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The NZEA story - An Idea Whose Time Had Come
In May of 1971, Alan Irvine and Peter Strong sent a circular to qualified embalmers, in which they said it had been suggested, proposed, thought about, discarded, and thought about some more, to form a New Zealand association of embalmers.
Most of us were already members of the British Institute of Embalmers, but what was needed, many suggested, was a local group. To have an association between those with a common interest would be an advantage not only to those involved, but also would help advance the art, science, and practice of embalming. We would be able to share knowledge, and so improve standards while enjoying the fellowship of a united group. Many embalmers, they wrote, worked alone and so would relish the opportunity of meeting and sharing their work with others.
So, on Saturday October 2, 1971, 10 New Zealand members of the British Institute of Embalmers sat down in the White Heron Lodge in Wellington and, as the minutes of the day show, "... after a short discussion, formed an association under the name of 'The New Zealand Embalmers Association'.
Those founding fathers were: Roger Burgoyne (Wellington), Francis Day (Nelson), Lionel Griggs (Palmerston North), Alan Irvine (Wellington), Cedric Little (Auckland), Eric Maffey (Christchurch), Albert Marker (Christchurch), David Morris (Wellington), Graham Shirley (Nelson), Peter Strong (Wellington).
Not present but accorded the status of founding members were Jack Airton, Harry Rollo, and Stan Stout (all of Auckland).
Of the 13, four were graduates of the Lear School of Embalming, London (Marker 1958, Griggs 1962, Airton 1963, Maffey 1968), Harry Rollo graduated in 1953 from another school in the United Kingdom, four were graduates of the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science (Irvine and Little 1963, Strong 1968, Morris 1969), two graduated from the Harold Wigley School in Melbourne (Shirley 1962, Day 1964), Roger Burgoyne trained at and graduated from the New Zealand College of Funeral Service in 1969, and Stan Stout trained and graduated in Canada. Of those founders, Jack Airton, Lionel Griggs, Harry Rollo and Albert Marker have since died.
The aims of the association were to advance embalming and to promote the best interests of embalmers in general and of members in particular, and to promote high ethical standards. The annual subscription was set at $5, with an entrance fee at $3. A report on the formation of the association was published in The New Zealand Funeral Director. It was agreed that there would be two meetings a year, with a half-yearly in a different centre each time, and the AGM staying in Wellington. It was agreed to open membership to holders of the FDANZ Certificate of Temporary Preservation who could prove they had practiced embalming for at least five years. David Morris proposed that a newsletter be started.
At a subsequent meeting, chairman Peter Strong emphasised the need to plan for the future and to pursue formal recognition with the medical profession, in particular with pathologists. A Code of Ethics and a Certificate of Embalment for Transportation were proposed. A letter had been received from FDANZ asking that NZEA provide a course for them.
In the ensuing 32 years, NZEA has accomplished much, having played an important role in the development and initiation of so many advancements, including:
- The development of an accepted training programme and the establishment of the school at the CIT (now WelTec).
- The establishment of the Funeral Service Training Committee, which preceded the Funeral Services Training Trust.
- Specialist training seminars conducted by overseas experts.
- Initiatives in health and safety, and the development of the Funeral Industry Code of Practice.
- Peer support programmes.
- The establishment of a Disaster Response Team.
The New Zealand Embalmers Association served with distinction in the aftermath of the Mt Erebus disaster in 1979, gaining praise from the authorities. Our team proved the value of professional embalming in a disaster recovery situation, to the extent that our procedures have been included in the Police Disaster Manual.
Alan Irvine wrote in his foreword to the NZEA publication The First Twenty Years 1971-1991: "Our association was formed out of the fervent belief that New Zealand funeral service needed to radically improve its standard of handling human remains, coupled with the belief that people were entitled to an sanitary and natural appearance, and that viewing should be encouraged to assist people in their grieving process. These beliefs, together with the need to be able to guarantee the preservation of remains for transport on public carriers, were foremost in our minds as we formed this association.
"NZEA never intended to impose a rigid set of principles, but rather to provide the forum to foster growth and achievement amongst its members, and to provide a lobby to the industry and government agencies."
The New Zealand Embalmers Association can stand proud of its achievements in education and professional standards. Truly an idea whose time had come.
Eric Maffey
Life Member - NZEA
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