Katrina Lavrack - Civil Celebrant - It's Worth Celebrating

My Websites Worth

2011-05-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight as I sat in front of the telly, playing with my iPhone I decided to google my name to see how many pages I have managed to grace on the Internet. In the last 3 months the number of pages has increased from 8 to 15 which blows me away but even more surprising is that I found a reference to my website ranking it at number 13 and being worth US$1482.30. Now I created this page myself as a complete novice so I am totally blown away by this. Hopefully it will continue to increase in value and be worth advertising on!

Conducting a Funeral Service

2011-01-18T17:32:00.000-08:00

I recently had the privilege of delivering a Funeral Service for a friend's father.

Funerals are not something I was planning on doing anytime soon as a Civil Celebrant as I did not think I was cut out for the task.

As I took the stand I introduced myself to the congregation and apologised in advance should I break down during the delivery.

Needless the say I teared up right at that very moment but I managed to compose myself within seconds and went on to deliver a service that was fitting, touching and personal, as I had had the privilege of having known the deceased.

At the conclusion of the service not only was I thanked and complimented by many of the family and friends in attendance but I also received a big hug and congratulations from the Funeral Director who knew I had never conducted a funeral before let alone having to do it for someone I knew.

I guess in hindsight I am more capable than I give myself credit for.

I have been told by so many people over the years that I should get into the Funeral business as, having lost my mother when I was only 9 years old and then losing both my Grandparents as a young adult, (whom raised me after my mother's passing) I was attune to the feelings of grief expressed at the loss of a loved one.

I know I can help those left behind deal with the difficult times that they are faced with with both compassion and understanding, but can I do it without taking that grief on board myself?

I know I want to help, and I know I want to make a difference, but I also know I don't want to fall into a constant state of sadness from it all.

I would be really interested to hear from other celebrants who conduct Funeral services so if any fellow celebrants are following this blog post, please post a reply.

Kind Regards
Katrina

For my mum

2011-01-10T07:11:00.001-08:00

With the passing of each day I grow closer to the age you slipped away.
Now a woman in her prime not the little girl of nine.
Two children of my own,
Husband
House we made a home
When I catch a glimpse of my reflection is it you that I can see?
The resemblence is so strong,
you are still a part of me.
How I wish that I could hold you,
tell you how I really feel
Because that little girl is dying
And the adult shining through.
Am I being a good mother?
Am I doing those things right?
It's hard to tell without you
Makes it hard to sleep at night.
Oh mother I still love you
And I miss you everyday
So I'm writing you this message to help ease the pain away.
- for Carol 1942 to 1984.

Copyright: Katrina Lavrack 2011

Notice on Copyright. This poem is protected by Australian Copyright Law. All rights are reserved by Katrina Lavrack. No part of this poem may be reproduced in anyway without the prior written consent of Katrina Lavrack.

The Most Rewarding Job of All!

2009-12-01T22:28:00.001-08:00

When I meet new people and they ask me what I do the next question always seems to be "What made you decide to get into that industry?"

The answer is quite simple. Because it is so rewarding.

When you love what you do, it shows in the work you produce. Job satisfaction is golden.

Yesterday I came home to find a parcel on my desk. When I opened it, it contained a lovely gift from a gorgeous couple I married a week ago but even more lovely was the letter that accompanied it. I will treasure it always.

I have attached it to this blog for all to see. It's thank-yous like this that make me love my job so much.

Love and Friendship, Katrina

Sample Partnership and Commitment Ceremony

2008-06-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

First allow me to set the scene.

David and Taylor have lived together for 3 years and have 2 dogs Jessie & Lady as their ‘children’.
They have just bought a house together and as part of the ‘House warming’ party they are going to have a surprise commitment ceremony.
They would like to include a commitment vow in their ceremony. The other criteria they have requested is that they would like to be called ‘lifelong partners’. They think a presentation of certificates to their best friends Ben and Joshua, as a token of their ongoing support and friendship would be nice. They would also like to somehow include their dogs in the ceremony.

I am going to assume for this one that Jessie & Lady are lap dogs and instead of Taylor holding a bouquet of flowers she is going to hold Lady. As there is also Jessie to consider, David is going to need to hold him (not traditional for the male counterpart to hold anything but in this instance why not!)

This is what I have created for them.

Welcome everyone to the new home of David and Taylor. My name is Katrina Lavrack and I, with you have been given the honour of warming this home today.

