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| A Morning Tea Tribute to Jennifer Clark 14 July 2010  "The strong thread of inspiration she wove through the fabric of Sweet Louise continues on with us." The Sweet Louise TeamIt was a clear and sunny blue-sky winter morning, the type of day that invites us to head out and enjoy a brisk walk, have an adventure or meet with friends for a hot cup of coffee and a good chat. Jennifer Clark would have loved all those things so it was a perfect morning for her friends and colleagues to gather over morning tea with the Sweet Louise Team at Te Waipuna Puawai in Auckland to remember and celebrate the life of this gracious and unforgettable woman. Jennifer passed away in mid-June and the many tributes that have poured in since offer a poignant testament to a truly extraordinary woman who achieve  d so much for so many during her tenure as CEO of Sweet Louise. Jennifer was also well known and respected for her work in other areas of the public health arena so those gathered at Te Waipuna Puawai included colleagues from several organisations  and work places.Sweet Louise CEO Sue Brewster (pictured at left) welcomed the guests to the Tribute Morning Tea and acknowledged the life of a well respected and extremely talented woman who contributed so much to the organisation and its Members. Sue introduced three women who had worked closely with Jennifer in recent years and wished to offer tributes: Janet Mikkelsen (Louise Perkins Foundation Trustee) spoke on behalf of the Sweet Louise Board of Trustees , Heather Shotter (Executive Trustee of the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation) paid tribute from the Foundation as a cornerstone sponsor and partner of Sweet Louise and Sinda Hall (Sweet Louise Senior Support Coordinator) finished with words that reflected the thoughts of Members, Service Providers and the Sweet Louise Team . Sue invited guests to record their own words about Jennifer in a special Tribute Book for the family. The colour green was Jennifer's favourite so the speakers gave their tributes beside a delicate  arrangement of soft green orchids. "We were very lucky to have her," said Janet Mikkelsen (pictured at right). "She was very wise and very professional. We had huge expectations of her which she always exceeded." Janet made special mention of Jennifer's irrepressible sense of humour and a sensitivity that made her acutely aware and responsive to the needs of the women Sweet Louise serves. "I feel incredibly grateful to have known and worked with her."  Heather Shotter (pictured at left) remembered a woman with whom she had much in common, both professionally and personally. "Jennifer was a true partner to our Foundation. I was totally won over by her forthright approach and passion for her work." She spoke of someone who achieved so many positive outcomes for women with an unceasing dedication and positivity, a true leader who was "adored" by her staff. "Jennifer lived a life less ordinary and leaves behind a legacy that ensures she will never be forgotten."Sinda Hall (pictured at right) spoke of Jennifer as both a colleague and a friend, one who had a subtle and dry sense of humour and enjoyed simple pleasures like a "fast walk along the seafront"  or a sublime bottle of Rose from a favourite Wanaka vineyard. In keeping with her sense of fun, Jennifer named the distinctive Sweet Louise logo ‘the chick', a nickname the Team uses, with fondness, to this day. She was also renowned for her extraordinary networking. "She used to say, ‘I must have coffee with so-and-so' and I am sure she must have frequented most of the Auckland cafés at some time, though she did have her favourites." Sinda said Sweet Louise Members always enjoyed Jennifer's attendance at their monthly meetings. "She was able to bridge the divide from CEO to a woman who had been along a similar journey to our Members. She had a wonderful ability to really understand the fears and concerns of living with the disease." A Sweet Louise Member was quoted as saying, "She was a person I admired very much ... I didn't know Jennifer on a personal level except through Sweet Louise and I was in admiration of her passion and clarity of purpose. I'm pleased to have met her and known her."  Amongst the many people who attended to pay their respects were representatives from Sweet Louise partner The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) and sister breast cancer organisations including the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC), Kenzie's Gift, the Breast Cancer Network (NZ) and Breast Cancer Support (BCS). Trustees from the Louise Perkins Foundation attended as did Sweet Louise Volunteers and Friends. A number of Sweet Louise Service Providers who knew Jennifer well were also amongst the guests as were representatives from the Auckland District Health Board and The Lion Foundation. (Pictured at right, L to R: Nic Russell (Kenzie's Gift), Libby Burgess (Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition), Suzanne McNicol (New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation).  There was so much to celebrate about the life of Jennifer Clark. Her contributions to the organisation to which she devoted such time, energy and passion will never be forgotten. For the Sweet Louise Team, "... the friendships she made with us will be treasured; fond memories will walk by our side; the strong thread of inspiration she wove through the fabric of Sweet Louise continues on with us and we will live each day with the humour and spirited sense of adventure that were the hallmarks of Jennifer's life." (Pictured at left, some Sweet Louise Team Members, L to R Sue Brewster (CEO), Elva Philips (Wellington Support Coordinator), Jan Apps (Auckland Support Coordinator), Sinda Hall (Senior Support Coordinator, Auckland).Sinda concluded her tribute with one of Jennifer's oft-heard sayings: "No one knows what expiry date is stamped on their bottom - so make sure you make every minute count." Back to top>>> |
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