SA Adelaide Colleen Atkinson
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| Many thanks to Colleen for providing her profile. |
Adelaide Colleen Atkinson Authorised Marriage Celebrant - Appointed September 2004
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My working life includes 25 years’ experience in secretarial work and 7 years’ experience in community services and health work. I have two much loved sons, and live with my partner Brian, our Ragdoll cat, Willow and Chinese Crested Powder Puff dog, Kahli.
In February 2004 Brian was diagnosed with a neurological degenerative condition and four months later my current contract of work ended. These two events were catalysts in my life; I knew within a short time I would be full time carer for Brian. It was also an opportunity to pursue a long-held ambition to become a marriage celebrant, something I had aspired to years earlier. I was appointed in September of that year.
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I have always been an avid learner with an inquiring mind. I enjoy English expression and creative writing. I loved the secretarial work, and its grounding in office management and writing provided the basis for a sound celebrancy career. I loved the tertiary studies which greatly expanded my horizons, thoughts, values and philosophy. These studies included a Bachelor of Social Science (Hons), Grad. Dip in Counselling, Dip of Yoga Teaching.
I loved the community work, especially meeting and helping people to enhance their life.
Thus the opportunity to meet people, write creatively, and the ongoing learning aspect all came together for me in celebrant work. I thoroughly enjoy meeting marrying couples, chatting with them about their wedding plans, and helping to create a ceremony which will give them treasured memories of their wedding day. I also love meeting families who are planning a Baby Naming, Renewal or Commitment Ceremony.
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As civil celebrants we are able to offer marrying couples a wider choice in ceremony – whether it be the wording of their vows, the relating of their love story, the chance to reflect their own beliefs and values, their choice of day/time/location to be married, the inclusion of family and friends, the inclusion of other ritual within the ceremony
A highlight of my celebrant work was officiating at the wedding of a young woman who has been very much like a daughter to me since she and my son went to High School together. I attended her first wedding, kept in touch over many years, then lost touch, though often thought about her. We then “found” each other again on the dance floor at a local hotel Christmas Dinner! Dancing to the music, eyeing each other, then when the music stopped it was “Heather?” - “Colleen!” Six months later she announced her engagement to her then partner, and I agreed to officiate at her (small) wedding ceremony. Three weeks later I facilitated a Renewal of Vows Ceremony for them, to include more family and friends at a big After Wedding Party in their own home garden. Truly two memorable occasions and we have both declared we will not lose touch again!
As time goes by I hope to greatly increase my knowledge of ritual, celebrancy and ceremony in all its forms, and to have more time and opportunities to use that knowledge. I look forward to continually expanding my repertoire and hope to have the good health to enjoy this career for many years to come.
Colleen Atkinson
Marriage and Civil Celebrant
Adelaide SA
More about Colleen: http://www.cyberplumber.com.au/cjane/index.htm
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