The loss of a compassionate warrior

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For immediate use

14 October 2016

The loss of a compassionate warrior

“Helen Kelly was a compassionate warrior who fought for the rights of ordinary working New Zealanders, and she will be greatly missed,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

“Her death is an enormous loss both to the union movement she led so effectively and also to the many people she helped by campaigning to make people’s working lives fairer, safer and better paid. For those who worked with her, and those close to her, she was known as a determined, generous and kind person who remained, until the end, a strong voice for change.”

Mr Powell says ASMS was honoured that Helen Kelly addressed the ASMS Annual Conference late last year on the role of unions as public institutions doing valuable work. She received a standing ovation from senior doctors and dentists present, and made a lasting impression.

“We are so sad to hear of her passing and our thoughts are with her family.”

ENDS

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