Today is the first of many special days to be celebrated and memories to be made within these walls. A home is a place that we go to feel comfort and protection. It is our sanctuary from the cold (or with the Australian climate the heat)! A place where we invite our dearest family and friends to share in a meal or a simple cup of coffee. But what really makes a house a home?

I would like to read a poem that I have written describing just that.

What makes a house a home?
What makes a house a home?
Is it the straightening of quilts?
Or chatting on the phone?
Is it the flowers in the garden of pink, blue and white?
Or cuddling on the couch on a Friday night?
Or maybe it’s the material possessions
But what if they’re lacking because of recession!
It’s the family within that creates the backbone,
And that my friends is what makes a house a home.
Copyright: Katrina Lavrack 2008

Family is important to David & Taylor and this is why all of you are here today. To them, family extends beyond members of their own bloodline to include their dearest friends and their ‘babies’ Jessie and Lady.

And now before all of you here today, David and Taylor would like to pledge their commitment to one another as Lifelong Partners. Surprise!

Ben and Joshua would you do the honour of acting as witness to this pledge by taking your place beside David and Taylor (and could we have Jessie & Lady please?)

Taylor do you pledge to be the lifelong partner of David. To be ever faithful and committed to him only.
Taylor to respond.

David do you pledge to be the lifelong partner of Taylor. To be ever faithful and committed to her only.
David to respond.

In the words of Nicholas Gordon I would like to say that:

You are a family now, a whole,
Of which you are a part,
And you will hold this family
Safe within your heart.
You do not love each other differently,
Nor would you give up less
Of all that life has given you
To bring you happiness.
There is no limit to your love,
No boundary you might cross,
No price you might be asked to pay,
No need to fear its loss.
You are now one, the four of you,
Windows of one home.
As long as you have life and breath,
You'll never be alone.
Author – Nichols Gordon. Modified by Katrina Lavrack 2008.

(Kiss)

We will now conclude the ceremony by signing the commitment certificates. Katrina to present commemorative certificates to Ben & Joshua.

(A favourite song of David & Taylor's can play whilst we sign the certificates).

All names excluding my own are fictitious and are used for the sole purpose of demonstration.

Copyright: Katrina Lavrack 2008
Notice on Copyright. This ceremony is protected by Australian Copyright Law. All rights are reserved by Katrina Lavrack. No part of this ceremony may be reproduced in anyway without the prior written consent of Katrina Lavrack.

Sample Renewal of Vows Ceremony

2008-05-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

First allow me to set the scene.

Sue & Wally were married 15 years ago on the 5th January 1993 in St Mary's Church, Ascot Vale. They have 10 year old twins Carley & James who are to be included in the ceremony. Sue and Wally have written some vows they would like to use. Their original bridesmaid Joanne will be doing a reading. They built their home together and take great pride in their rose garden out the back and this is where they would like the ceremony to be conducted. Sue and Wally would like their children to sign a certificate as witnesses to the renewal of vows.

This is what I have created for them.

Hello and welcome everyone to the Renewal of Vows between Sue and Wally. My name is Katrina Lavrack and I feel very honoured, as I am sure you all do, to be a part of this momentous occasion in Sue and Wally’s lives; and what a fitting setting we have to hold a beautiful occasion between two souls unified in love.

This garden is symbolic of the relationship between Sue and Wally. They built it up from seedlings and over the years their nurturing has made it bloom into the beautiful garden we are standing in today. Yes there are some thorns amongst the roses but every good relationship contains hard and trying times. It is these obstacles which, if overcome together increase the strength and longevity of our love and Sue and Wally are a true testament to that.

Sue and Wally would have stood before most of you 15 years ago today in St Mary’s Church, Ascot Vale where they first made their martial promises to each other. Joanne was their bridesmaid and Sue and Wally are delighted to have her also take part in today’s ceremony by reading to us “They thought they'd never make it" - by Nicholas Gordon (adapted by Katrina Lavrack)

They thought they'd never make it,
But now they've come this far.
Today we celebrate their love
And honor who they are.

They had a hard beginning,
Adults before their time.
But growing up together made
their deepest roots entwine.

And as their one life passes,
Through love they live for two:
A celebration of joy
They on this day renew.

Thank you Joanne.

