Funeral director follows in father's footsteps

A Bunbury funeral director has been named the senior vice president of the Australian Funeral Directors Association.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Adrian Barrett is stepping up to the prestigious role for the WA division after the announcement at the association’s annual general meeting this month.

With more than a decade of experience in the funeral services industry, Mr Barrett has spent the majority of his time in Bunbury as a funeral director for William Barrett and Sons.

"The AFDA is an association of funeral directors and represents 83 per cent of all the funerals that are done in WA," Mr Barrett said.

"The association maintains guidelines to premises, equipment and vehicles as well as education.

"It keeps funeral directors to the highest standard with their premises that they occupy, their vehicles that they use, the staff training and there is also moral and ethical guidelines that we need to follow."

As part of his new role, Mr Barrett hopes to continue with his passion for education about the industry.

"Education is a big thing for both the staff and also public education of what’s involved in the funeral industry," Mr Barrett explained.

He said educating the public also was away of removing the stigma attached to funerals and death.

"We’ve always believed it’s much better to take away that mystery and taboo around funeral service so people who are involved with funeral directors know beforehand what is involved and what happens when someone dies."

Mr Barrett said he hoped to become the association’s president after his two-year role as the senior vice-president just like his father Errol, who was named both the State president and national president of the association.