Celebrancy was not an obvious career choice when I was in high school. However, my obsession with history, literature and theatre studies began in those classrooms. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, these subjects laid the foundations for me to learn, write and perform as a good Celebrant does. Yet I still graduated Year 12 without a clue.
Instead, I entered the workforce full time, and though I wrestled with the prospect of a university degree, I gave myself permission to wait and perhaps my calling would find me… like a Hogwarts letter!

Embracing adulthood (and all of its glorious responsibilities) gave me the opportunity to observe and listen, to gain perspective and develop compassion, and to create meaningful connections with the people I love. Over the last 10 years, I’ve held three jobs and entertained countless career pathways. None of them called to me the way Celebrancy did, but all of them shared one thing in common - purpose. I always knew that my work had to serve a purpose, greater than my own ambitions.

Disclaimer: this part of the story describes loss of a loved one.

Celebrancy found me in November 2023.

When my Mum sadly and suddenly passed away, my family and I were devastated (we still are). As her children, the people who knew her best, we were tasked with planning a funeral yet mourning the most profound loss of our lives. We were in shock and disbelief, all the while trying to recall our fondest memories of her for the tributes we were planning to give. I’d never done that before. The funerary service we chose to use was our guiding light during that time. We leaned on them for support and direction, and they readily gave us that. When decisions were being made, they suggested a Celebrant to perform the eulogy, and we accepted their recommendation straight away. The Celebrant was all the right things we needed - kind, sincere and sympathetic.
When I gave my tribute at the funeral, my heart was breaking but my words were clear. I shared my story about Mum, I asked her to look over me and made my promises to her before stepping away from the podium to rub my siblings’ backs as they gave their tributes as well.

It seemed like the most ill-timed place to heed a calling… but I didn’t ignore it. Before my tribute had even started, I knew that I wanted my words to be remembered. Not because I had personally spoke them aloud, but because of the meaning they held to her.
Words are powerful healers. They paint the colours of our memories; connect us when we’re alone; hold our hands when we’re scared; hug us with pride when we succeed. Irrefutably, words have and will always be present when life has something to say.

I quickly enrolled in Certificate IV of Celebrancy the next month.

So, if you made it this far - firstly, well done! I know that was a journey, but I am grateful that you decided to join me.
Secondly, as you can probably tell, I like words - a lot. But more importantly, I like words that teach me something real. Not only am I a fully qualified and registered Celebrant, but I am also excited to learn about you and how you want your story to be remembered.