the southern ce meterian · smct news update | august 2013 chairman’s welcome sue renkin smct...

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)85231600oremailflorist@smct.org.au.

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)97889488oremailannette.hewett@smct.org.au

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 Websitewww.smct.org.auEmailenquiries@smct.org.au

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.