Vale Pat Giles

Fremantle Press extends its condolences to the family and friends of the incomparable women’s campaigner and former WA senator Pat Giles. We were privileged to meet her at the launch of her life story, Among the Chosen, back in 2010. 

Shedding light on this inspirational Western Australian woman was a passion project for authors Lekkie Hopkins and Lynn Roarty and one that Fremantle Press was proud to be a part of.

In their foreword for the book, Joan Kirner and Cheryl Davenport wrote: ‘Pat’s years of community activism and sheer hard work paved the way for women to achieve greater status and equality in the trade union movement, the Australian Labor Party, in federal and state parliaments and in international forums on peace and social justice. Her work has made all these institutions and forums serve women better.’

Closer to home, she will be remembered in Western Australia as someone who listened to, and fought for, the disadvantaged. She worked tirelessly to ensure women had access to quality health care, early childhood care, aged care, education, housing and protection from family violence.

Long may her example inspire us all.