Chairperson Erin Barker -Introducing Cam Smith – our local Funeral director.
Cam has provided a small booklet for consideration which holds some ideas for funeral conversations – these are available from Portland Funeral services.
Not only the local sausage king, but also recipient of the Michael Rivers award for compassion, empathy, and respect – a “Values” award amongst funeral directors within the company.
After losing his brother at the age of 16 Cam was accepted into an apprenticeship with the local butcher shop where he'd been doing some afterward hours and Saturday morning work. Prior to this Cam had thought he might be a nurse or going into the military but following his brother's motorcycle accident at 19 on Father's Day, Cam wasn't ready to go to university or leave home.
Cam had always had a community spirit and after his brother's passing Cam took on a role at the Heywood cemetery trust being the youngest member there mostly working as a go-for but having conversations with people as he went along.
Now knowing that his drinking and partying was a symptom of the depression and trauma he had experienced at the age of 16, Cam directed his life into his butchering profession. Cam met Ali which grew into a family, a house and a mortgage and after 15 years in the butchering industry Cam wondered what he would do next.
A local person who worked at a Funeral Home came into the shop and said “Gee I think your work would be interesting” and Cam said “Well I think yours would be too”, planting a small seed.
It was after a four week holiday where Cam dropped his dog off with his father that this came to fruition. Cam's father went to a funeral during and the local funeral director said, “We're pretty busy at the moment but will be a lot better off when you're young fella comes to work with us”. A surprise to his father.
Cam recognises that this as one of the most daring things he had done - to change professions. Cam took on this role with gusto - within six months he was managing the business, and some 12 months later Cam received the Michael Rivers award. Now eight years later Cam says his work within the butcher industry helped his ability to talk to people.
There is a lot of information about funerals that can be gained from the little booklet or coming in to have a conversation with one of the staff at Portland Funeral services.
It is very important though for people to know that I have an up-to-date will, that includes an executor, a medical treatment decision maker-someone who can actually make decisions and he's not necessarily a friend or a loved one, and powers of attorney.
These conversations make up the annual event recently held at the Portland Golf Club called, ‘Dying to know day’.
- Prepaid funeral-lock dinner today's prices but the money must be paid completely up front -there is some insurance available as a once off payment of $120.00 for people who live within 100 kilometres of the Funeral Home to return deceased persons back to their hometown.
- Leaving Ausralia - make sure your travel insurance covers your return to Australia if deceased.
- Funeral bonds are instalment plans where a prearrangement is made to open a bank account and pay off a funeral; it's not counted as an asset within pensions.
- Funeral insurance-can be handy for some but there may be a reluctance to sign up people if they have a pre-existing medical condition.
- Prepaid funerals are transferable, but this is a business decision with some small administration costs.
- The average cost of a funeral today can be between in $10,000 and $15,000 and this is tough for families at this time, so it’s good to know there are options for funding Interment and cremation in Vic.
Cam encourages people who are interested to take the time and pop in to the business and have a conversation to take the hard decisions away from their mourning family members. Thanks Cam!
