Remembering Joan Macdonald, 1932-2016
Joan will be so greatly missed by so many - the WILPF sisterhood, the feminist sisterhood, and leftist activists, as well as of course by her family and loved ones. She was so welcoming and encouraging when I moved to Auckland and has been a constant of my various circles.
Anita
I am so very saddened to hear of Joan's passing. What a incredible force of a woman. A loss indeed for the work of peace and freedom.
My thoughts and prayers for family and friends who will miss her immensely.
Marama
What an amazing and inspiring lady - a true campaigner to the end.
Claire
Joan will be sorely missed! Her quiet tenacity and commitment to the cause of peace and freedom of all peoples and calling on state and government to do their part by the people. She was truly a citizen for and of peace.
Mere
It is very sad to lose one of our South Pacific Warrior Princesses.
We give thanks for the work she has done, knowing that it is effective and the energy from that work, will continue on, to do good for our people and planet.
Irinka
Dear Joan always made me feel really welcome although I haven't been very active for a long time. She seemed to have an exceptional memory for faces & names. I know she will be so very much missed by hundreds if not thousands of friends.
She was so diligent and a very great Peace Activist.
Veronica
She was such a tireless worker for peace, justice and the good of humanity, and will be sorely missed.
Joy
She will be sorely missed.
What a fine example to us all and how vibrant she was throughout her life!
Mairi
I never met Joan myself, but my grandmother, Margaret Holmes from NSW WILPF knew and spoke highly of her, as an inspirational woman who made a great difference to the world in her life.
Helen
I was so sad to hear the news of Joan's death last week, and wish to send my love and sympathy to those who worked closely with Joan over many years.
Although I very rarely attend WILPF meetings I have greatly valued being part of Joan's email network. It has provided lots of wonderful facts, figures and inspiration to share with others.
My thoughts will be with you all as you come together to remember, celebrate and give thanks for Joan with family and friends on Friday.
Arohanui me te rangimarie, Anne
Joan helped me and Dyane Brown, (who is a scrupulous and long time peace and environmental activist) by finding and sending items by airmail /email, to set up a WILPF group in NANAIMO, BC Canada when I had left Auckland to look after my mother..this was in about 2002/2003. That group has gone from strength to strength and is full of committed activists and peace workers, and on their behalf I send our love and appreciation for Joan and her generosity of spirit.
Jean
The Board and members of Pacific Women's Watch (New Zealand) Inc. were honoured to have the support of Joan from the inception of the organisation in 2000 until very recently. Joan attended all of our events and provided our organisation with vital information from many sources. Her communications helped immeasurably with our key objective to monitor, review and report on the status of women both in New Zealand and in the Pacific sub-region.
PWW(NZ) valued hugely Joan's contribution to our activities, as well as her unstinting dedication over so many years to the promotion of peace and justice. She will be greatly missed and long remembered. We send sincere sympathy to Joan's family.
Jane Prichard QSO Founding President Pacific Women's Watch (New Zealand) contributed on behalf of
Christine King, President 2016-2017
Remembering how amazing Joan was in her commitment to social justice and peace issues.
Anne W
In memory of Joan, a tireless worker for women’s rights and for peace and freedom.
Shirley
Joan was a stalwart worker for peace and justice here in New Zealand and internationally. We shall all miss her considerable contribution to WILPF in its endeavours to make the world a fairer and safer place for all peoples.
Chris
Reflections from Human Rights Network members:
How very sad, Joan, so kind, caring and dedicated to human rights, social justice and gender issues.
What sad news - but I was heartened to hear Joan died peacefully, as she lived.
A truly incredible and inspirational woman.
Ka aroha ki a koe, koutou mā, i tēnei wā pōuri.
Aroha nui,
An indomitable spirit, perceptive, wise, generous, and utterly reliable...
We will miss Joan greatly in many spheres of human rights activities in Auckland and further afield....
Please convey my deepest sympathy to Joan’s family and friends.
VERY sad - Joan was a really GOOD woman, of character and substance.
Joan was amazing and will be sadly missed by the many people with whom she did so much valuable work over so many years.
She certainly made the most of her 84 years of life on this earth.
God bless her.
I'm deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend and tireless worker/activist Joan Macdonald. She will be sorely missed.
There are many in the Auckland region who may not have known Joan personally ... but who have greatly benefitted from Joan's loyal and very active support of HRN since its inception.
We are all very aware of her longstanding support of human rights issues for all people and are particularly grateful for her particular support for refugees and asylum seekers. Please pass on our sympathies to her family and all of her colleagues. She will be missed.
