Emotional mourners broke into song and laughter during Friday’s state funeral for Joan Kirner, Williamstown’s “favourite” daughter.
Victoria’s first female premier was farewelled in a moving service at Williamstown Town Hall, which was transmitted to the Williamstown High School gymnasium.
Caroline Hogg, a minister the Kirner government, performed a reading from Shakespeare’s Cymbeline and described Ms Kirner as “the bravest woman I ever knew”.
Cousin Dr Max Cole recalled that Ms Kirner had always been committed to justice, even as a child.
“I can still remember a time when we were young kids, Joan’s dog got caught by the Essendon council dog catcher,” he said.
“In those days this meant almost certain death for the captured dog. We both thought this was not on and crept up to the dog cart while the dog catcher was chasing another dog down the street and opened the dog cart door.
“We – and another five dogs – ran for our lives”.
Former Labor state secretary Jenny Beacham recalled Ms Kirner campaigning against overcrowded classrooms and her ability to empower others.
“She made us believe in ourselves and you could do anything after you talked to Joan,” she said.
Former Labor MP Candy Broad said Ms Kirner “was tireless in promoting women and community whenever, and wherever, she could”.
“She could be stubborn, wilful and downright unreasonable in her pursuit of these goals, but we are all better off because of that determination,” she said.
As the opening strains to Helen Reddy’s “I am woman” were played, people laughed in delight and sang along.
Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins quipped, “A few of us struggled with the higher notes”.
Former Emily’s List national convener Emily Lee-Ack said Ms Kirner lived up to her ideals.
“When women support women, women win,” Ms Lee-Ack said.
Yorta Yorta Aboriginal leader Paul Briggs said Ms Kirner was troubled by the poverty and injustice a section of her community was suffering, and didn’t see herself as separate or different.
Noting that Ms Kirner was an Essendon fan, he recalled a couple of Aboriginal women humorously vowing to put a curse on John Elliot and the Carlton Football Club.
“Although John Elliot is no longer president of the Blues, you may argue the curse is still effective,” he said.
Close friend Hutch Hussein, who at times struggled to speak through emotion, said her son had been born the day after Ms Kirner died.
She gave him “Kirner” as a middle name.
“We believe that my boy was high-fived by Joan in the beautiful cycle of life,” Ms Hussein said.
Like others, she recalled Ms Kirner as an inexhaustible worker, joking that “24/7 heaven did have a predecessor”.
The funeral was attended by present and past premiers including Daniel Andrews, John Cain, Steve Bracks, Ted Baillieu and Jeff Kennett.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy and federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten were there, but former primer minister Julia Gillard was too ill to attend.
Black and white polka dots and purple could be seen throughout the crowd. At one point Bishop Huggins joked that Ms Hussein was wearing “a bishop’s colour, I’m going to job share”.
As Ms Kirner’s pallbearers started leaving, the loudspeakers played Paul Kelly’s “From little things big things grow”.
Mourners slowly streamed out, crying and singing.
Even in death, Joan took the community with her.
Personal tributes can be posted at www.valejoankirner.org
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