Penelope Millar

Agnes Water is my home for the past 16 years. I've coordinated some fairly large celebrations for many causes, including raising awareness and funds for the Cancer Council, volunteering at the local 1770 Captain Cook Festival, a participant of the opening day at the international World Expo '88 in Brisbane City, EMCEE for a variety of events, inlcuding several auctions to raise funds for charities, managed coordination of money takings at the Tweed Caldera's Festival of Speed on Tweed, and participated in some useful way in numerous charitable community events. I choose to live a fairly private life, this sees plenty of time to offer to couples who are seeking a celebrant who has time for you and isn't otherwise distracted. Helping people is a natural part of my values and therefore part of who I am. Some of my personal values include respecting equality, cultures of all peoples and lands, and especially older people and disabled peoples. I adore nature, and love birdsong, I often look at nature and find we can learn so much if we simply pause and listen and observe all that is unfolding before us. I love meeting the couples I am to marry and then getting to know your story of love and of family, hiccups and successful stories, including your family, your friends and your shared dreams. I am a people person, interested in sharing my skills and working collaboratively to ensure that as best as is practically possible, happiness is carried within in everything I set out to do. I am respectful of others, and I am mindful of situational awareness, what is actually going on around me, and this particularly I find, is a skill that many people simply do not own. I use these skillsets in most parts of everyday, because it is important to be switched on to much that is going on, while holding the capacities to prioritise accordingly and calmly. I love dogs, I adore children, and I also like my peace and quiet. If I am not in the garden or reading or writing, I might curl up and watch a replay of Great Canal Journey's or Great Train Journey's somewhere around the globe. I also like to get lost in my little bush art hut to completely let myself switch off. I've married friends and family members, I have officiated at friends funerals too, and I am humbled at my authorised celebrant role in which I embrace with respect and dignity. I'll often suggest to couples to truly think about this moment, the official moment they are vowing to be respectful and loving and caring for each other, for the rest of their lives. Fun somewhere in the mix is fine, I have a great sense of fun within myself, so if we can get the mix right, everyone and everything should go beautifully. I like to get things right for you the couple – and will often get you to share with me your understanding of my own explanations, so that I know we are on the same page. I hope that this offers you a little insight into who I am and how I might match yourselves in my role as celebrant.