For many, many years Joan was a loyal member of NCWNZ and an active writer of excellent submissions to Government and also resolutions for NCWNZ Conferences. Her wisdom, sharp mind and institutional memory will be sadly missed.
A time of sadness, but also a recognition of the great legacy Joan has passed on.
I am so sorry as she was such a inspiration.
It was a privilege to have met Joan, who initially presented as the most unassuming person you’d ever met, until you noticed the twinkle in her eye and so realised her great sense of humour, and then discovered the huge amount she achieved through her continual involvement across a host of peace/human rights and community issues and her work with you and others through the human rights/peace networks.
Joan will be missed by all .. A very special lady
Joan Macdonald- In Memoriam, 19 August 2016
Today we say farewell to a great woman, beloved wife of the late David, cherished mother, grandmother, friend, respected elder and sister in the perpetual work of peace, justice and freedom.
As we deeply mourn Joan’s passing, we also stand in deep gratitude. For Joan was a force for good.
She is a model of what it means to be a true activist and campaigner. Her lifelong dedication to the causes that, today, fill the pages of social media and the streets of the world is exemplary.
The list is long. Steady perseverance in promoting peaceful conflict resolution; the Treaty and Treaty Education; women’s rights; social justice; demilitarisation; decolonisation and human rights in Aotearoa and throughout the Pacific. Her particular interest was Bougainville and West Papua and she supported alternatives to incarcerating women in prison. She opposed racism and violence in all forms.
Joan showed up. Whether at our WILPF events, at Peace Movement Aotearoa campaigns, UNANZ Film Festivals, University Peace Conferences, or in kitchens catering to the many Auckland groups who called upon the culinary skills of WILPF women beyond their activism, Joan was there.
We promise to continue to be there too.
Joan’s smile was infectious. And the twinkle in her eye harkened to an ancestry of profound knowing, earned strength and sparkling humour.
Always a wealth of knowledge, Joan’s skill – and speed – at communicating a vast web of information kept us all informed and inspired.
May we offer our heartfelt prayers for her family. May they find comfort in each other and with the many supportive friends.
May we offer our deep thanks for her kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit.
And may we offer her our aroha love and blessings for being with us on this life journey.
May you rest in peace Joan. You will be deeply missed and always remembered.
Ake Ake Ake Amene Amen~
Rev Diane Winder
Anita
I am so very saddened to hear of Joan's passing. What a incredible force of a woman. A loss indeed for the work of peace and freedom.
My thoughts and prayers for family and friends who will miss her immensely.
Marama
What an amazing and inspiring lady - a true campaigner to the end.
Claire
Joan will be sorely missed! Her quiet tenacity and commitment to the cause of peace and freedom of all peoples and calling on state and government to do their part by the people. She was truly a citizen for and of peace.
Mere
It is very sad to lose one of our South Pacific Warrior Princesses.
We give thanks for the work she has done, knowing that it is effective and the energy from that work, will continue on, to do good for our people and planet.
Irinka
Dear Joan always made me feel really welcome although I haven't been very active for a long time. She seemed to have an exceptional memory for faces & names. I know she will be so very much missed by hundreds if not thousands of friends.
She was so diligent and a very great Peace Activist.
Veronica
She was such a tireless worker for peace, justice and the good of humanity, and will be sorely missed.
Joy
She will be sorely missed.
What a fine example to us all and how vibrant she was throughout her life!
Mairi
I never met Joan myself, but my grandmother, Margaret Holmes from NSW WILPF knew and spoke highly of her, as an inspirational woman who made a great difference to the world in her life.
Helen
I was so sad to hear the news of Joan's death last week, and wish to send my love and sympathy to those who worked closely with Joan over many years.
Although I very rarely attend WILPF meetings I have greatly valued being part of Joan's email network. It has provided lots of wonderful facts, figures and inspiration to share with others.
My thoughts will be with you all as you come together to remember, celebrate and give thanks for Joan with family and friends on Friday.
Arohanui me te rangimarie, Anne
Joan helped me and Dyane Brown, (who is a scrupulous and long time peace and environmental activist) by finding and sending items by airmail /email, to set up a WILPF group in NANAIMO, BC Canada when I had left Auckland to look after my mother..this was in about 2002/2003. That group has gone from strength to strength and is full of committed activists and peace workers, and on their behalf I send our love and appreciation for Joan and her generosity of spirit.
