WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE US?
Our passion to provide excellent service....
The best we can offer... From your first enquiry to our last handshake,
we want you to receive the best service that we can offer. When someone you love dies you look for someone you can trust to help you. The many decisions to be made at this difficult time can be burdensome.
it's our job to organise things for you
We are here to lift the burden from your shoulders. The Integrity
Funerals team have their hearts set towards the compassionate care of
the people and families who seek our help. Each member of the team
values compassion, excellence, respect for your wishes, attention to
detail and support for you, our client, throughout the entire funeral
process.
Compassionate professionalism
Compassionate professionalism is the hallmark of all that we do -
taking your loved one into our care, interviewing you to arrange the
funeral, administering the many details on your behalf, preparing for
and taking care of the funeral itself. We continually strive to meet
and exceed your expectations in the quality of care given to you and
your loved one.
We aim to make it personal
We are driven by providing you with a personalised funeral tailored to
your wishes to help you move forward from the day with the knowledge
that you have done the very best to honour and farewell your loved one.
WE UNDERSTAND RESPECT
One of the old phrases that we still sometimes associate with funerals
is "...to pay our last respects". As a society we still link funerals and respect. At various times through life we
pay our respects with some ceremony to those around us on special
days. Some of the occasions that we mark with ceremony are birthdays,
baptism, graduation, marriage, key wedding anniversaries, citizenship,
and awards for community service or bravery... the list goes on. So it
is appropriate to express our respect for our loved ones at their
death by means of the funeral ceremony.
Whether it is as simple as a family gathering at the graveside with no-
one else present or as grand as a State funeral televised across the
nation from a great cathedral is not what's most important to us.
What matters is that, for a moment, we have put everything else aside
to say “This person was important to us in life and deserves dignity
and respect in death".
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMORIES
Having a funeral service is helpful because it provides an opportunity
to bring old memories together and the opportunity to make new ones.
Often a momentous time during the funeral ceremony is the compilation
and sharing of stories that give insight into the life of the person
who has died. Apart from the summary of where they were born, lived,
went to school, worked and the like, this life story (sometime called
a ‘eulogy') will often include stories that give insights into
their character. Sharing this information provides us as family and
loved ones some “memory pegs" on which to hang our reminiscences of
the privilege of knowing them. It is also our chance to say to others
who did not know them well, “See, he (or she) was one of the best!"
After all, everybody is somebody's hero. In addition, a funeral is a
time to create new memories. The warmth and dignity of a meaningful
funeral with loving and honest tributes is a powerful medicine to help
heal the real pain of bereavement.
This has even greater significance when death has come suddenly or
unexpectedly, or we have not seen our loved one for a long time.
Simply getting together with family and friends, experiencing the
funeral, seeing the chapel, the casket, the flowers, hearing the
words, thinking our thoughts and feeling the emotions can create a
special “final moments" movie in our minds.
we help you reach closure
Closure is about accepting the sad reality of what has happened and
beginning to prepare ourselves to live in this new phase of life
without the physical presence of the person who has until now always
been there. The creating of new memories that we have just referred to
is an important part of closure.
Another important part of closure is being able to say with assurance
and conviction, “This really happened". Experiencing the funeral
ceremony will underline that reality. If our loved one died in pain,
or we had to identify them to the police after an accidental death, we
are often left with vivid and unhappy memories.
The funeral, with its music, memories, symbolism and expression of
faith or hope, can often set those memories in the context of a good life well lived and help us reach the
starting point of resolving our grief.
WE understand your need for time
There is a great perception in Australia that a funeral must happen
within three days: the person dies, we organise the funeral, place a
funeral notice in the newspaper the next day, attend the funeral, and
then go back to work to give the appearance all is well.
The biggest thing we would encourage you as a family to think about,
if you take nothing else from this book, is that it takes a
significant amount of time to effectively celebrate someone's life.
To take the time to put those special touches into the funeral
service, including the things that are significant to your loved one
and to your family - what is the rush, who makes the rules?
