History Of Selwyn Allen Funerals

When a person's vocation is their passion and they spend their life pursuing that passion, the quality and service given to their clients and peers is undeniably beneficial. Selwyn Allen is such a person and has become Melbourne’s most decorated funeral director.

Born in Melbourne in 1947, Selwyn’s family moved to country Benalla when he was 10 years old. His mother’s family lived on a farm at Timmering, east of Rochester, which is where Selwyn was first introduced to an Armstrong Siddeley motor car. His uncle gifted him a Fourteen and, using the skills he picked up from his mechanic father, Selwyn was able to get the vehicle up and running again.

In 1962, Selwyn moved back to Melbourne to attend boarding school at Wesley College. To Selwyn’s delight the principal drove an Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire! Yet, Selwyn always knew that he wanted to work in the funeral industry. It was a vocational calling which appealed to his desire to serve the community. After completing school, Selwyn knocked on several doors of funeral firms before finding his first job at Bathurst & Co. in Elsternwick in 1967.

Not long after commencing at Bathurst & Co. Selwyn was taught to embalm and completed his studies through an Australian Funeral Director Association (AFDA) correspondence course with the British Institute of Embalmers. Selwyn and his Australian peers formed the AFDA Australian Institute of Embalming in 1982 and he proudly holds certificate #1.

Selwyn has given back to the industry he respects through serving as an AFDA National Council Member from 1982-1987, as Victorian Divisional President from 1984-1985, and as a Victorian Divisional Council Member from 1979-2011. Selwyn was honoured with an AFDA Life Membership in 1996.

After working for John Allison/Monkhouse Funerals for many years after his first employer, Selwyn felt the desire to start his own funeral company. So, in 1998 Selwyn began Selwyn Allen (All Faiths) Funerals, supported by his wife, Jenny, and daughter, Wendy. Son, Geoff, came on board in 2016 and is now co-director with his father.

A shining light on Selwyn’s stellar career was receiving the Master Funeral Director Award in 2004. Not long after this, in 2005, he was appointed Life Member of the Australian Institute of Embalmers. Selwyn served as its chairman for nine years.

However, possibly Selwyn’s greatest achievement was purchasing the 1958 Saphire MK2 Hearse in 2008. It took several years of polite coaxing and patience to purchase the hearse from another funeral company in the UK and then to lovingly restore it to its original condition. This hearse is regularly used in Selwyn Allen Funeral services to this day and offers a unique point of difference for client families.

For Selwyn, providing excellent service and care for grieving families is the key to the role of a funeral director. This is what drives the whole team at Selwyn Allen Funerals.