On behalf of the team at the Women's Network we send our love to the family and friends of Sue Westwood who passed away last week.
To all of Sue's colleagues and buddies at the Whanganui District Council, and the local branches of Zonta and the National Council of Women, we also send our heartfelt wishes. Sue was a fearless community stalwart. Her fiercely strident values about process always added a robust gaze to proceedings, especially around the Council table.
Sue's knowledge of the Local Government Act was formidable, as was her knowledge of the community, developed over decades of determined commitment. That Sue knew many community groups and their staff by their first names was of no surprise to any of us who had the good fortune to liaise with her.
And of course, she knew so much more than that, understanding the history of many groups, and knowing all too well the challenges that they faced at times. Sue's wit was razor sharp and she never missed a beat, always with a story or two to share.
There will be many folk in the community who would refer to Sue as a mentor. She was certainly that for our team. We have learned much from her shared experiences. With her background in teaching, community development, civil service, and in politics, Sue connected with such diverse people, and she relished opportunities for conversation and debate. Her long-standing membership of both Zonta and the National Council of Women enabled Sue to engage with national and international issues impacting the lives and status of women.
