Katherine

KATHERINE

"Katherine's boots symbolise her ability to stand tall and walk forward towards the goals she set for herself."

Katherine was not afraid to make some noise, stand up for what she believed in. A strong, rare character, someone you hear about and can't help admiring. But for all of Katherine's radical activism and public displays, there was also a fragility about her. Strength muddled with self-doubt and insecurity. Katherine's ability to publicly turn a difficult situation around exposed not only her illness or disability but also her great, generous heart. Katherine died in her sleep on Saturday 22 September 2007. She is very sadly missed.

An ardent feminist, she routinely questioned authority and the hierarchical structures that define our society. She believed in equality and access for all; education and health care were particular concerns. You see, Katherine suffered from chronic rheumatoid arthritis and also experienced mental illness. She was intimately familiar with the lack of public funding and awareness around both these matters.

Katherine was elected Women's Officer at Melbourne University in 1996, her platform was disability advocacy. She would create little inconveniences for able-bodied students:obstructing doorways or stairs, increasing awareness of the lack of access for all. She created some hullabaloo around disabled parking within the university precinct, printing bumper stickers that read, "I am an asshole! I parked my car so as to block the access of a disabled person to this area… Next time my car will be scratched. Cripples Inc." She brought a sense of humour to her activism that belied her everyday struggle and frustration.

According to a good friend, "During the last years of her life, Katherine refined the art of activism to an everyday act.She spoke her mind about access issues anywhere from the public library to the supermarket." She also became involved with the Power On program, a Women's Health West initiative. The program is geared towards encouraging women who experience mental illness to recognise their power and better manage their health and their lives. In her own words, "Working as a peer educator has been a journey for me; from babbling when insecurity hits to a feeling of confidence in what I, and we, are doing. Essentially a peer educator shares her personal abilities and experiences with those who have had similar experiences and helps develop a shared knowledge."

A colleague describes her trepidation, "It's such a generous thing to do. Declare it. All of us have personal issues that we struggle with in our lives. Katherine was really scared of that, to be known in the workplace as someone with a mental illness. But she took on the job anyway, in the hope that her experiences could assist other women to take control of their lives. Katherine was really happy with how that went. She soon realised she wasn't going to be stigmatised, as had been her previous experience."

Katherine had really hit her stride. Working to promote women's well-being was a natural progression from her earlier radical activism. tapestry image Her well-worn and loved boots represent the woman missing in the photograph. A friend describes their significance.

"Katherine's boots symbolise her ability to stand tall and walk forward towards the goals she set for herself and the various communities she was a part of despite not being able to walk some days herself. Katherine's footsteps on sand would have been unwavering and solid in their direction. The laces in the boots symbolise her creativity, both academically and in quilting and sewing."