British Institute of Embalmers

Date: 13 October 2010 - 19 November 2010 - 13 Oct 2010 - 19 Nov 2010

From: Reflections from funeral directors who have worked in New Zealand and Australia

By: Wheeler, Stuart Ross, 1950-

Reference: OHInt-1015-04

Description: Interview with Stuart Ross Wheeler. Born in 1950 in Foxton. Describes first jobs as grave digger and cremator at cemetery in Palmerston North 1967, and then as apprentice funeral director at Wilson Funeral Home, Wellington 1969-1972. Talks about learning from Alan Irvine, Peter Strong and Cedric Little who all attended the College of Mortuary Science in California. Refers to doing correspondence theory course with British Institute of Embalmers (BIE) and having his practical work assessed by qualified embalmers in New Zealand. Talks about working in Australia circa 1972 to 1974, working as pallbearer and body transfer assistant at Joseph Allison Funeral Directors, Brunswick, Melbourne. Discusses differences between Australian and New Zealand funeral practices. Talks about moving to South Africa in 1974, and seeing similar differences between South African and New Zealand practice. Says first job was assistant manager with family run business. Refers to being unimpressed with South African funeral practice, it being 'just a process' with a high number of funerals per year. Refers moving to manager position at branch in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. Describes attitude of Afrikaans to him and to the African families. Mentions that company employed African people to arrange funerals for African people. Recalls involvement at time of Soweto riots being 'horrendous'. Mentions decision to return to New Zealand. Says worked in New Plymouth for a year before being head hunted by Basil Gee from Gee & Hicktons, Upper Hutt. Recalls working on Mount Erebus air disaster 1979 on identification process and embalming. Talks about personal cost for him and others and leaving to work as cleaner at Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1981. Mentions receiving New Zealand Special Service medal in 2002 and New Zealand Embalmers Association function to recognise those involved. Talks about returning to work at Wilson Funeral Home, Wellington for a year, then purchasing own company in Otahuhu, Auckland. Describes dealing with predominantly Pacific Island community there for five years, and maintaining ties. Describes moving to work at Fellow Funeral Home, Hamilton for three to four years, back to Wilson Funeral Home, Wellington, and then to manage Lynchgate Funeral Home, part of Guardian Funeral Homes in Johnsonville and Porirua. Mentions massive military funeals of Major General Thornton, Major General McKinnon and state funeral for Sir David Beattie. Refers to purchasing Guardian Funeral Home in Porirua in 1998. Talks about funeral industry in New Zealand, lack of regulation, attributes for the role, caring aspect, involvement with the family. Observes changes in how consumers find a funeral business, growth in advertising, importance of word of mouth and development of 'one stop shop' funeral business. Discusses eco funeral options. Refers to having issues with Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ). Discusses development of embalming practice in New Zealand. Describes social reaction to his job and public perceptions of funeral directors. Recalls dealing with funerals of his parents and in laws. Abstracted by - Penny Brander Interviewer(s) - Penny Brander Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 1 interview(s). 2.42 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft Word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7630, OHDL-001867. Search dates: 1950 - 2010

Date: 03 October 2010 - 03 Oct 2010

From: Reflections from funeral directors who have worked in New Zealand and Australia

