About us

The Australian Celebrants & Celebrations Network (ACCN) is a new and unique service to celebrancy. Our launch date was 1st July 2008.  

ACCN aim:

How?

Networking - bringing together civil celebrants, celebration suppliers and communities to create unique celebrations.

Why?

Our families and communities are stronger when they receive affirmation, love and support at specific stages in their life's journey.

Celebrations and ceremonies, especially those organised by civil celebrant, can bring people together from different walks of live - different races, religions, cultures- to focus on their common strengths and resources, whilst appreciating their differences.

Where ?

Anywhere your family or group chooses – homes, community halls, clubs, hotels, restaurants, reception function places, resorts – provided the venue has a safe space for all the senses !

When ?

There are many opportunities to honour a loved one or couple. The yearly calendar has days such as Mothers', Father's, Valentine, International Year of ..." days and wells as special holidays such as Australia Day that can be used as a time to celebrate.

The event needs to be planned and organised to ensure maximum benefit for all who attend. The ACCN cautions against 'total surprises'. People need to be psychologically ready to participate in an event to be able to fully engage with it and the people present.

Cost?

Make the celebration a combined gift – everyone contributes in some way to create a gift of priceless worth.

The ACCN aims to compliment and support non-profit celebrant associations by being a resource to the celebrancy & celebrations field.  The ACCN welcomes ideas on how we can assist in this way and feedback on this website and our products and services.

The ACCN Principal: Rona Goold.

The ACCN has grown from Rona Goold's volunteer work in providing celebrant resources for a national non-profit celebrant association. The ACCN is a new business aiming to support other  businesses in their work to service Australian communities.

Rona was appointed as a Civil Marriage Celebrant in 1990 when the role was considered a community services and appointments made on a needs basis. Rona believes that, in this new era in celebrancy, as in our lives generally, we need to work together for the common good.    

Celebrations can bond people together in ways that are difficult to achieve through other means. Rona is also passionate about celebrations and ceremonies being opportunities for celebrants to work with individuals, families and organisations in recording family information and personal histories. In time poor lives, celebrants are uniquely placed to assist in this way. This century may in fact be the first one in which the stories of  'ordinary' families can be preserved for their descendants.

Celebrations and ceremonies, especially those organised by a civil celebrant, can bring people together from different walks of life – different races, religions, cultures – to focus on their common strengths and resources, whilst appreciating their differences.

The ACCN Distribution Manager: Ginny Bydder

Ginny was appointed as a Civil Marriage Celebrant in 2004 and has worked quietly, and patiently with a fast evolving sense of humour, alongside Rona in providing celebrant resources.