2014-06-13
Janet Rice
Karin Geradts was a member and part of the fabric of The Greens since 1995. She was a member of the Greens Victoria State Council for 17 of those 19 years, the founder and convenor of the St Andrews and District branch between 1998 and 2005, and a member of State Executive and State campaign committees for many years. The Greens began in Victoria in 1992. I've been there from the beginning and I find it almost impossible to remember The Greens without Karin.
She was always there: at branch meetings, fundraisers, so many rallies, Pride March, Midsumma festival, State Council, and of course election campaigns and election days as a candidate, a campaign manager, mentor, and foot soldier how to voter. [The image here shows Karin with Cr Samantha Dunn and Janet at the Say Yes Rally in June 2011.]
Karin was particularly proud of her work with the Animals Working Group, which she nurtured and convened over many years. The animals policy was one of two outstanding and progressive achievements of this group. The other was The Vic Greens Catering Policy which 'recommends that catering for Greens' events be determined by seeking environmentally sustainable and welfare friendly options'.
During the federal election campaign, Karin was by my side at so many rallies and events; from uncountable rallies at the State Library to Lock the Gate at Seaspray, outside Centrelink at Epping to a forest festival at Toolangi.
She gave so generously of her time, her life, because she was passionate, and making the world a better place really mattered to her. She loved and she cared, and she fought hard for everyone, every creature, every special place on this planet, and for our future
I will remember her love, her care, her generosity, her laugh, her warmth, her energy, her persistence, her outspokenness, her dogged determination, her loyal friendship. That she was 'irreverantly wise'. That she spoke truth to power.
In the last weeks of her life there were two Facebook groups that were set up to celebrate her life The outpouring of people's love and connection to Karin on these groups was extraordinary.
What I will most miss is her amazing generosity that shone through in her smile to light up any room —
Who could not be touched by her laughter and those gorgeous dimples that showed us a window into her beautiful spirit? (Miriam Solomon)
Her tireless passion, directness and determination have inspired and touched each of us personally. It is because of Karin that the Victorian Greens have an animals policy that is visionary and strong. We will miss you and your energy dearly, and will continue to fight for the animals with your style as our inspiration” (Animals Working Group)
'The room always brightened a little when you come in, and I enjoyed so much your wonderful hugs' (Bruce Rivendell)
'Karin is a beacon of compassion, with generosity of spirit, good humour and persistence. I've always admired your fighting spirit which you combine with a lovely daily down to earth approach to life, plus a never diminishing twinkle in your eye' (Cyndi Dawes)
'Her willingness to stand up for unpopular issues, to speak up even knowing she probably wouldn't win the argument on the day, but with a belief that one day it will be won.' (Jo Connellan)
'You're the straight-talker, the 'get down to it', the sense-maker. You say what you mean, and you do what you say you'll do. You don't mince words. I can trust you. You laugh at yourself and at other people and at the ridiculousness inherent in the system. You do the hard yards while others stand around putting commas in 'the right place'. You rep the outer suburbs. You make your voice heard. In a party of characters, you stand out. We will never be as good a party as we have been with Karin in the midst of all the lunacy, making sense.' (Charlie Sanders)
'To have had the joy and privilege of knowing Karin was to know the very essence of The Greens.' (Bro Sheffield Brotherton)
'So honoured to have been her friend and to have shared so many good belly laughs with her!' (Dinesh Matthew)
'Her indomitable spirit lives on in the Greens and in all the many lives she touched. Karin, you have made the world a better place. We will all miss your joyous presence. Thank you for the happy memories, and all the laughs along the way' (Linda Laos)
Stephen Luntz recalled “I just keep coming back to her extraordinary commitment. I was on the Greens state campaign committee with her back in the days when we had 250 members in Victoria and there was serious debate about whether the party would survive. The campaign committee had so much to do that our meetings would often take up a full day, every fortnight, and almost always a set of tasks to take away before the next meeting. It was hard on all of us, but Karin had kids, and a full time job, and over an hour's journey each way, and yet she was always there, and working so hard to make a branch for the party in her area, as well as fighting the local issues in her area. If the world had a few more people willing to put in so much it wouldn't be in the state it is.
Indeed. There are hundreds of millions if not billions of people and organisations that are working across the planet for justice, peace, our earth and our future. We are a web of people connected in our values and our actions, and we are the 'blessed unrest' as Paul Hawkens calls us, the ones who will create the revolution that's needed. Karin was a shining light in that web, a node of quite some significance – let there be no doubt about that.
Sue Pennicuik said: 'We have been kindred spirits since we met 18 years ago. We have worked together on many Green projects over those years and had lots of laughs and good times'. Sue posted some photos of the two of them at jumps racing and puppy farm protests, noting, Karin never gives up when it comes to protecting animals.
Karin was also always there for women and for young people in The Greens. Cathy Oke's tribute tells so much about her:
The way you've always supported people, especially women, in your life is how we all should act. Unwavering, genuine, always with a smile and hug. You're one of my favourite people. I've been thinking a lot about how to truly acknowledge how special you are. Each year I intend to support either an individual or organisation acting in a way that Karin would. A young person leading for their community, an organisation caring for nature or animals, or a green hoping to be elected...
How will we remember Karin? It has to be in our actions, by being that amazing combination of loving and fearless, visionary and practical and down to earth; and generous to a fault. Charlie Sanders has suggested we ask ourselves 'What would Karin do?'
If we set ourselves that task of asking 'What would Karin do?' I'm sure we will find a universe of ways to remember her.
For me, as I begin in the Senate, it will be through being brave and strong and outspoken, grounded in love and care and compassion. To say, yes I can do that, yes I must do that, and stay true. I know I'll think of her constantly.
I'm going to give Steph Kadwell the final words in this anthology of Green love and celebration and thanks for Karin's amazing contribution to our community and our planet:
There are times when you journey down life's road (sometimes a rocky narrow path) when you are joined on your way by a being who lights the way, makes you feel worthy and accepts you just as you are. This is Karin. The sun and the moon on your path, darlin'. See you on the flip side
On behalf of us all, I send our love, hugs and best wishes, and huge thanks for Karin's life to her family – her sons Josh and Jake, her Mum Willy and her sister Ingrid.
Love you, Karin. We will all miss you so much.