NSW Tumut Riverina & Snowy Mtns Barry Blundell

Many thanks to Barry for providing his Snapshot

Riverina celebrant Barry James Blundell JP Authorised Civil Celebrant - Appointed January 2009

After completing high school at Tumut NSW; I moved to Sydney where I commenced a long career with the Post Master General’s Department (later to become Telstra). I returned to my home town ten years later, as an employee of Telstra in a customer service representative role. I have become more familiar with my local area and nearby regions of New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

What attracted me to Celebrancy? Over the years, it had been suggested by some family, friends and even community members that since I was ‘community minded’; ‘had a way with people’ and ‘the gift of the gab’, I should capitalise on these abilities and investigate ways to use these talents professionally.

Whilst leisurely reading a professional quarterly newsletter, in January 2008, my attention was drawn to an advertisement within its pages relating civil celebrancy training. After some thought and discussion with my wife, I began researching the role. I conducted some research within my local region and found that one of two local celebrants had moved away from the area over recent years. I had no reason to procrastinate any longer as my life had changed from “full on” to “what to do next”! So, my decision was made; I would commence a new journey and pursue a new career into Civil Celebrancy.

Not content with just simply studying “Marriage Celebrancy”, I also successfully completed a full compliment of civil celebrancy training modules during 2008. My authorisation as a registered Civil Marriage Celebrant was granted on the 15th January 2009 and since that time I have also completed an additional ‘Dual Certificate IV’ course in ‘Marriage Celebrancy’ and ‘Small Business Management’.

I am a very proud member of two civil celebrant associations; the ‘Australian Celebrants and Celebrations Network’ (ACCN), owner’s of the website on which this “Snapshot” appears and the ‘South Eastern Australia Civil Marriage Celebrants Association Inc’ (SEACMCA). Both of these wonderful organisations have been a fantastic source of information and inspiration to me, keeping me up to date with civil celebrancy trends and ongoing legalities attached to marriage celebrancy, almost as quickly as they happen.

A treasured memory? A celebrant’s very first wedding, as most celebrants will tell you, is usually the most memorable. In my case however, each of the weddings in which I have played a part have given me special moments to remember. Here is just one example.

The bride, bride-groom, members of the bridal party, the groom’s two sons along with the bride’s parents attended the wedding rehearsal a few days before the wedding. Since there was going to be approximately 100 guests attending the ceremony, the register table, chair, PA, radio microphones and music were set up and tested. All went well, everything worked perfectly! All those present at the rehearsal knew where they were to be, what they were to say and what they were to do during the ceremony...fantastic!! The wedding ceremony and weather forecast for the coming Saturday was discussed and from all appearances the forecast was for a great day! I’m sure everyone present went home feeling really enlightened at how well everything had gone and even the groom’s two sons seemed confident with their task on the day.

The morning of the wedding arrived and almost everyone involved with this wedding would have been watching the skies continuously for any changes in the heavens above, as I know I was! At 1pm the wedding was underway. I was nervous, the bride and groom were obviously nervous but the groom’s two sons, (both of whom would be stating an ‘acceptance vow’ each to the bride) who were expected to nervous appeared unbelievably relaxed. No-one was completely sure whether the lads would be able to remember the lines to their vows enough to recite them without assistance from me, but I was ready for that eventuality just in case!

Suffice to say, the great weather held and the ceremony went even better than anyone could have hoped. The boys did really well remembering and reciting their acceptance vows, each on their own, to their father’s new wife, their new mother figure! It wasn’t rain from the heavens that fell at approximately 1.15pm that afternoon; it was tears from most of those guests present, including mine!

Where would I like to be in five years? Since gaining my Marriage Celebrant’s authorisation in 2009, I will pursue ongoing studies so that I may continue with my civil celebrancy adventure... and learn what I can from where-ever I can. Suffice to say that my goal five years from now will see me a full time civil celebrant who has been able to retire from his current part-time role as a school bus / coach driver.

Barry James Blundell CMC JP

Professional Civil Marriage, Family, Naming and Funeral Celebrant

Tumut - Riverina & Snowy Mtns Regions.

More about Barry

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