By: Day, Francis, 1947-

Reference: OHInt-1015-03

Description: Interview with Francis Day. Born in 1947 in Nelson, one of nine children. Describes childhood memories of growing up in family run funeral parlour business Day and Son, later known as P Day and Son Ltd, and then Eventide Funeral Services. Talks about his grandmother, Hilda Day (nee Emms), a school teacher, hockey player for New Zealand and businesswoman, and his grandfather Francis Maurice (Paddy) Day who purchased first motorized hearse in Nelson. Recalls family business in Hardy Street, the move to Vanguard Street and then to Marsden House premises to manage Marsden House Funeral directors. Talks about attending Australian Academy of Embalming and Funeral Hygiene in 1964. Discusses Australian methods of dealing with body decomposition and adoption of English customs in funeral services. Recalls in his father's time (Patrick (Pat) Day), there was method of temporary preservation and that proper embalming using intravenous circulation was important development. Refers to embalming training being in Australia, England and American resulting in 13 qualified embalmers in New Zealand by 1971. Mentions being one of three man team which developed embalming curriculum for New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA). Talks about embalming being required for hygiene, control of disease and presentation of deceased. Discusses how funeral work affects whole life and attributues neccessary for role. Observes changes from fewer family owned businesses and women entering the profession. Observes role progressed from providing coffin and transportation to profession that provides care for others. Refers to bereavement support program. Talks about his business expansion projects, opening his own crematorim in Motueka, developing 'Gardens of the World' property at Hope, Nelson. Describes tutoring embalming for 12 years and 30 years on Funeral service Training Trust (FSTT). Discusses environmental impact of embalming fluids and need for regulation of embalmers because of dealing with dangerous substances. Mentions membership of British Institute of Embalmers. Discusses Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ), their Griefcare quality assurance programme and his reasons for forming New Zealand Independent Funeral Homes (NZIFH) with others. Talks about the business covering Nelson, Rye Valley, Murchison and Golden Bay. Recalls dealing with different ethnic groups. Details Chinese funeral practises. Recounts working on police call outs for fishing industry deaths, and traumantic deaths. Mentions body removal after Inangahua earthquake. Recalls personal impact of working on Mount Erebus air disaster team. Discusses socialising as a funeral director and impact of profession on home life. Mentions dealing with children's funerals and suicides. Discusses green or eco burials. Expresses concern over direct cremation. Talks about dealing with differing family member wishes. Describes portrayals of profession in media and entertainment. Talks about his 46 years in the business and considers 'it's a calling'. Abstracted by - Penny Brander Interviewer(s) - Penny Brander Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 1 interview(s). 2.57 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7629, OHDL-001865. Search dates: 1947 - 2010

Date: 17 May 2011

From: Reflections from funeral directors who have worked in New Zealand and Australia

By: Crooks, Terrence Arthur, 1943-

Reference: OHINT-1015-09

Description: Interview with Terrence (Terry) Arthur Crook. Born 27 February 1943, Goulburn, Australia. Father was a farm manager and Mother was a machinist.Recalls first qualifying as Embalmer then leaving that profession to arrange and conduct funerals in Sydney. Mentions returning to Goulburn in 1968 to combine both professions. Talks about studying at Australian Institute of Embalming and Funeral Hygiene in 1961 run by course founder Englishman Harold Wigley. Describes motivation for becoming an embalmer and funeral director. Discusses differences between Australian and New Zealand knowledge of embalming. Talks about current shortage of embalmers in Australia. Opines that reason may be lack of encouragement. Considers New Zealand more supportive of embalming because of Maori traditions. Observes embalming uncommon in Australia unless for repatriation overseas and vault interment. Discusses changes in embalming fluid processes. Recalls being invited to convention in New Zealand due to membership with British Institute of Embalmers and being asked to join New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA). Notes New Zealand compared favourably to Australia with regard to work practices and acceptance of profession. Mentions working in funeral businesses in New Zealand. Refers to working in Richmond, Victoria, after qualifying as Embalmer. Talks about getting an untrained management position in Bankstown. Describes being thrown in the 'lions den' and learning the business the hard way from 1964 to 1966. Talks about difference between hours of work past and present day. Recalls getting promotion to Resident Manager in 1966 and working at Head office for next two years. Recalls becoming engaged to Valerie, a Goulburn girl and becoming manager of RJ Sidney Craig in Gouldburn. Recalls purchasing business in 1972 when owner died and staying there until retirement in 2004. Describes rewards of working in Goulburn as being part of community. Notes differences between country and city funerals, advantages and disadvantages of knowing everyone. Mentions being called to difficult accident situations. Mentions importance of word of mouth in small town for funeral business. Refers to purchase offers from Service Corporation International (SCI) and Stewart Enterprises. Discusses importance of finding most professional person for the job and how this is easier now due to having more choice and the training being offered. Explains professionalism and standards in funeral industry. Discusses positive impact of professional organisations such as Australian Funeral Directors Association.Mentions differences in various state regulations with regard to professional bodies.Discusses large funeral businesses taking over smaller ones and the more personal note in smaller firms. Notes greater public awareness of funeral practice, due to media presentation, education, and advertising. Observes changing client relationship with funeral director. Reflects on changes in regard to funeral services in churches becoming more personal.Talks about cultural differences in styles of funerals. Describes views on women funeral directors and how it has been a male dominated field until recently. Reflects on effects of funeral directing on own positive attitude to life. Discusses people's reactions to him and his son being funeral directors. Abstracted by - Penny Brander Interviewer(s) - Penny Brander Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 1.12 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7635, OHDL-001875. Search dates: 1943 - 2011