It is our society that gives us the boundaries for all situations in
life and these rules are built on others' opinions, thoughts and
feelings; rather than on your family's needs. We would encourage you
to take the time you need and with our assistance, achieve a day that
you can reflect on, although sometimes with painful memories, but with
the understanding that you had the time, information and the power to
decide what was best for the one you love and for your family.
ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Our company heritage.
From very humble beginnings in a small office at Miami on the Gold
Coast, Russell and Onni Firth opened their own funeral home, solely
owned and managed by their family. This business grew over a period of
time to become one of the largest and most successful privately owned funeral homes on
the Gold Coast.
In 2002 Russell and Onni decided to retire and started on a quest to
find new owners who would continue the values and tradition of care
for the families they had served for so many years, people who would
maintain the business that they had invested so much of their lives
towards. In October of that year they found the people that they were
looking for, sold their group of companies and moved on to enjoy their
retirement.
The new owners decided to intertwine the heritage and traditions of
the Russell Firth name with their chosen new name, Integrity
Funerals, thus the current name of our firm - Russell Firth integrity
Funerals. We believe that the name Integrity represents the true heart
of how a funeral should be conducted and the ethos in which we operate.
Our head office is at Parkwood on the northern end of the Gold Coast.
From here, we provide services to people and families across the
Coast, its hinterland, Logan City, Brisbane and the whole of South-East Queensland. Recently we have established office and mortuary use
agreements in Brisbane to service our growing clientele in the greater
Brisbane area.
It is now possible to meet with our consultants either in your home or
at one of our offices in Parkwood and the suburbs of Brisbane. In
addition, if it is important to you that after death your loved one is
not far from you, we are able to provide total care in our mortuaries either in Brisbane or
the Gold Coast.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND INTEGRITY FUNERALS
 Rowan Steer
EXECUTIVE Director
Rowan has been involved in the funeral industry for 25 years. Starting on a yard broom with one
of Brisbane oldest and most prestigious funeral homes, he progressed
rapidly through the ranks and at 26 was appointed Manager. When a
major company bought the business he continued for some years in
management roles with them.
Rowan reached a major turning point in his professional journey when,
in partnership, he acquired Russell Firth Integrity Funerals in 2002.
Released from corporate constraints, he was now free to realise the
value of the true heart of the funeral profession. Now he could do for
families suffering loss what he would want someone to do for him. He
believes that the first step in celebrating a lifetime’s journey is
talking to someone you can trust who will do as you ask. His dual
focus is on the professional service the company provides and on the
joy of being involved in the more tender moments of life.
In the last 25 years Rowan has been involved in a wide range of funerals, from major traumatic public events, State funerals, kings
and paupers (literally) and normal everyday people like you and me who
face the loss that death brings.
He is recognised nationally and internationally as an expert in the
repatriation of someone who has died, returning them home to their
country of origin. There are few places in the world where his
experience does not extend. As this book goes to print Rowan takes
office as President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association
(Queensland Division) and membership of the National Executive of this
peak industry body. This honorary role seeks to enhance the
professionalism and integrity of the funeral industry in Australia and
in particular, Queensland
Rowan wants the service he provides you to allow you to look back,
though sometimes painfully, on the funeral as a marked and cherished
experience, an important day that brings respect and honour to your
loved one.
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 Max Wheat
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Max joins Rowan as a partner in Integrity Funerals after 12 years as a
Funeral Director and Manager at a number of levels in operations and
training. He has been on the Integrity Funerals team since 2002.
He has extensive life experience, having worked in the people and
leadership fields for over 40 years. With a background of ministry and
senior leadership in civilian churches and the Australian Defence
Force, Max provides helpful perspectives in funeral service, training,
loss and grief education and management. Over the past 12 years he has
been a Location Manager, Regional Training Manager, Senior Funeral
Director and General Manager.
