Coffs Harbour celebrant Cath Hogan : Appointed September 2008
I am educated in the field of sport, recreation and leisure and have dedicated my working profession to working with and for people with disabilities.
These positions have provided me with privileged opportunities such as meeting and training our paralympions and to initiate, coordinate and implement the first snow skiing trips for people with physical disabilities in NSW for 5yrs running.
Having worked in the disability industry for 25yrs, I found myself subconsciously searching for a new passion. I was reading the local newspaper one day approx. 5 yrs ago and read an article about a celebrant conference that had been held in Manly NSW. I was instantly ‘slapped’. I knew immediately that that was exactly what I should be doing. I considered all that a celebrant would do and then considered myself.
Yes, I am a people person, I love music, writing songs, love to celebrate anything and everything, I am an organizer, have a great eye for detail and am highly skilled with prevention rather than cure strategies. All that I am and all that I excel in is all that is required in a celebrant.
I completed the Marriage Celebrants course in 2005 and was placed onto the waiting list until September 2008. For the last 18 months I have been performing funeral services, naming days and commitment ceremonies but it is the funerals that have won my heart and yes I have found a new passion.
I have several treasured memories to date but the one that stands out the most for me was a funeral I performed for the family of a middle aged gentleman that was a Manly Sea Eagles supporter (Rugby League in NSW) and so am I! (as was the funeral director also) On the day of the service, I placed my manly jersey on under my suit jacket, buttoned up so it was unable to be seen, I placed my manly beach towel over the lectern and my miniature manly teddy bear up on the lectern next to my service sheets where he could be seen.
I commenced the service with the welcome and into and went on to say how Laurie was a man who was greatly accepting of others, except of course if they went for any other rugby league team other than the mighty Manly Sea Eagles …. As I was saying this, I was unbuttoning my jackey, took it off, swirled it around and gently through it to the side. Standing there in my Jersey, I continued on saying that I proudly stood here today in the mighty maroon and white in honour of Laurie and his love and passion for the Mighty Manly Sea Eagles.
Well, everyone was upstanding, yahooing, whistling and clapping, including his wife and two teenage sons.
At the completion of the service, most people asked me how many years Laurie and I had been friends? Having had never met Laurie, I had received the greatest compliment.
This of course is not something I would just do at any funeral. I completely trusted my senses and instincts and knew 100% my approach to this service with that particular family would work. They absolutely loved the service and so did I.
In five years time, my goal is to be the preferred celebrant of choice in the area that I live.
Kindest regards,
Cath
Cath Hogn
Civil Marriage Celebrant, Family and Funeral Celebrant
Coffs Harbour NSW
Visit Cath's website
|
