Jeanette McDonald

Life Coach & Celebrant

Let Me Introduce Myself

For the past 30 years, I’ve called the Wynnum Manly area home, finding endless inspiration in its vibrant community and the breathtaking beauty of the bayside. Living here has been a source of joy and endless discovery for me.

Throughout my professional journey, I’ve worn many hats, starting as a trained teacher in Queensland schools before transitioning into a role as a consultant with the education department. Over decades, my dedication has been unwavering, focused on nurturing minds and fostering growth. As a Life Coach, Educator, and Enneagram teacher, I’ve carried this commitment to education, growth, and empowerment far beyond the confines of the traditional classroom.

A lifelong learner at heart, I have a deep passion for psychology, ceremony, women’s circles, and ritual. I firmly believe in the power of continuous learning to deepen understanding and support others on their paths. Guided by a spiritual nature and an unshakeable faith in the universe, I approach life with boundless optimism and an unwavering belief in the potential for growth and transformation.

Marriage and Funeral Celebrant
Beginnings and Endings and Milestones in Between

Wedding Ceremonies

Ritual and ceremony mark the important milestones in our lives. Milestones are significant markers in life from beginnings to endings and all the precious and important events in between.

Memorable, meaningful ceremonies express what is important to you. An event is an opportunity to have this witnessed by your family and friends. There are many special elements and inclusive rituals, so your guests feel like they are part of the ceremony.

I conduct services that are personal, authentic, and unique to you. My vision is that you are happy and relaxed on your special day knowing that I will take care of all the ceremony requirements and special features that we have created together. As a professional celebrant I commit to designing a cherished ceremony that brings together all your hopes, dreams and wishes.

Frequently asked Questions

What does a Marriage Celebrant do?
A Marriage Celebrant is authorized to conduct your marriage ceremony to meet the legal requirements. This includes ensuring that your ceremony contains certain mandatory words; the correct completion of your Notice of Intended Marriage (NIM) and all other marriage documents; and the lodging of your marriage documents with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. I will also assist you in personalizing your ceremony and will offer some choices as to what you may like to consider for inclusion in your ceremony. You can write your own vows and indeed, if you would prefer to write your own ceremony, and I would be pleased to help with this, and most importantly, would ensure that your ceremony complies with all the legal requirements.
What is the Notice of Intended Marriage Form (NIM/NOIM)?
I will provide you with the necessary NIM, and it will be lodged with me at least one month and one day prior to the date of your marriage. At the earliest, it may be lodged up to 18 months prior to your marriage.
How many meetings must we have with you prior to our Wedding?
You would need to meet a minimum of two times with me. The first meeting concerns the signing of the Notice of Intended Marriage, and preliminary thoughts about how you see your wedding coming together. The second of these meetings would be held quite close to your wedding date. At this meeting you will be required to sign a document, declaring that there is no legal impediment to your marriage. This second meeting allows you to refine your ceremony and if necessary to practice certain parts of the ceremony (e.g. the exchange of vows and the exchange of rings), to pay the balance of the fee and generally attend to any other outstanding matters.
Is there a fee to secure your services?
I will charge you a fee (which is non-refundable) when you meet to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NIM). It is a deposit which covers the meeting time, the initial legal work and associated paperwork and for the kit which you take with you. Payment of this fee also secures your chosen date and time for your wedding.
What obligations do we have to you once we have booked our wedding with you?

You do have obligations to me as your Marriage Celebrant once you engage me. You will sign an Agreement that sets out these matters. This is actually a contract between us. A typical Agreement would include the following.
(a) The payment of the full amount of the fee by the required date that will be prior to your wedding.
(b) Advise me prior to making any change to the time of your wedding – as it is quite possible that I may have another commitment at this new time and will be therefore unable to perform your ceremony at the new time.
(c) Advise me of any change to the location of your marriage ceremony as soon as such a decision is made. The onus for this rests with you.

