VIC Rowville Susan Cade

Many thanks to Susan for providing her profile.

Rowville celebrant Susan Cade Authorised Marriage Celebrant - Appointed September 2007

I was born in a town in England called Weston-Super-Mare in the County of Somerset and arrived in Australia in February 1964 with my parents and four brothers and three sisters all younger than me. We travelled on a ship called the Fairsea and arrived at Station Pier. On the same day we travelled by train to Yarram in South Gippsland. We were sponsored by my pen pal’s father and he arranged a house for us to rent and a job for Dad.

The one thing I remember and it was quite a culture shock, was having to use an outside toilet! I left school at the age of 14 as Mum and Dad needed my salary to help make ends meet and after a couple of jobs in the town dairy and cafe, I managed to get a job on the Yarram telephone exchange (with plugs and cords!!) Then after about three years Mum and Dad moved us to Melbourne because there were a lot more opportunities job wise and I transferred to the Melbourne Telephone Exchange.

This was the start of my love of all forms of communications and I went on to become a receptionist/ telephonist in private businesses. I taught myself how to touch type. I was a telex operator which I thought was fantastic until faxes arrived on the scene!

About 25 years ago I decided to make a career change and accepted a job in an Export Manufacturing company and I have been in the Export field since then. My role is to enter orders, arrange the shipments worldwide by air or sea and then invoice the customer giving them the shipping documents they require to be able to pick up the goods at the other end.

It is an exacting job document wise because the custom departments in every country have their own sets of rules and regulations but this role has put me in good stead to handle the documentation for my Celebrancy business.

I received a “calling” for becoming a Celebrant when my first daughter got married and I met her Celebrant. It suddenly hit me that this was something I would really like to do. At school in England I acted in a lot of Shakespeare plays, was given “speech training” and performed with my classmates in Wells Cathedral. I loved acting but never had the opportunity to take this up once I started work. Performing a wedding ceremony is like acting but with a personal touch and after years of working in office environments, conducting ceremonies is so satisfying to me.

I completed my Celebrant course in December 2004 and I was appointed in September 2007. I had to wait three years but I have to say it has been worth the wait!

A treasured memory for me would be a Renewal of Vows ceremony I performed for an 80 year old man and his wife of 58 years. It was a surprise for the wife as he had never, ever been romantic during their married life but at the age of 80 (on his birthday) he wanted to renew his vows and he also wanted a wedding ring for the very first time. I was a bit worried about how his wife would accept the announcement but she turned out to an absolute treasure. I got a lot of personal satisfaction out of this ceremony and of course, there have been some wedding ceremonies more special than others.

In my personal life I am happily married with two daughters and six grand children. My husband is also my “roadie” and it is great that he can share in my Celebrant journey with me. We both come away feeling nothing but joy and happiness.

I have been on many different committees over the years and as my first love is now Celebrancy, I am hoping to give something back very soon by joining a Celebrant Committee.

In five years time I hope to be a full time Celebrant with my office job a distant memory.

Susan Cade CMC
Civil Marriage Celebrant
Rowville Victoria

More about Susan: www.susancade.com.au

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