvestigateallegationsofcorruptionandirregularityingovernmentlandpurchases.
GUESS WHO IS AT ST KILDA CEMETERY?
Alfred Deakin,threetimesPrimeMinister,hasahumblegrave:anopenbookwithnomentionofthefacthewasPrimeMinisterorhisotherachievements.
Ifyougoregularlytothecinema,youwouldhaveseenthebusinessnameVal Morganuponthescreenmanytimes.ValMorganwasapublicistwhorosetothetopofhisprofession.Hisbusinessgrewbythe1930stobethelargestcinemaadvertisingcompanyinVictoriaandspreadtoSouthAustraliaandWesternAustralia.HisdescendantsmadethecompanythelargestadvertisingfirminAustralia.