Will you travel away from your local area?
Yes, I am prepared to travel some distance to officiate a ceremony. You may have to pay an additional charge for mileage depending on the distance to be travelled; and if you require me to travel other than by my own vehicle, you are responsible for the cost of ferry tickets or the like.
Do you have a portable Public Address (PA) system?
Yes. The number of guests at your wedding and its location will determine whether a PA system is necessary.
Can we have a wedding rehearsal?
Yes a rehearsal can take place if requested by you. However please remember that, I am entitled to charge an additional fee for this service. In many cases, having a simple “run-through” with me at your my home office may be sufficient.
On the day, how long before the wedding will you arrive?
I will arrive at the venue for your ceremony no later than the time that had been agreed in our discussions. The Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants stipulates that I must be at the venue for your marriage ceremony at least 20 minutes before the agreed commencement time.

Funeral Services

At no other time than at the death of a loved one are we reminded of the fragility of human life. Life is a precious gift. A funeral is a time to celebrate the life of someone who has meant so much to us. The service should be appropriate to the deceased and a memorable gathering of farewell.

The service provides an opportunity for us to gather, to express our own grief for this deep loss. A well-organised service celebrates a life, farewells a soul and validates our own grief.

Celebration of Life Services is a modern term for a funeral service. I work closely with the family to deliver a service that is dignified and meaningful. Many times, we include items in the service that are personal to the deceased. Preparing for the service can be a time of deep loss and sadness where the family are called to choose special touches. I willingly assist people in this process with careful consideration of the details. We often include symbolic items for upliftment of the spirit and soul. Candle lighting and rose tributes are often included in the service to add ritual and include family and friends in the process.

Memorial Services occurs sometime after the cremation or burial of a body. At a memorial service there is no body however there may be ashes. This is a unique service of remembrance honouring the passing of this special soul.

Scattering of the Ashes is a service conducted sometime after the cremation to bring closure to the process of death. A ceremony is delivered however this is generally a smaller more intimate gathering of family members. Often this service will take place on a property or near the water usually a place that was significant to the person who has passed away.

Renewal of Vows

People choose to renew or reaffirm their marriage vows for various reasons. It could be at the time of a significant wedding anniversary, to celebrate with family and friends if they were married overseas or had a small wedding with limited guests.

Couples often exchange a gift – an eternity ring or perhaps their original rings. Special ideas or wishes can be woven into the fabric of the ceremony.

This ceremony will often reflect on the history of the marriage and significant events that have shaped this relationship. Couples often wish to include their children and lifelong friends into the ceremony through readings, reflections, or rituals.

Naming Ceremonies

Naming Ceremony

Many parents choose to have a naming ceremony as a celebration of the birth of their child. A chance to introduce the child into their greater circle of friends and family. Some naming ceremonies will include siblings where all children in the family are introduced at once.

A naming ceremony does not have legal status. It is a civil ceremony. It does not involve a religious faith however it may include traditions from other cultures or beliefs. For many people it is a time of spiritual significance and will hold special memories for the family.

Parents often chose themes or ideas of family significance for inclusion in their naming day. Popular ideas included in the ceremony are tree planting, candle lighting, treasure chests and wish fulfilling trees.

Testimonial

Thank you so very much for being part of Tom’s naming ceremony. It was beautiful. So many people have told me what a lovely and moving ceremony it was. So thank you again for making it a wonderful day.

Angie, Craig, Harry and Tom

Thank you so much for Saturday, you did such a fabulous job. You were entirely professional and positive the whole way through the ceremony, the format was fantastic, and your delivery was spot on. We appreciate you were cool and calm in the face of adversity. (all the kids at the front who wanted to join in) This helped our own stress levels. We will certainly refer business your way.

Ronnie and Peter

Firstly thank you so much for marrying Nathan and I and all that you did. We received the book of the ceremony you sent – it is wonderful. So many people at the wedding commented on how excellent our celebrant was. Be assured we will be recommending you to anyone needing a celebrant.

Tammy and Nathan

Thank you once again for the lovely service you provided for our mother’s funeral.
You followed our instructions and added your own personal style, which I couldn’t have been happier with. I have had many comments and phone messages on how people loved the service. I think our mother would have been proud of her send off.

Barry and Murry

Scott and I wanted to thank you once again for marrying us in November, you did a really professional job and we felt that your presence helped put both us and our guests at ease during an emotional time. We were really happy with the ceremony and felt it was personal while still having the relaxed style that we wanted. So thanks, and we’ll see you in October when Dad and Chris get married!

