Tue 17 Jun 2014 In: Hall of Fame View at Wayback View at NDHA
Writer Pat Rosier is being remembered as a feminist pioneer and an important writer who is already sorely missed. Pat Rosier (right) with partner Prue Hyman The 72-year-old suffered a heart attack at her Kapiti Coast home on Thursday. The writer, activist and mother leaves behind long-time partner Prue Hyman, who is among those who have shared short tributes: Prue Hyman, Pat’s partner I am bereft but buoyed by the massive support from our own mainly lesbian (a little gay) and local communities. There have been tributes also from LILAC (the lesbian library) where she used to be on the organising group and has also led a writing group - and LAGANZ, where she was a trustee and laid out the newsletter and wrote for it. On the day she died she visited the Film Archive to do a piece on Gareth Watkins finishing (AIDS) and beginning exhibitions there. She had a gift for friendship and for sharing willingly her skills without recompense. We will be having a very warm but sad celebration of her life in Paekakariki on Wednesday - I am sure very many people will want to talk about their connections with Pat - she is so highly respected as one of NZ's lesbian feminist pioneers, and as an important writer of both nonfiction and fiction - with a little poetry thrown in. Kapiti-based Green MP Jan Logie I am so sad to hear about the unexpected death of the NZ feminist icon and wonderful woman Pat Rosier. She was an author and edited Broadsheet for many, many years. She also adapted her feminist practice/analysis into support for good workplace practice. I've benefited personally from the use of her workplace practice. Her blog is a smart and now almost unbearably poignant view on the world and literature. For many years she was just a name on magazines and books that I respected but I also got to meet when I moved to Paekakariki her as she was partner to the fabulous Prue Hyman. I feel privileged to have met her. Prue Hyman you are very much in my thoughts. Mari North, from Wellington’s lesbian library LILAC It is with sadness that I hear dear Pat Rosier passed away recently. She was a great supporter of us and our Library. In the recent years we worked together on Writing Groups at Lilac, and she has been a prominent member of our Lilac Book Group too. We are feeling sad and lost right now and I am sure you will join me sending our heartfelt best wishes and support to her partner Prue Hyman. Maryan Street, Labour MP So very sad at the sudden loss of Pat Rosier. Memories of tea and talking at her house in Mt Eden throughout the 80s are washing over me. I am so sorry Prue and am thinking of you with great care. Dr Kim McGregor, executive director of Rape Prevention Education Feeling shocked and sad at the loss of Pat. I remember calling her for advice in 1990 when I was starting to write my first book. She was so approachable, wise, down-to-earth and supportive. I'm sad we had such little contact after that. What an amazing woman. Thoughts go to her partner Prue, her whanau and friends. She will be sorely missed. Susan Hawthorne,Renate Klein, and the women of Spinifex Press Dear Prue and all Pat's friends there today, We wish we could be with you to celebrate Pat's life. Here are the things we know about Pat: Pat was a fabulous, hugely observant novelist and we at Spinifex are really proud to have published two of her novels, Poppy's Progress and Poppy's Return. She was also the kind of feminist who turns political ideas into words and among her non-fiction books is Get Used To It, a book of interviews and photographs of children of gay and lesbian parents which she co-edited with Myra Hauschild. Pat and others at Broadsheet made that magazine into one that feminists around the world wanted to read. She was a fine friend and I, Susan, treasure the memories of her launching my book Cow in Wellington in 2011, and even more so, just last week she wrote an endorsement for my new book which I will treasure as a gift. I, Susan, loved her blog, and through her I found new poets, new writers, interesting ideas and I will miss these virtual links that kept us connected across the Tasman. I, Renate remember Pat as a woman with a wonderful sense of humour but above all as a woman standing firmly on this earth and taking no nonsense. Hardworking, clearsighted – a woman of dignity to respect and treasure in life and beyond. We both remember with great fondness yours and Pat's visit to sunny Far North Queensland as well as our own ventures to Paikaikariki. We will miss all the things Pat did in the world and we know only a little of it. If anyone wants to see more about the books they can find them here: Poppy's Progress Poppy's Return Get Used To It Gay and lesbian Wellington choir the Glamaphones is in Dublin for the Various Voices festival, from where they have paid tribute to Rosier through music – see the video below. A celebration of Pat Rosier’s life will be held in the Paekakariki Memorial Hall, The Parade, Paekakariki, Kapiti Coast, on Wednesday, June 18, at 11.00am. GayNZ.com staff - 17th June 2014