Vale Waratah
Australian lawyer Rosemarie Gillespie, ‘Waratah’, a courageous woman and long time fighter for Indigenous Rights issues, died today. 22 June, 2010.
Her work in human rights spanned more than 40 years and began with protests against the “white Australia” immigration policy.
Waratah will be remembered for her valiant activism in the cause of peace.
No stranger to danger, she was a political prisoner in Fiji following General Rabuka’s first military coup and later braved spies and gunfire to bring life-saving medicines to the people of Bougainville. She exposed the Australian government’s supply of weapons to the Papua New Guinea military – free gifts of ammunition, mortar bombs and chemical weapons manufactured at the Australian Defence Industries (ADI) site at St Marys, N.S.W.
She was a mother and grandmother, human-rights lawyer and Human Shield in Iraq, writer and documentary maker, committed to bringing out the truth of the many struggles she had seen. Waratah was an intrepid and independent woman who combined her reporting skills with her legal knowledge.
She served as a Human Shield during the bombing of Baghdad and her book, Invasion of Iraq – an eyewitness account, records the suffering of the Iraqi people and the horrific results of the bombings, including the multiple injuries caused by cluster bombs dropped on civilians. It also teaches us the aftermath of the use of depleted uranium.
You will be missed, Waratah, we need people with your principles, with your bravery and with your compassionate heart. Vale.
Listen to Waratah Rosemarie Gillespie in an interview on the ABC, February, 2010
Her book on Bougainville is available from Ginibi.
Running with Rebels: Behind the lies in Bougainville’s hidden war
Author: Waratah Rosemarie Gillespie
Publisher: Ginibi Productions
290 pages, paperback
Price: $29.95 (plus postage and packaging costs of $8.10)
To order a copy, please contact:
Ginibi Productions
c/- PO Box 60
Port Kembla. NSW. 2505.
Posted in Vale
I am very sad to see her passing, thought we would have her for many more years ..
I also am sad to hear this news . Yes, she will be missed . A good human being who cared! She loved well and is loved by many
This is sad news – she will be sorely missed. Much love to family and friends.
I am so sad to hear of Rosemary’s death. She was a person prepared to put herself on the line to help others. Her work to bring to light the suffering of the people of Bougainville will never be forgotten. Condolences to family and friends.