Date: 18 October 2010 - 18 Oct 2010

From: Reflections from funeral directors who have worked in New Zealand and Australia

By: Little, Cedric James, 1940-

Reference: OHInt-1015-02

Description: Interview with Cedric James Little. Born in Paeroa 1940. Talks about leaving school at 16 to work in family business, becoming fourth generation funeral director. Describes type of funerals done by his great-grandfather, founder of C Little & Sons, Hobson street, Auckland, who experienced the 1914 influenza epidemic. Talks about his father Clifford Little buying Davis Funerals in 1950. Describes his mother's role as housewife and supporting the business. Talks about working conditions in 1950s and 1960s, someone having to be home to take calls, having a chapel on the premises. Details initial funeral work tasks, cleaning cars, transfers from hospitals, rest homes or houses, trimming and fitting caskets. Mentions father's emphasis on protocol and being allowed to arrange a funeral in his early twenties. Refers to marrying in 1963, moving to upstairs flat, later buying first house in late 1960s. Details changes to job from new telephone technology. Refers to changes in funeral companies over last 15 years due to Americans (Stewart Enterprises) buying up companies. Mentions backlash from customers and decline in funeral premises with chapels. Talks about the Temporary Preservation Certificate being basic and only training available in early 1960s New Zealand. Mentions his father completed the course. Recalls how he and Alan Irvine, son of Funeral Director Alec Irvine, went to the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science 1962-1963. Details embalming training, working at a funeral home in San Raphael and a three month job at Pearce Brothers mortuary. Describes involvement in establishing New Zealand College of Mortuary Science in Auckland and its accreditation with British Institute of Embalmers (BIE). Talks about New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA) and registration of the funeral industry. Discusses changes in practice over time, viewing and dressing of the deceased, shrouds and clothing, make-up. Mentions different requirements of cultural groups. Refers to funerals being simpler pre 1960s and increased volumes and client concerns leading to need for more checks to prevent mistakes. Discusses skills and attributes needed for funeral directing. Describes changes being female funeral directors, funeral directors not being in control, discussion of costs, availability of eco friendly fluids and higher embalming rates in Australia. Talks about his involvement in assisting with Mount Erebus air disaster deceased in 1979, meeting Peter Strong who headed team, stopping deterioration and reconstruction, so families could help with visual identification. Refers to talking at Australian conference in 1980 about the experience and getting special services medal. Mentions Erebus as most challenging event. Discusses New Zealand style of funeral practice being similar to Australian. Refers to Marian Barnes, first civil funeral celebrant in New Zealand, and changes she brought about, introduction of order of service sheets, use of memorabilia. Says funerals are for living and the dead. Describes funeral directing as labour and capital intensive. Explains job caused him to adopt attitude that 'if you get the chance to do something, then do it'. Discusses 2009 travel to Varanasi and Taj Mahal as showing different ways of dealing with the dead. Abstracted by - Penny Brander Interviewer(s) - Penny Brander Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 1 interview(s). 1.56 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft Word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7628, OHDL-001863. Search dates: 1940 - 2010