Annual Report 2012–2013 ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST 2. ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST Contents About the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust 4 Our values 4 Our mission 4 Our strategic objec ves 5 Chair’s report 6 CEO’s report 8 Director of Finance Report 9 Our services 10 Our loca ons 11 The Execu ve Leadership Team 12 Our workforce 13 Review of opera ons 14 Key performance informa on 15 Community and key stakeholders 17 Leadership 20 Viability and sustainability 22 People and workforce 25 Governance and accountability 29 Members of the Trust 32 Trust Commi ees 36 A endance at Trust Mee ngs and Sub-Commi ees 38 Legisla on 40 A esta ons 40 Responsible Bodies Declara on 41 Financial Statements 42 Disclosure Index 86 3. ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST About the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust The Greater Metropolitan Our values Our mission Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) is custodian of 20 cemetery and The GMCT strives for excellence To provide caring and respec ul memorial parks located within the in its delivery of services through memorial services to our diverse North, East and Western suburbs crea vity, innova on and communi es. community engagement. The of metropolitan Melbourne. To apply best prac ce to every GMCT upholds seven values, aspect of our stewardship of Established in 2010 by the supported by the Victorian tranquil memorial places in Victorian Government following Public Sector Code of Conduct perpetuity. major reforms to Victoria’s and contained within the Public cemeteries sector, the GMCT Administra on Act 2004 (Vic), provides a broad range of which help defi ne how we can Registered Offi ce cemetery and crematoria achieve these goals. The Greater Metropolitan services to Melbourne’s diverse • Responsiveness Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) communi es. • Integrity 1187 Sydney Road Fawkner VIC 3060 • Impar ality Phone: (03) 9355 3100 • Accountability Email: [email protected] • Respect • Leadership • Human Rights 4. ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST Our strategic objectives To achieve the GMCT’s mission to Major achievements provide caring and respec ul memorial Major achievements in 2012-13 services to our diverse communi es include: and our vision to be the guardian of • Comple on of the rollout of the exis ng Cemetery Management enduring memorials, the GMCT is System across cemetery sites focussed on fi ve strategic areas: • Development of master plans for Altona and Lilydale Memorial • Providing strong leadership Parks, which will commence community consulta on in 2013-14 • Building a viable and sustainable • Development of Park organisa on Maintenance Standards • Comple on of due diligence reports for cultural heritage • Enhancing rela onships with the values at Altona Memorial Park community, clients and stakeholders • Commencement of planning for the Northern Memorial Park • Developing our people and expansion to the Metropolitan Ring Road • Signifi cant investment and • Demonstra ng strong governance improvement in fi nance and accountability exper se, policies, systems and processes • Upgrade of Fawkner telecommunica ons • Development of a single Collec ve Agreement, replacing the 10 former Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs) 5. ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST Chair’s report The third year of opera on of the and Chinese communi es. The Grant Thornton to enhance the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries work of the Trust’s Community performance monitoring and Trust (GMCT) has seen a strong Advisory Commi ee has been repor ng systems and processes. consolida on of many areas of integral to many of these projects. This will extend to performance our work for the Melbourne Our CEO, Jacqui Briggs-Wetherill, repor ng to the Trust as well as community. has also led some posi ve management repor ng. This work stakeholder engagement ac vi es, will also feed into an enhanced From a community perspec ve, including with our local funeral cemetery management system, the blessing of the new wing of directors. including client services. These the Preston Mausoleum by His ini a ves have been led by Bart Grace Archbishop Hart, Catholic A lot of work has been undertaken Clingin, Director of Finance. Archbishop of Melbourne, the over the last two years with commencement of heritage expert guidance from Grant The Trust’s Commi ees have all mapping at Williamstown Thornton to strengthen the func oned well. Trust Members (following the success of the fi nancial integra on, management are all Members of at least Coburg Cemetery Heritage and repor ng func ons of the one Commi ee and make Walk) and the introduc on of GMCT. This work began to show a contribu on well beyond Visit a Cemetery Weekend were results in the comple on of simple mee ng a endance. The all highlights. We con nued the 2011-12 audit only a few commitment and enthusiasm with tradi ons such as All Souls weeks behind schedule. During of all Trust Members in myriad Day services and have worked 2012-13 this con nued to be a areas from occupa onal safety to on various ini a ves with focus and the improvements are heritage conserva on and many many cultural and religious now well embedded into the other has been a highlight of organisa ons, including the Islamic fi nance systems and processes. 