Our Staff
West Coast Funerals, a South Australian family owned and operated business, was created in 1987 by Ralph and Jennifer Watkins. Our professional dedication to the people we serve remains the commitment of West Coast Funerals.
Situated amidst family-owned farming land at 1123 Flinders Highway, just 15 kilometres from the city of Port Lincoln.
Our facilities include our residence, chapel and lounge, crematorium, office, memorial areas and also an award winning garden.
Jennifer Watkins
Funeral Director
Jennifer has a special affinity for the West Coast and its people, having grown up on her family’s rural property where West Coast Funerals is situated.
In 2006 Jennifer commenced her studies with Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga,, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Class 1 in 2012, with her dissertation Beyond Cemeteries: Changing Trends in Australian Funerary Memorialisation from 1975 to 2010.
Jennifer was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 2020, for her thesis Rural Rites: Women’s Experience of Funerals and Remembrance on Lower Eyre Peninsula in the post-1960s era..
Linda Dreckow
Funeral Director
Linda Dreckow is our daughter and commenced her working life in nursing and aged care.
The attributes gained in those vocations have been invaluable in her role as a Funeral Director, where communication and empathy are amongst the many requisite skills.
In addition, Linda’s professional expertise has been enhanced by undertaking further studies. She has obtained qualifications in many facets of funeral directing, mortuary skills and bereavement care.
Linda and her husband Cameron – who is a farmer and also a Livestock Representative for Quality Livestock – live near us in our rural location.
Alan Butler
Funeral Director
Alan Butler started his life career as a chef where he owned and operated restaurants throughout Queensland. When the Queensland floods hit Charleville, his vocation in life changed.
Seeing the devastation caused by the floods in 1990 to many businesses and homes, Alan applied for a position as a Pupil Nurse at the Charleville School of Nursing. Once his studies were complete Alan carried out several nursing positions, Queensland wide.
Alan and his wife purchased their property in Westall, South Australia, some eighteen years ago and decided to make this their new home. Currently, Alan still practices nursing part time in Ceduna, is based in Westall and assists in covering the further West Coast area.
Ralph Watkins
Funeral Director
Ralph was the founder of West Coast Funerals, commencing the business in October 1987, following a successful career in nursing education.
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Seeking to improve the service and facilities available to the people of Lower Eyre Peninsula, Ralph's research into funeral trends led to the creation of the business.
Later, In response to local needs, Ralph co-ordinated the establishment of an on-site crematorium in 1997.