Farewell Helen Kelly

Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, October 28th, 2016 - 15 comments
Categories: Unions, workers' rights - Tags:

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There will be a public farewell and celebration of Helen Kelly’s life occurring today.  The event will start at 1 pm at the Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington.

There will also be a live simulcast of the memorial in Auckland and Christchurch from 12.45pm sharp. Members of the public are welcome to attend the Concert Chamber of the Auckland Town Hall. The Christchurch event is in the Helen Kelly room at the brand new Trade Union Centre, 68 Langdons Rd, Papanui (next to the old Firestone tyre factory).

Helen’s farewell will also be live streamed here.

Updated with the video of the service:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZdpUZd2_XY

15 comments on “Farewell Helen Kelly ”

  1. Manuka AOR 1

    “International and local unionists will join politicians, musicians, and friends of Ms Kelly for the service at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

    Greenpeace executive director and former Green Party MP Russel Norman will officiate.

    Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff, who will give the main eulogy, said he expected a big crowd to show up.

    “She was very much loved and very much respected, and I think people will want to come and pay their respects.”

    The service would be livestreamed on screens at Auckland Town Hall and the Christchurch Trade Union Centre for anyone in those cities who wanted to attend, Mr Wagstaff said.

    The council was hoping to establish some kind of lasting tribute to Ms Kelly, he said.

    “There’s a lot of ideas about how we can remember Helen and I’m sure we will … We’ve just got to pick the right way of doing that.”

    His eulogy would talk about Ms Kelly’s values and courage, as well as her “wicked sense of humour” and other personal qualities, Mr Wagstaff said.” http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/316708/big-crowds-expected-for-helen-kelly-memorial

  2. mickysavage 2

    Im watching it now and would recommend it. It is a beautiful remembrance of an extraordinary life and going through some of the industrial and political battles Helen was involved in (Hobbits, Pike River, Forestry deaths etc etc etc) brings back very strong memories.

  3. Sacha 3

    Don McGlashan singing ‘Anchor Me’ was a beautiful moment.

  4. Manuka AOR 4

    “Instead of ‘Winner takes all’
    it has to be, ‘It takes all of us to win’ “.
    Ged Kearney quoting Helen Kelly

  5. james 5

    It has been nice to see that all feedback on Helen Kelly – from all sides of the political spectrum, from people she supported to people she fought. From people she championed, to people she stood up too, have universally been so respectful of her, said what a great person she was, how she passionatley believed in what she was fighting for, and the people she was helping.

    Thats not something that could be just lip service because she has passed – its genuine. Helen Kelly had a reputation and a respect that very few people will ever achieve, and is earnt over a lifetime of hard work and dedication.

    Whilst I doubt there is very much we would ever agree with – it is very clear that New Zealand is a poorer place for her loss.

    • greywarshark 5.1

      @James
      Whilst I doubt there is very much we would ever agree with – it is very clear that New Zealand is a poorer place for her loss.

      What are you on about?

  6. Richard Rawshark 6

    This is going top be hard for me to say at this time as people are hurting, please read it Properly before forming an opinion and getting angry it’s actually respectful.

    When I came back to NZ from the UK I first heard of Helen Kelly, quickly realized she was the daughter of a man I actually did not like, back then the times, view points, frankly I had him pegged as a radical communist supporter and I think a few people know what I think about communism due to the persecution by them of my fathers and his family.

    my opinions of her father, that was handed down, it’s not right and I didn’t know him, just what he stood for, or thought he did, please excuse me.

    However I grew to admire and respect Helen. She was actually out there doing good and she really was a brilliant person, I cried when she passed and losing her really is a blow to the left and common working classes.

    RIP Helen. You can put down the sign and let someone else carry it from now. You my dear have exceeded many, many peoples expectations and followed your heart, Your truly will be missed.

  7. Jenny Kirk 7

    Thank you for putting up this tribute to Helen Kelly – for those of us who couldn’t get to a memorial service.

  8. greywarshark 8

    For those of us who were not able to see and hear the service on line, can someone advise as to whether it is going to be on youtube or available somewhere else.

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