Jean
The Board and members of Pacific Women's Watch (New Zealand) Inc. were honoured to have the support of Joan from the inception of the organisation in 2000 until very recently. Joan attended all of our events and provided our organisation with vital information from many sources. Her communications helped immeasurably with our key objective to monitor, review and report on the status of women both in New Zealand and in the Pacific sub-region.
PWW(NZ) valued hugely Joan's contribution to our activities, as well as her unstinting dedication over so many years to the promotion of peace and justice. She will be greatly missed and long remembered. We send sincere sympathy to Joan's family.
Jane Prichard QSO Founding President Pacific Women's Watch (New Zealand) contributed on behalf of
Christine King, President 2016-2017
Remembering how amazing Joan was in her commitment to social justice and peace issues.
Anne W
In memory of Joan, a tireless worker for women’s rights and for peace and freedom.
Shirley
Joan was a stalwart worker for peace and justice here in New Zealand and internationally. We shall all miss her considerable contribution to WILPF in its endeavours to make the world a fairer and safer place for all peoples.
Chris
Reflections from Human Rights Network members:
How very sad, Joan, so kind, caring and dedicated to human rights, social justice and gender issues.
What sad news - but I was heartened to hear Joan died peacefully, as she lived.
A truly incredible and inspirational woman.
Ka aroha ki a koe, koutou mā, i tēnei wā pōuri.
Aroha nui,
An indomitable spirit, perceptive, wise, generous, and utterly reliable...
We will miss Joan greatly in many spheres of human rights activities in Auckland and further afield....
Please convey my deepest sympathy to Joan’s family and friends.
VERY sad - Joan was a really GOOD woman, of character and substance.
Joan was amazing and will be sadly missed by the many people with whom she did so much valuable work over so many years.
She certainly made the most of her 84 years of life on this earth.
God bless her.
I'm deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend and tireless worker/activist Joan Macdonald. She will be sorely missed.
There are many in the Auckland region who may not have known Joan personally ... but who have greatly benefitted from Joan's loyal and very active support of HRN since its inception.
We are all very aware of her longstanding support of human rights issues for all people and are particularly grateful for her particular support for refugees and asylum seekers. Please pass on our sympathies to her family and all of her colleagues. She will be missed.
For many, many years Joan was a loyal member of NCWNZ and an active writer of excellent submissions to Government and also resolutions for NCWNZ Conferences. Her wisdom, sharp mind and institutional memory will be sadly missed.
A time of sadness, but also a recognition of the great legacy Joan has passed on.
I am so sorry as she was such a inspiration.
It was a privilege to have met Joan, who initially presented as the most unassuming person you’d ever met, until you noticed the twinkle in her eye and so realised her great sense of humour, and then discovered the huge amount she achieved through her continual involvement across a host of peace/human rights and community issues and her work with you and others through the human rights/peace networks.
Joan will be missed by all .. A very special lady
Joan Macdonald- In Memoriam, 19 August 2016
Today we say farewell to a great woman, beloved wife of the late David, cherished mother, grandmother, friend, respected elder and sister in the perpetual work of peace, justice and freedom.
As we deeply mourn Joan’s passing, we also stand in deep gratitude. For Joan was a force for good.
She is a model of what it means to be a true activist and campaigner. Her lifelong dedication to the causes that, today, fill the pages of social media and the streets of the world is exemplary.
The list is long. Steady perseverance in promoting peaceful conflict resolution; the Treaty and Treaty Education; women’s rights; social justice; demilitarisation; decolonisation and human rights in Aotearoa and throughout the Pacific. Her particular interest was Bougainville and West Papua and she supported alternatives to incarcerating women in prison. She opposed racism and violence in all forms.
Joan showed up. Whether at our WILPF events, at Peace Movement Aotearoa campaigns, UNANZ Film Festivals, University Peace Conferences, or in kitchens catering to the many Auckland groups who called upon the culinary skills of WILPF women beyond their activism, Joan was there.
We promise to continue to be there too.
Joan’s smile was infectious. And the twinkle in her eye harkened to an ancestry of profound knowing, earned strength and sparkling humour.
Always a wealth of knowledge, Joan’s skill – and speed – at communicating a vast web of information kept us all informed and inspired.
May we offer our heartfelt prayers for her family. May they find comfort in each other and with the many supportive friends.
May we offer our deep thanks for her kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit.
And may we offer her our aroha love and blessings for being with us on this life journey.
May you rest in peace Joan. You will be deeply missed and always remembered.
Ake Ake Ake Amene Amen~
Rev Diane Winder