Corinne and Scott

All of the Sharp family salutes you. I just wanted to thank you for the great service yesterday, also for all your time and energy helping us prepare our words and allowing us to share our family memories with you. Everybody we spoke to after the service said that it was truly the most beautiful service they had been to and they could feel our family’s love and respect for one another. I’m so glad you were there to start us on the road to recovery. So thank you again.

Sandi

Thank you so much for making our day so relaxed and special. We received the booklet today and it is lovely – you have made everything so easy and we really appreciate it.

Gina and George

Vaughan and I wanted to say a big thank you to you for marrying us. So many people commented on what a fantastic ceremony you conducted and many of our guests said it is one of the best ceremonies they’ve been to. And thank you for the ceremony booklet you sent through. I don’t really remember a lot of what was said so it is nice to have that as a keepsake. So again, thank you for the wonderful ceremony and for making Vaughan and I feel much more relaxed up there in front of everyone.

Kerryn and Vaughan

Thank you so much for your kind letter and the wonderful keepsake booklet – something we will always treasure. You did such a great job of our ceremony, so many people remarked at how nice it was. We really felt comfortable with you and liked that we connected with you at our first meeting. Thank you so much once again, and we will try to keep in touch with you, even if it is only at our anniversary time. You will always be remembered by us!

Sean and Julie

Firstly, I want to thank you very much for your professionalism with our little ceremony. You ensured that the service was just as we wished – simple but beautiful.

Marilyn and Stephen

Just a wee note to thank you most sincerely for your wonderful, committed – but when needed light-hearted, and joyful approach to the celebration of Marriage between Alicia and Matthew. It was really a pleasure to meet and to talk with you. We can’t express our appreciation enough for the joy and happiness that you most certainly helped bring to this very special day in the lives of Matthew and Alicia. Your helpful consideration of Des, with his mobility concerns, was so appropriate and we are very thankful that you are such a kind and understanding person. Thank you, Jeanette, thank you – again for performing a lovely, memorable ceremony, and for your obvious suitability to your chosen profession of being a Marriage Celebrant. Your personality is suited to the calling to a “T”, as the old adage goes. We wish much joy and success to you in all your endeavors in the future.

Des and Ruth

Just wanted to say thank you very much for Bailey’s Naming Day. It was great. We really appreciate you being our celebrant for both our boys’ namings and our wedding. You do a fantastic job and we will always recommend you to anyone needing a celebrant.

David and Lisa

LIFE COACHING

Jeanette McDonald life coach

With over 25 years of experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, coaching remains my passion. My journey began in 1999 when I traveled to the US to explore coaching, a field then in its infancy, but a perfect fit for my background in education and helping others.

Around the same time, I became a certified Enneagram Teacher and coach, which added depth to my coaching practice. The Enneagram provides a powerful framework for understanding and managing personality, allowing for deeper breakthroughs.

While I coach both men and women, my focus is on empowering women at crossroads to rediscover their path and fully show up in their lives. I bring clarity, wisdom, and deep listening to our partnership, guiding clients through transformative change.

As an Intuitive Life Coach, I create a supportive space where you can explore your inner wisdom and find the power to shine. If you’re seeking clarity, vision, and a trusted guide, I’m here to help you on your journey.

Jeanette is a candle to help light & guide the way back to your former self. She has helped me change my inner negative self-talk into positive motivational self-talk. I hadn’t realised just how much my critical inner thoughts had impacted my daily life and my relationships around me until it was almost too late….
With her amazing listening skills, wisdom & extremely calming presence, she was able to gain my trust quickly so we could begin the work on “finding me” again.

Katy

I started working with jeanette after a few particularly difficult years. I had very low confidence, and essentially no self-worth. Jeanette has helped me find myself again. Through our work together, I am happier and more confident than I have been in years, and she has taught me how to love myself and realise my self-worth.

Caitlin

Jeanette is a fabulous person, who gives her whole heart to any person in need. Jeanette as well has helped me to believe in myself.
She helped me during the very difficult times in my life. I have been so blessed that our paths had crossed. I am sure she has helped many and will keep on helping many more.

Claude

You are one exceptional, genuine, and skilful coach. I found myself through your guidance over the years. You brought light, magic, and direction back into my life that has made me the person I am today.
I will be forever grateful for all that you did for me. I simply thank you.

Rita

I was 57, my children had left home, and my career that I loved, had caused me so much stress, I had walked away. I was unhealthy physically and emotionally and I had become very good at putting myself down and seeing things in a negative way.

