V4 G Cook Poet, A Grandmother's Mystery, The Many Tunes, ANZACS,

Graeme Cook - Funeral Celebrant and Poet

Very busy one day, I told her I could not get the cars she wanted straight away, and handed her a sheaf of poems I had written, suggesting she may perhaps find something she liked. When I returned, some 15 minutes later, she was still riveted, and thoughtfully suggested that, based on my writings, I would make a good Funeral Celebrant.

To be fair, those poems, which I no longer have, or even remember, were pretty angst-ridden at the time, but it did leave me to ponder at length on all the people I had known and loved, attended their Funerals, and seen them so appallingly represented!

I figured that I could do a better job!

So, I did a Diploma of Funeral Celebrancy with ‘the College’, and went out looking for work!

After 8 years, and hundreds of Funerals, I readily describe myself as being ‘a round peg in a round hole’. I love what I do, and I like it to show!

Strangely enough, the first Funeral Service I ever wrote, was over 20 years ago, for my Father, as the Celebrant, a lovely lady, had got so many details horribly wrong! To the extent that there would not have been 1 person in the Chapel, (A 50/50 split between strict Methodists on one side, and alcoholics, adulterers, and ratbags on the other), that wound not have been horribly offended at what she had planned to say!

My rewrite, though still honest and complete, was a hit with everyone, but I had no idea at the time that I would one day be doing this professionally.

A key player throughout this whole scenario though, has been poetry, for which it was noticed that I had a talent for, way back in Grade 5 at Ringwood State, the same year that my dear little Scottish teacher, Miss Enterkin, gave me my lasting love and respect for words.

Rhymes came easy to me, a string to my bow of wit it seems, and years later I was to put those skills to use in generating rhymes and songs for Scout events during my 12 years as a Scout Leader, even writing a Scout Bong Book.

I found though, after composing many a verse for people’s Birthdays, funny rhymes for workplaces, etc., was that the true power of poetry was the ability to put my heart on my sleeve as it were, and express feelings in a manner that was both clear, and entertaining, and that you could actually speak more, while saying less.

With a happy knack of being able to draw accurate conclusions from limited information, I have many times described situations with both clarity and brevity, and have felt free to let my emotions spill onto the paper, be they anger, grief, laughter, or love.

My apparent suitability for Funeral Celebrancy is born of a compassion, understanding, and empathy due, to a large extent, on my own personal losses, and certainly a broad spectrum of living and situations, but these have been heightened and honed, by the magic of verse.

I have been able t help other Celebrants at times, normally at a distance, with a purpose-written poem stemming from a handful of pertinent details, knocked together a few nice generic verses too, and for the last 3 years or so, have performed in pubs and restaurants in inner Melbourne, making people laugh, cry, or bristle a little, as I combine my somewhat irreverent senses of humour and social justice, with enough poetic talent, it seems, to prevent my audience throwing rotten vegetables.

Anyway, I’ve taken enough of your time, but I’m sure we’ll talk again.

All the best!
Graeme Cook
Ringwood Melbourne Victoria
Graeme's ACCN Listing/