He has developed training courses for our staff, our clients and the
wider community and teaches these to community groups, the caring
professions, theological students, trainee civil celebrants and
veterans’ welfare and pension officers under the auspices of the
Department of Veteran Affairs.
Max is skilled in all aspects of funeral service. He is passionate
about delivering the highest-quality service to the people and
families in our care, believing that the sacred trust placed by a
family in the funeral director deserves the response of a good
funeral carried out well, which in turn will be helpful to a healthy
grief-recovery journey.
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 Graham Crawley
Funeral Director
Graham has 32 years experience as a proprietor of funeral companies in Victoria and Queensland, 7 years as an executive in a national corporate funeral company and 20 years as a Government Undertaker. Graham brings a wide range of experience to Integrity Funerals. |
 Tim Button
Funeral Coordinator / Funeral Director
Tim has been with the present owners of Integrity Funerals since they commenced operations on the Gold Coast 6 years ago. He has developed an enviable set of skills as a qualified and experienced funeral director and is favorably regarding in this aspect of his work. Tim's management and ability to train others has let to his advancement to the position of Funeral Coordinator. Tim has been a Government Undertaker for 6 years and in this role consistently demonstrates a great sensitivity in providing information and support to the next of kin of the deceased. |
 Blair Innes
Mortician / Funeral Director
Since joining the Integrity Funerals team 3 years ago Blair has turned his trade experience and practical skills to his newly chosen profession. He consistently demonstrates well above average in mortuary procedures.
Prior to entering funeral service, Blair had 23 years as a tradesman carpenter, 12 of those as Endeavour Foundation Workshop Coordinator and Supervisor. |
 Casey Gardner
Mortician / Funeral Director
Casey has been employed as a funeral director and mortician for approximately 2 years. Casey’s passion for the funeral industry began when she was only 14 years old and participated in work experience at a local funeral home. She spent her 20’s living all of her dreams, including riding race horses, working on a million acre cattle station in north west Queensland and travelling extensively. However her to commitment to being a funeral director and mortician never waivered.
Being the principal mortician caring for the deceased in our care, her care and respect for deceased is unrivaled. Gold Lady Funerals pride themselves on being able to guarantee that only a lady will be attending to the deceased. |
 Michelle Evaga
Funeral Director
Married with 3 beautiful children, Michelle is original from New Zealand but has resided in Australia for the last 8 years, moving from Perth to the Gold Coast in 2008. Michelle, after a career in hospitality sought to become involved in the Funeral Industry because of her deep faith and commitment to the LDS community believing that this industry provides her an opportunity of ministry and care.
Michelle’s primary area of expertise is in the arrangement of funerals and caring for the families of Gold Lady Funerals. |
 Mary Lepp
Funeral Director / Pre need Manager
A genuine Gold Coast local. Mary has lived on the Gold Coast for 30 years Mary’s passion is dealing with people. She is involved in the arranging and conducting of funerals. Mary is deeply involved in the Catholic community on the Gold Coast and has held positions on Parish Councils and the Catholic Womens League.
She holds a duel role in our business. She is the principal person who looks after the pre arrangement and pre payment of funerals for not only Gold Lady Funerals but for all of the Integrity Funerals group of companies. After being involved with the implementation of a major memorial colamburiam setting in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the joy of helping people honor their loved ones, Mary had a desire to continue this important work and felt that she could best achieve this by joining Gold Lady Funerals. |
 Karen Innes
Funeral Assistant
Karen has been a local Gold Coast lady for over 20 years and has been attending funerals as a funeral assistant for the last 3 years. Karen attends to various duties within our company and loves helping people. Karen’s greatest desire is to support the funeral director attending to your family and making sure that the service is conducted in such a way that the family has a lasting farewell to remember. |
 Debbie Steer
Funeral Assistant
Debbie has been involved in the Funeral industry in a part time capacity for the last 25 years. She is the mother of 2 children and works as a part time funeral assistant. She has a commercial arts degree and is also an artist in her own right. Her role is very similar to Karen’s in that she loves to be a part of assisting with the small things of a funeral to make the outcome meaningful and significant for our clients. |
WHAT GUIDES YOUR CHOICE OF FUNERAL DIRECTOR?