The most precious gifts that have bloomed from this loving union between Sue and Wally are their twins Carly & James whom are the center of their world. They are here today to bear witness to this declaration of love between their parents, which now also includes them. As they are an extension of what were once Sue and Wally, Carly & James will sign the renewal of vows certificate at the end of the ceremony.

Sue, will you continue to have this man as your husband, your life long partner to remain honest with him and faithful to him alone?

Response.

Wally, will you continue to have this woman as your wife, your life long partner to remain honest with her and faithful to her alone?

Response.

Sue and Wally have written new vows to exchange today which reflect how far they have come together in life. I now ask that you take each other’s hand and recite those vows to each other.

Sue to recite her vows to Wally.

Wally to recite his vows to Sue.

Sue and Wally have chosen not to exchange new rings today but instead to plant a new rose bush in their garden to commemorate the occasion. They will nurture it, as they will their relationship, and it will serve as a constant reminder of the love they share.

(Sue and Wally to place rose bush in pre-dug hole and Carly & James to place a small handful of soil around it)

Sue and Wally you have declared before me, before your family and friends and before your children that you will continue to live together in marriage. You have made promises to each other and these have been symbolised by the taking of vows and the planting of a rose bush. I call upon all present here today to witness with me this reaffirmation. I declare that they have been, and will remain, husband and wife.

(Kiss)

Sue and Wally to sign the reaffirmation certificate which myself will witness and their two children, Carly & James. Carly & James to each be presented with a commemorative certificate of their own.

All names excluding my own are fictitious and are used for the sole purpose of demonstration.

Notice on Copyright. This ceremony is protected by Australian Copyright Law. All rights are reserved by Katrina Lavrack. No part of this ceremony may be reproduced in anyway without the prior written consent of Katrina Lavrack.

Sample Name Giving Ceremony

2008-05-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

First allow me to set the scene.

Molly & Ben Jones have asked me to conduct a Name giving ceremony for their little girl Carol Ann.
Carol was born on the 26th September 2007. Molly loves astrology and would like something included in reference to Carol's star sign significance.
Carol has a half sister, Skye which Molly and Ben would like acknowledged during the ceremony. Molly's parents Valerie & Jim and Ben’s mum Ann are very supportive grandparents and are very excited about the ceremony as Molly and Ben have asked them to accept the role of guardian to Carol. Ben's dad Harvey passed away a few years ago and both Molly and Ben would like him mentioned during the ceremony. Molly & Ben would like to include one other aspect to mark the conclusion of the ceremony. I have suggested a release of pink balloons, one representing each guest (or if a large group, each family) present and two white balloons signifying Carol and her deceased grandfather Harvey.

This is what I have created for them.

Hello everyone and welcome to the Naming of Carol Ann. My name is Katrina Lavrack and I have the honoured privilege of presenting Carol before you today. Thank you to Molly and Ben for including us in such a special occasion in Carol’s life.

Sadly not everyone can be here in body today. Ben, your father Harvey has moved on from this world but his presence is surely felt by all as he watches over you as you welcome your beautiful daughter. Please take comfort in the thought that he will be watching over Carol as she grows from this beautiful baby into a gracious young woman.

Carol is a Libran, which is considered one of the most civilised of the twelve zodiacal characters. They possess elegance, charm and good taste. Are kind and gentle and lovers of beauty and harmony. What wonderful qualities to possess! Carol is already off to a flying start on her journey through life.

Now Carol’s big sister Skye would like to present her with a token charm of her star sign. (Ask Skye to come forward and present her gift to her sister).

Valerie, Jim and Ann; you have made a wonderful contribution to Carol’s life so far as doting grandparents. Now you will also accept the role of guardians, mentoring Carol throughout her life. Will each of you please place a hand on Carol and repeat after me:

Carol we promise to accept our responsibility as guardian and we pledge our guidance and affection for you.

Molly & Ben will you also please place your hands upon Carol and repeat after me:

We love you and proudly call you Carol Ann Jones.

I will now read a pledge which upon completion would you please all say We Agree.

We will all call you Carol Ann Jones so therefore we name you Carol Ann Jones. We wish for you long life and happiness in a loving and peaceful world. May you bring joy to your parents, your guardians and to all of us; your family and friends. May you contribute to making this world a better and happier place.

Please say WE AGREE.