The benefits of the work I did with Jeanette was profound. Over the following year, I rediscovered good health, exercise and I approached my life in a positive way. Jeanette helped me understand where I had come from and what I wanted my life to be like. I learnt how to love and value who I am. Today I am a different person. I am now the happiest and healthiest that I have been in a long time. She has helped me in ways that I could never have imagined. Working with Jeanette has been truly life changing for me.

Jo

Over the couple of years, I looked forward to the energising meetups with Jeanette, cherishing her life coaching which gave me valuable confidence, direction and purpose. My life journey has been blessed by her empowering guidance, passion, and philosophy.

Jeanette has amazing personal skills and proficiencies. Without judgment, she builds rapport and uses her deep wisdom and understanding of personality to steer her clients to identify the issues and guide them to find their own answers through self-awareness and questioning. Her toolkit includes Enneagram, meditation, and life coaching, but she is naturally engaging, people-focused and empathic.

Teresa

What is the Enneagram?

 

The Enneagram is a study of nine basic personality types that explains our behaviors and offers strategies for personal growth. It helps improve relationships by fostering understanding and managing personality traits.

The Enneagram teaches us, that we develop unconscious survival strategies in childhood to cope with our unique circumstances. Engaging with the Enneagram allows us to move beyond these outdated strategies, gain broader perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding of others.

For more than two decades, Jeanette has led Interactive Workshops teaching the Enneagram in the Narrative Tradition. People sharing their stories via the panel, has been a vital part of learning about the different type structures.

Over the last few years, she has organized retreats for women, offering a more immersive learning environment. These “Living the Enneagram” retreats less than two hours from the city, in a peaceful rural setting. The retreats have become enriching experiences, fostering deep understanding and a strong sense of nurturing among the community among participants.

Enneagram Teacher and Coach

Jeanette’s love of the Enneagram started off with simple curiosity about how she ticks, how the people in her life ticked. What were their loves and passions? What values informed their actions? What lay beneath their defences? It led her to the Enneagram and a lifelong passion and interest in how people use various strategies for coping day to day in their lives.

Jeanette is a trained Enneagram Educator and Coach who is very experienced in teaching the Enneagram framework and practices. Jeanette has been working with the Narrative Tradition for twenty-five years. She is passionate about sharing this fascinating work with people to improve their own understanding of themselves, and to develop more sustainable relationships. In this way through self-awareness, discovery, daily practices unique to personality type all aspects of life improve.

Women’s Circles

I’ve been honoured to guide Women’s Circles for many years, both in person and online. These Heart Centred Circles offer a warm embrace, providing women with a safe and respectful space to explore the various aspects of their lives. Within our gatherings, we create a nurturing space where we can connect, communicate, and simply be ourselves, without fear of judgment.

Drawing upon my education in the Circle Way, I gently lead meditations and mindfulness exercises. Sometimes there is facilitation of small group discussions, which encourage a sense of togetherness and exploration. It’s a sacred space where the boundaries between worlds blur, and we find ourselves in liminal space where there is deep connection and understanding.

If you’re seeking a supportive community of wise, like-minded women, I invite you to reach out and join us. Let’s embark on this journey together.

Labyrinth Walks

Labyrinth Walks offer a unique and contemplative experience, inviting individuals to embark on a journey of self-reflection and inner exploration. Walking the labyrinth is a centuries-old practice found in various cultures and traditions, symbolizing a path to spiritual growth, enlightenment, or simply a way to quiet the mind and find peace.

As your guide, I facilitate, and host Labyrinth Walks to provide a sacred space for participants to embark on this journey. Whether you’re seeking clarity, healing, or simply a moment of stillness in a hectic world, the labyrinth offers a pathway for deep introspection and connection with oneself.

Educated in the practice of labyrinth facilitation, I offer gentle guidance and support throughout the labyrinth walk, encouraging participants to move at their own pace and engage with the experience in a way that feels authentic to them.

Each step taken on the portable labyrinth is an opportunity for mindfulness and presence, as we navigate its circuits, mirroring the many paths of life itself.

Whether you’re a seasoned labyrinth walker or exploring this practice for the first time, you’re welcome to join us on this sacred journey.

Please leave a message for any enquiries regarding ceremonies or services.