Is it ownership? The size of the company? The recommendation of a
friend or professional person? The company’s reputation, standards or
industry accreditation?
At Integrity Funerals, we believe that knowledge is empowerment.
Before choosing a funeral director we encourage you to ask the
following questions of the company:
- Who owns the company?
- Are they members of the Australian Funeral Directors Association?
- What funeral experience does the company have?
- What professional facilities do they provide? (chapel, private
viewing facilities, vehicle fleet, etc)
- What service do they provide me before, during and after the funeral?
- Will they supply a detailed breakdown and written quotation?
- What are their terms of payment?
- Most importantly, who are the people who are looking afetr you,
their training, professionalism and experience.
AFDA MEMBERSHIP
Why are we part of the Australian Funeral Directors Association?
The Australian funeral directors association commonly abbreviated to the AFDA is the peak national association for the funeral profession. This association has many members throughout Australia, and is considered to be the equivalent of what of the Law society is to the legal fraternity.
At last count there are approximately one hundred and thirty thousand funerals in Australia. The AFDA member firms right across Australia perform around eighty thousand of those funerals in Australia.
The purpose of the association is to bring a business ethos and professional standing to its members that provides accreditation and regulation in the following areas; professional standards, customer satisfaction and transparency, proper premises, equipment and mortuary standards, work place health and safety, training of staff in the funeral industry, complaint resolution for clientele.
We are pround members of the association, we would invite you to pursue their website so you may see for yourself the governance and standards provided.
Although we are not remembers of the ACCA We have also provided the Australian Crematorium and cemeteries association website for you to look at as well, should you have any questions or need of the information in regard to the peak industry body involved in the operation of Cemeteries and Crematoriums
Integrity funerals
The issue of death is one that is at the centre of our spirituality.
The whole principle of Christian faith is built upon the surety of eternal life and a place in Heaven with our Father, a
place where the pain and loss of death have been left behind.
Jesus in his first sermon spoke of healing the broken-hearted and
setting the captives free. Consequently, we have based our service,
our ministry, on the love and care of God’s people at the saddest
time in their lives.
Our body is integrally a part of the “real us”. God brought us into
being in our body. We live in it, we die in it and by His transforming power we will be resurrected in a body
that has “... put on immortality and ...incorruption”. That is why
in death we treat the mortal remains of our loved ones with respect as
did the people of God in the Bible days, even the followers of Jesus at the time of
his death.
At Integrity Funerals respect for the body of the one who has died
hallmarks all that we do in preparing for and conducting a funeral.
Operating from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, we believe that we are one
of a very few truly Christian funeral businesses in south-east
Queensland. As people of faith we respect and support your understanding
of the spiritual, emotional and practical issues surrounding death in
your family or among your friends.
We offer ourselves as your servants to bear the burden with you in
those matters where our expertise will lighten your load.
TESTIMONIALS
Words cannot express your prompt & considerate handling of our loss and the bringing back together of our family.
To everyone at the Integrity team, we can't thank you enough for the way you have made this sad time a wonderful celebration of life for Dad. You will always be remebered.
Warmest Regards
Debra, Pat, Karen and our families.
Thankyou for everything you did to make my sadness so much easier.
Kindest Regards,
Joan
Dear Timothy & Max & all
We wanted to extend a warm word of thanks to you for your caring
assistance at this sad time. Our dear Mum enjoyed a full & long life
with much happiness.
Regards, David & Jaqui
Dear Mary & all staff at Integrity Funerals,
Our family would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all involved
with the passing of our beloved Bradley. We truly appreciate your
compassion & kindness provided by your staff & company through this
difficult time. We are deeply grateful to you all, for making Brad's
farewell such a special celebration, for his much loved family &
friends.
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