Date Claimers for 2018:

Christmas Parties to be held across the state in the following locations and dates.  ACQ members price will be subsidised at $25 regardless of the venue you choose to attend.  For bookings, please contact secretary.acq@gmail.com and an invoice will be sent to you.  

RSVP:   01 November 2018 (all venues)

Secret Santa
If you would like to participate in exchanging a Secret Santa gift, please bring along a wrapped gift to the value of $10 (preferably not chocolates)

North Queensland (Sunday 18 November) 2:00 - 4:00pm
Ocean International - 1 Bridge Rd, Mackay
Non-members $40

Gold Coast (Saturday, 24 November) 1:30 - 3:30pm
Teavine House - 268 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Tallebudgera Valley
Non-members $48

Brisbane (Sunday 25 November)   3:00pm - 5:00pm
Summit Restaurant - 1012 Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Mt Coot-tha
Non-members $45

Toowoomba (Sunday 25 November) 12:00 noon
Kingfishers Cafe - 333 Spring Street Toowoomba
Non-members $33

Sunshine Coast (Sunday 25 November) 1:00 - 3:30pm
Flaxton Gardens - 313-327 Flaxton Drive, Flaxton
Non-members $43

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Sunday, 17th June 2018, the annual ACQ conference was held at Hilton, Brisbane "Commitment to Excellence'.  The Attorney-General's Department had approved the day to count toward OPD with wonderful, engaging guest speakers as Chris James, voice coach; representative from Births, Deaths & Marriages (pending confirmation) and Scott Stanton, fellow celebrant and emergency services first responder. 

Another exciting event was our annual conference / OPD day, fully approved by the Attorney-General's Department 'Presentation: A Celebration to Success' held at the Hilton Brisbane on Sunday 4th June.  Our informative guest speakers were Geoff Schatzel, videographer from Motion Art; Births, Deaths & Marriages Queensland representative; Bloomtools (who were our sponsors for the day) on websites and social media; Margo Mott on presentation and elocution and Liz Pforr on behalf of Australian Celebrations Training, delivering the compulsory component of the day.

We'd like to thank the following for making the day such a success: 

Attorney-General's Department, AusIndustry, Australian Celebrations Training, Births, Deaths & Marriages Qld, Coalition of Celebrant Associations (CoCA), Dept of Families, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs, Geoff Schatzel (Motion Art), Hilton Brisbane, Margo Mott (That's Me), Rose Training, Tracey Voyce (Bloomtools), Your Mount Tamborine Wedding Guide and the ACQ Organising Committee: Karen Rose, President & MC; Maureen LoSurdo, Secretary; Fraser Harding, Treasurer; Liz Pforr, Vice President; Rhonda Hall, Colleen Farry, Kate Mackie & Kerryn Iacopi.

This years' AGM was held on Sunday, 12th March 2017 at Robertson's Gardens, Nathan and directly following, we held our first discounted Ongoing Professional Development day for 2017.  Each position on the Committee was filled and we'd like to make special mention of the outgoing committee members Rosanne Sinclair and Helen Murray.  Both ladies put in many voluntary hours and dedication to their various roles on the committee with Rosanne having filled positions of Vice President, Treasurer and Committee Member over the past 10 years.  Her input has been invaluable and we wish her all the very best for the future.  Helen is our Immediate Past President and remained on the Committee last year and stepping into the role of Secretary.  We thank Helen for her service, not only on the Committee but also as the alternate delegate with the Coalition of Celebrant Association.  Another two Committee members stepped down this year, Gail Hughes as Treasurer who is moving overseas to Vietnam and Glyn Robinson who has been on the Committee for the past four years.  Both Gail and Glyn were in attendance at the AGM where they were presented with a small gift as a token of our appreciation and we thank them for their many contributions.

Our last OPD for 2016 was our combined OPD / Conference, fully approved by the Attorney-General's Department held on Sunday, 21st August 2016 at Novotel Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast for a day filled with 'Harmony, Education and Holistic Approach to Celebrancy'.  The day commenced with a ceremonial candlelighting honouring our past, present and future Gloria Fleming (the longest serving celebrant attending) with Gail Susman (the shortest serving celebrant) along with our President Karen Rose, lighting our scented candles and finishing the day with a blessing bowl demonstration from Perrie Burton (see photos right).

Exciting guest speakers included:

Kay Danes OAM: presenting an informative talk 'From Henna to Honeymoon' giving an insight into Middle Eastern wedding traditions and breaking the myths surrounding them.

Perrie Burton: President of the Association of Feng Shui Consultants Education, Master Consultant and Practitioner of Classic Feng Shui who enlightened us on how we can incorporate this philosophy into our businesses and everyday lives.

Liz Pforr: Trainer with Australian Celebrations Training presenting the Compulsory, Coalition of Celebrant Associations Vice Chair and ACQ Vice President speaking on the latest updates from Canberra, BDM in Qld, contingency procedures and 'Streamlining Your Social Media'.

Each delegate went home with an amazing gift bag and many thanks to the following people for their contributions to the day, without whom, it wouldn't have happened:

If you have any particular subjects you'd like to see for future events or have a particular venue you think would be suitable, please contact one of the committee as we'd love to hear from you.

Sunday, 23rd August 2015:  Our combined Ongoing Professional Development (3 hours approved by the Attorney-General's Department) + compulsory OPD (2 hours presented by Beth O'Brien, Australian Celebrations Training) and One Day Conference was held in Brisbane with exciting and informative guest speakers.  The day commenced with a ceremonial candle lighting with the longest serving celebrant attending, Colleen Farry and the shortest serving celebrant Amanda Gibson lighting candles with President Helen Murray.

President Helen Murray, Pip Courtney ABC Landline presenter & MC Liz Pforr

Kay Danes OAM

Ceremonial candlelighting

Committee member Rhonda Hall

Keynote guest speakers included a fabulous array of informative and interesting people such as Pip Courtney (who appeared by arrangement with Saxton Speakers); Kay Danes OAM; Derek Richards, Births, Deaths & Marriages Qld; Scott Stanton; Leo Petrik; Rhonda Hall & Liz Pforr

The Alliance of Celebrants Queensland Inc. was proud to have held our annual conference 'Enrichment, Knowledge & Enlightenment', and was one of only two Associations Australia wide to have been approved by the Attorney-General's Marriage Law & Celebrant section for OPD elective (3 hours) in 2014.  Our conference was held at Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Sunshine Coast on Sunday, 24th August 2014.

Our exciting and informative guest speakers were Eman Sharobeem; Frances Whiting (who appeared by arrangement with Saxton Speakers); Jeremy Donovan; Di Riddell; Virginia Morrison; Brian Davies and Liz Pforr (Master of Ceremonies).