Activist dies in New Delhi

Former Woy Woy resident and international HIV-AIDS activist Ms Kathleen Kay, 48, passed away unexpectedly in her New Delhi home on December 10.

Her cause of death is still unknown.

Kathleen's mother Ms Marjorie Kay said she believes it was her upbringing on the Peninsula that made her into the inspiring and passionate woman she became.

"Each time she visited from overseas Kathleen would walk along the beach that she grew up loving," Marjorie said.

"She would recharge and take strength from being here."

Kathleen was born at Gosford in 1959 and grew up on the Peninsula, where she worked in the family's Ettalong Beach fish and chip shop.

She attended St John the Baptist Primary School, Woy Woy, St Joseph's High School, East Gosford, and then Woy Woy High School for Years 11 and 12.

One of her first jobs was in Year 9 at Ettalong TAB where she continued to work until the start of university.

Kathleen also worked at the Ettalong Beach War Memorial Club as a barmaid during university vacations.

Since that time Kathleen had been a nurse, medical writer, journalist, political lobbyist, United Nations officer and Harvard University graduate.

Kathleen also worked as a special assistant to the World Health Organisation's global AIDS program director Mr Jonathan Mann.

In 1999, Kathleen led Australia's first bilateral HIV effort in Indonesia.

Kathleen later began work as country director for India, with Family Health International, where she worked until her death.

Her tireless work and campaigning led to the establishment of six offices in India that care for HIV-positive children and help educate sex workers and their clients.

In 2006, when US First Lady Laura Bush visited India, the State Department required Kathleen to manage all arrangements over a two-week period and then be the only staff representative to attend the visit

In 1992, Kathleen was inducted into Woy Woy High School's Corridor of Achievement for her inspiring and successful career as an international AIDS activist.

She was in London at the time and unable to attend the ceremony back in Australia due to work commitments.

Kathleen prepared a speech that was read in her absence at the induction ceremony.

Kathleen's advice to students at the school was to "believe" in themselves.

"Seek and listen to advice then make your own decisions and take responsibility for them," Kathleen wrote.

"Be prepared to take risks to achieve your goal and be determined to make it happen.

"Don't accept labels from others or yourself and don't demean any other human being by giving them."

The same speech was read by Brisbane Water Collage Principal Mr Frank Gasper at last October's Year 12 graduation ceremony, and by Year 12 graduate Ms Rebecca Gaston at Kathleen's funeral at Greenway Memorial Gardens, Green Point, on December 21.

"Finally I would like to say that my roots are my core to my sense of self," Kathleen concluded in her speech.

"Wherever I am in the world and whatever I am doing, I gain strength from knowing who I am and where I come from."

Clare Graham, 11 Jan 2008 Interview: Marjorie Kay