Carmen Rupe A Sydney-based trust aiming for social change and objectives possibly as wide ranging as disaster relief in the South Pacific has been set up in the name of the late Carmen Rupe. Carmen, for many decades the most visible transgender person in New Zealand who also lived for several periods in her life in Sydney, died in that city just before Christmas last year. According to a press release distributed over the name of Kelly Glanney who directs the Trust's Advisory Committee, the Carmen Rupe Memorial Trust Deed of Settlement was finalised on March 1st and three of the planned six trustees have now been appointed. The Trust has been formally established following a wish the trustees say was "envisaged" in Carmen's will. Initial trustees include Garry Pammer, the Senior Partner at Clark Carmen's niece Chanette Hemopo, a "former legal guardian and major beneficiary of Carmen's estate"; and Elizabeth Riley, "a counsellor, supervisor, and educator specialising in sexuality, gender, ethics and supervision." Glanney, "Carmen’s neighbour and former legal guardian who lead (sic) the team working to establish the charity" says there is much work to be done to get the Trust operational. "It is a wonderful feeling knowing we're now one step closer to creating a lasting and meaningful memorial to Carmen, a charity that will achieve great things in her name for decades to come.” The Trust says its Deed recitals refer to Carmen as "a GLBTi cultural icon who transcended national and cultural boundaries and reference the wish expressed in Carmen's Will that a charity be established in her name to further GLBT education in the community. "Crafted in the spirit of Carmen Rupe, the Deed's Specified Charitable Purpose seeks to promote the principles of social inclusion and the appreciation of human diversity and universal human rights in Australia, by implementing strategies and measures to improve the social status, social integration and social welfare of disadvantaged individuals and communities." “In defining it's charitable purpose, the CRMT Deed refers directly to specific groups such as transgendered people in some clauses, whilst referring more broadly to 'disadvantaged individuals and communities' in others," the Trust says in the press release. "Whilst much of the CRMT's work will focus on GBLTi related issues, it became very clear during our community consultation process that certain stakeholders in Carmen's might wish to use CRMT as a vehicle to address issues of disadvantage in other communities. "Among other things, people expressed interest in possibly helping children with HIV in the third world or possibly raising money for disaster relief in the South Pacific. Consequently we wanted to keep our options open as far as was practical." You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 23rd March 2012 - 10:56pm