2012–13. We are con nuing to work with 6. ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST At the end of February, fi ve Trust The Trust undertook a strategic We remain commi ed to con nual Members completed their terms. review in May 2013 and is now improvement in environmentally Building a new organisa on comple ng a new Strategic Plan. sustainable prac ces. following a merger of eight Opera ng in growth corridors 2012-13 has been a year of en es with diff erent systems such as the West and outer consolida on. I thank all staff for and processes is not easy. I North means that the GMCT their dedica on to helping people would like to thank Barbara must plan for the future end of at a sad and diffi cult me. The McLure, David Cleland, Neil life needs of those communi es. diversity of Melbourne is never Greenaway, Graeme Shaw and We have begun master planning more apparent than at the end Gary Jungwirth for their wisdom for our sites at Melton and Yan of life. The Trust is commi ed to and tenacity. The founda ons of Yean and are in discussion with mee ng all these expecta ons a strong cemetery trust are now the Department of Health and while also opera ng a fi nancially in place. Six new Trust Members other authori es about a new sustainable en ty so that we can were appointed by the Minister site west of Melbourne. GMCT is con nue to meet our perpetual for Health, bringing with them commissioning research to be er maintenance obliga ons for the new skills and exper se to add understand the expecta ons of the benefi t of future genera ons. to the organisa on’s capability. community now and in the future. I welcome Kim McAliney, John Catherine Brown The Trust has also enhanced its Jennison, Roma O’Callaghan, Chair land management planning this Geoff Mabbe , Ronda Jacobs and Greater Metropolitan year led by Rod Shell, Director of Dianne Rule as Trust Members. Dr Cemeteries Trust Infrastructure, who has extensive Jan Penney, Jenny Kearney and I 30 June 2013 experience within the cemetery were reappointed. and crematoria industry. 7. ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 THE GREATER METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES TRUST CEO’s report All Greater Metropolitan In 2012-13 a strong execu ve team In apprecia on Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) sites was established to support the are now beginning to truly CEO in leading the organisa on, It has been a challenging and refl ect the posi ve eff ects of consis ng of Bart Clingin, Director transforma onal year for the the amalgama on started in Finance and Business; Rod Shell, GMCT and I sincerely thank all our 2010. This fi nancial year the Director Infrastructure; Linda staff for their care, dedica on and GMCT’s net assets grew in value Dewar, Director Client Services; professionalism. I also thank the to more than $290 million, with Dani Johnson, Execu ve Manager re ring Trust Members for their cash investments of close to Strategy and Planning; and Sco contribu on during their three $200 million, refl ec ng a strong Samson, Execu ve Manager year appointment and welcome balance sheet and a growing Corporate Communica ons. I the new Trust Members. Key emphasis on prudent fi nancial am confi dent this team’s diverse cemetery partners who deserve management at all levels within management and leadership skills special thanks are the funeral the organisa on. In 2012-13 the and experience will advance the directors, who have worked with GMCT serviced more than 12,000 organisa on into the next stage of the GMCT as we have developed families with burial, mausoleum development. and amalgamated the former and crema on services, as well as cemetery organisa ons into a new During the fi nancial year we also memorialisa on opportuni es. integrated en ty to provide caring increased our focus on customers, and respec ul memorial services One of the most signifi cant engaging more strongly and to meet the needs of our diverse effi ciency gains this year was the with greater purpose with our communi es. merger of 10 former Enterprise key stakeholders and working to Bargaining Agreements (EBAs) be er understand our community The next year will be pivotal for into a single GMCT Collec ve and visitor expecta ons.