Josh Wilson (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to acknowledge the death of Fremantle poet, writer and editor Wendy Jenkins, who made a skilled and substantial and sharply felt contribution to Australian literature for decades. Wendy published poetry and fiction, including crime novels and children's books. She worked at Fremantle Press for 43 years, during which time she assessed more than 10,000 manuscripts. Without doubt, Wendy's intelligence, generosity and work ethic helped hundreds of Australian writers into print. One of those books was, of course, Albert Facey's A fortunate life. It became an unlikely but irresistible Australian classic. My wife, Georgia, worked with Wendy at Fremantle Press, and, for anyone hearing this who would like to reflect more deeply on Wendy's life and art, Georgia's eulogy is a beautiful thing and easy to find through the press's website.

On behalf of the Fremantle community, I would like to remember the powerful contribution that Wendy and other poets played in the battle to protect the Beeliar Wetlands six years ago. On a personal note, I was buoyed by the fact that Wendy, who really valued her own time and space, was prepared to don the red Labor T-shirt and campaign with me in Fremantle. The final words, though, must go to Georgia:

There was nobody else in this world like Wendy Jenkins. I so hope that for this brilliant, questing spirit there is a pen and a notepad waiting on the other side for her.