Now lets take a moment to play Carol’s favourite song -Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

This ceremony will in no way inhibit Carol from seeking the truth during her life be that from a future religious or spiritual belief. In fact, it is the duty of us all here today to present Carol in the future years with a broad and balanced view of life and to encourage her to be virtuous, show integrity, honesty, fairness and to have love, concern and compassion for her fellow human beings. In a short moment we will conclude the ceremony with the release of balloons. There is a pink balloon to represent each of you here today and two white balloons to signify Carol and her deceased grandfather Harvey.

(Katrina to hold Carol)

Carol, the world holds many great adventures for you. May life bestow you with riches and joys and may you grow in health of body and mind to full adulthood. May you play a worthy part in making the world a better place by bestowing light upon those whose paths you cross.

Ladies and Gentlemen I now present you Carol Ann Jones.

(Release balloons).

All names excluding my own are fictitious and are used for the sole purpose of demonstration.

Ceremonies and Copyright

2008-05-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Today with advanced technology at our fingertips and the increased number of peer to peer sharing sites on the internet copyright infringements are happening everywhere. As a civil celebrant one must be extremely careful not to breach any copyright laws.

The good news for celebrants is that there are exemptions that apply to the use of music in public ceremonies. It is acknowledged that traditionally music plays an important role in ceremonial services and so the Public Performance Licenses for playing sound recordings or for the public performance of live music are not required.

Having said this one must however consider the implications of filming a ceremony. If you plan to have a professional record your ceremony for video or DVD I would suggest you check that they have applied for the relevant licenses as the onus is on them to do so. But what if you plan to make a home video or wish to make a photographic slide show of your memories set to music? This is where most people cross the line of copyright infringement. The truth is a license is in fact required so how do you go about obtaining one? There are some great websites that outline what protocol to follow. For clarity on the issue visit the Australian Copyright Council website or the Attorney General's website. They answer a vast number of questions related to the topic and supply further links to the relevant agencies for obtaining licenses.

When it comes to your reception the rules change from those stipulated above for a ceremony. Music and songs performed live by a band and/or singer do not require a license but music and songs that are recorded and played from CD, cassette or LP do. Generally these licenses are already held by the venue but again it does not hurt to enquire just to be sure!

Hello and Welcome

2008-05-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

Well first let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Katrina Lavrack and I am a Civil Celebrant. New to the business but bursting with enthusiasm and ideas. Have you noticed that the majority of civil celebrants are middle aged? I did when I was looking for a celebrant to marry my husband and I and I thought it strange because in this day and age it would seem the younger generation are the ones looking for an alternative to church weddings, christenings etc. I myself would have liked a celebrant that had a youthful approach and ideas to match. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that older more distinguished celebrants aren't excellent at what they do I just think a fresh approach wouldn't go astray.

At this stage I have not been appointed by the Attorney General as a Marriage Celebrant so if you are looking for a celebrant to officiate your wedding I'm sorry I cannot help you (check back with me later in the year for my position on this one!) but as far as any other non-legally binding ceremonies go I would be delighted to be of assistance! STOP PRESS ..AS OF 19 NOVEMBER 2008 I AM NOW OFFICIALLY A FULLY APPOINTED CIVIL MARRIAGE CELEBRANT!

Some of the more common non-legal ceremonies are Commitment Ceremonies; a fabulous way for a couple to declare their love, commitment and spiritual bond with one another before their family and friends. These ceremonies are particularly popular with same sex couples whom sadly still don't have the right to wed legally.

Naming Ceremonies - Despite our parents upbringing, many of us today don't go to church unless its for a friend's wedding or sadly, a funeral. When we are faced with the inevitable question of whether or not to christen our children many of us feel hypocritical and quite often approaching the local church ends with us receiving a lecture from the Parish Priest about non attendance. I once went to a christening where the Priest made at least 6 references during the ceremony re the fact the parents were not regular members of the congregation. As a non-practicing Catholic myself I walked out of that church feeling so guilty that I vowed that if I ever had children, which I later did, I would never christen them in the church. For those of you that are committed to your faith I'm sorry if I have offended you. This is just my position on the matter. Anyway I digress. Naming Ceremonies are an excellent way to introduce your child to the world declaring your love for them and your aspirations for their future upbringing. It in no way impedes them from choosing to follow a particular faith later in life which I believe is an excellent benefit. There are so many religions and spiritual paths one can follow that the ability to live, learn, love and have the freedom to chose ones own faith later in life is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.