One of Sunshine’s first female councillors and a tireless advocate for women across Melbourne’s west has died at the age of 94.
Gwenyth Marie Goedecke, the second ever female councillor on the then Sunshine City Council, passed away on May 14 after a “long but dignified struggle” with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Described as an “activist and a feminist”, Goedecke’s name became synonymous with service to Melbourne’s west for many decades.
Her long list of achievements included being a Centenary Medal recipient for services to the community in 2001, Dame Phyllis Frost Woman of the Year in 2006 and induction into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2009 for her “outstanding contribution in raising issues on behalf of women, especially those living in the west”.
She was also a tireless campaigner to help save local institutions including Sunshine swimming pool and established the Sunshine International Women’s Committee in 1975.
Tributes
Online tributes from Brimbank locals described Gwen as an “absolute dynamo and a special person, one of Sunshine’s finest”.
“She was a mentor to many of us who campaigned to make Sunshine a better place,” Speroulla wrote.
Another resident Sean wrote: “Gwen was the most remarkable woman I have ever met, an advocate, an activist, one of Sunshine’s true treasures.”
The Living Museum said Goedecke spent her life committed to the prevention of war after her experiences living through World War Two and hearing stories about The Great War.
Her funeral will be held at 11am this Saturday at the Unitarian Church in East Melbourne
