RGC Annualreport 201
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
20 14 ANNUAL REPORT Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 About Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust Delivering High-Quality Interment Related Services 05 26 Message from the Chairman Engaging with External Stakeholders 06 30 Message from the CEO Developing our Internal Stakeholders (Our People) 08 34 Message from the CFO Creating a Sustainable Cemetery 10 40 Mission, Values and Vision Preserving Rookwood’s Heritage 13 46 14 Organisational Structure 51 Financial Report 15 Objectives 70 Disclosure Index 16 Developing a Best Practice Model for Cemeteries ABOUT Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust Rookwood Cemetery is the oldest, largest and most multicultural working cemetery in Australia. It is a place of 4 5 remembrance and peace; however it is also historically and culturally significant. The first burial at Rookwood took place in 1867, after the Sydney colony outgrew its previous cemeteries, located at the site of the current Sydney Town Hall and near Central Station. Rookwood Cemetery now conducts over 5,500 burials and cremations annually and caters for up to ninety different religious and cultural groups. Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust (RGCRT) was established in 2012, by the Minister for Primary Industries the Honourable Katrina Hodgkinson, to unite the former Anglican, General, Independent, Jewish and Muslim Trusts that managed Rookwood. Today we are custodians of 190 hectares of the cemetery, which equates to two-thirds of this iconic site. The remainder is managed by the Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (CMCT) and the Rookwood Memorial Gardens and Crematorium. Since the amalgamation RGCRT has transformed into a stronger, more unified organisation. As this new entity we are striving to reshape Rookwood Cemetery to meet the changing demographics of the Sydney community. We are doing this by maintaining the religious and cultural heritage of the different sections of Rookwood; whilst also creating new graves and burials sections to meet the needs of the various denominations that we work with. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN he Rookwood General Cemeteries • Keep pricing affordable for the communi- and competitive market. Rookwood is Rookwood remains a permanent record of conservation and community engagement TReserve Trust (RGCRT) Board and the ties that use Rookwood Cemetery. now a market-focused organisation that Sydney’s architectural and cultural history, requirements, and there are now separate new management team have continued sees its community service functions as in addition to providing a significant area of committees for Finance and Risk/Audit. Rookwood was established 147 years ago 6 to transform the Trust into a modern and an active product. The exposure to market open green space in Sydney’s near west. In The Lands Committee and the Information 7 accountable organisation. The problems in an outpost of the British Empire. The forces has sharpened the organisation and order to ensure the longevity of this iconic Management Committee continue to inherited following the amalgamation challenge for this historic cemetery today, achieved a level of innovation that was cemetery, the Trust continues to develop make great strides in achieving the Trust’s of the former small Trusts that managed is to remain relevant in a city that is now foreign to the culture of many parts of the its long term financial capacity to ensure strategic direction. Rookwood Cemetery have been overcome an international metropolis with a mature previous multi-Trust system. An adaptive that Rookwood will continue in perpetuity. and the foundation for a modern approach and culturally diverse community. The new management approach has improved Efficiency savings, cash flow management The cemetery reform process has been to cemetery management has been management team and the staff have staff skills, modernised the operating and sound investment strategies have one of the better run reforms. There have established. The reform is not yet complete, enthusiastically addressed the task of plant and electronic systems, created a added to funds that will ensure the been clear expectations and there was an however our strategy to transform the achieving the Government’s and the safer environment for staff and the public, preservation of such a cultural asset. ongoing implementation process overseen organisation will continue into the new community’s expectations. increased the daily rate of interments that by the Minister, her adviser David Harley can be undertaken, and applied modern The achievement of so much in the past and departmental officers. That phase is financial year as the Trust implements the In terms of government reform the RGCRT commercial and financial strategies to the year has been possible because of the coming to an end and it is up to the Crown requirements of the new Cemeteries and has been a leader amongst NSW Crown task of securing appropriate services and dedication of the RGCRT Board and Cemeteries to run themselves in a way that Crematoria Act 2013. Cemeteries, however the reform process the long term viability of the cemetery. particularly its committee chairs. The Board achieves the Minister’s objectives. RGCRT The Government’s initial reforms has been a difficult task for the Trust itself. has been enthusiastically supported by a is ready for this next phase and future were to merge the former small NSW This year internal audits and investigations, Rookwood is a sympathetic and welcoming well led management team and staff that clientele will be well served by the staff Crown Cemetery Trusts into four well- which were initiated following the place for those who are grieving the any organisation would be proud of. In and facilities at the cemetery. governed, medium sized businesses. This amalgamation, have continued. In addition loss of a loved one. Staff have engaged particular, I would like to single out the amalgamation placed the newly established to this, difficult decisions have been with stakeholders through an extensive Chief Executive Officer, Fiona Heslop. Fiona Robert (Bob) Wilson Trust into a competitive market with made to ensure full accountability of community engagement program that has brought purpose and light into the Chairman high expectations of success from the management to the Board. Some personnel assists the Trust to develop and adapt organisation. It is a delight to be greeted Government and the community. The Board within the previous administrations business strategies. As a result, further new by happy smiling staff that genuinely care Rookwood General Cemeteries has interpreted these intentions into a could not make the transition to the and expanded services are projected for the about customers, stakeholders and the Reserve Trust series of objectives to: new reformed organisation. Regrettably, coming year. future of Rookwood. whilst these people had delivered the • Improve governance and management services that had been expected of them The search for additional burial space The RGCRT is looking forward to the next in order to bring accountability into the in the past, new expertise was required has been a high priority for RGCRT and phase of the Government’s cemetery Trust’s cemetery management processes to oversee the amalgamation and ensure strategies have been devised based on reforms. The Cemeteries & Crematoria Bill • Provide burial space for the future of the growth for Rookwood. As a result of these land management, science, technology, is yet to be proclaimed. Nevertheless, the Sydney metropolis changes in personnel, the information now demographics and urban design. Due to Trust has developed an implementation the investigations undertaken to date, the plan and has already applied some of • Establish long term sustainability of the being presented to the Board and its cemetery now has enough burial space to the management and administrative assets and services of cemeteries committees has improved markedly. New systems presently being installed will take it past the middle of the century. The functions outlined in the new legislation. • Provide services with empathy and respect guarantee further improvements, especially Trust is therefore pleased to confirm that A functioning strategic planning process to the diverse cultures that comprise when it comes to sharing Rookwood’s Rookwood Cemetery is definitely open for has been developed and this is the Sydney’s community historical data with the community. business. The task in the coming year will Trust’s second annual report, which • Perpetuate social responsibility that any be to extend Rookwood’s life even further anticipates the requirements on the government organisation must achieve, If an organisation is to be effective and to ensure we are always able to meet new regulations. New Board committees and efficient it must measure itself in an open community needs. have been formed to address heritage MESSAGE FROM THE CEO he journey of the reform has been organisation. Following the unification of We are also endeavouring to develop of the market is of utmost importance. putting in place strategies to establish an Tboth challenging and interesting. the various Trusts throughout the cemetery, relationships at an international level, as To that end, our efforts to train and develop environmentally friendly Rookwood. This Challenging; because it has given the team all customer enquiries are now directed we attempt to position Rookwood and employees will always be ongoing. includes