Helen Edwards, a long-time UNE lecturer in early childhood education and alumnus, passed away after illness on Sunday. Helen’s association with UNE goes back to the eighties when she graduated with a Master of Education in 1988, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Continuing Education in 1992, a Doctor of Philosophy in 2004 and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education in 2005. 

Professor Sue Gregory, Head of School Education penned this obituary in memory of Helen. 

The UNE School of Education is deeply saddened to learn that Dr Helen Edwards has passed away following a long illness. Helen was born and lived in the New England area, beginning her career as an Occupational Therapist before becoming an academic in the Early Childhood Education team in 1998. Helen also began her doctoral studies in 1999. Helen’s PhD research study encompassed the relatively new Australian accreditation system for early childhood services that was then being introduced within some NSW preschools. Helen worked intensively with the Indigenous community staff and families at Kulai Preschool in Coffs Harbour. Her long standing years of a very deep and respectful commitment with Indigenous people also included many interactions with and efforts on behalf of Minimbah Preschool in Armidale.

Helen was one of the most kind, ethical and hard working colleagues that many have ever had the privilege of working with. Helen generated three Big Books during her PhD candidature from her work at a Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Preschool where they had been composed by the children and the then director of the Preschool. They were based on stories directly related to cultural stories from traditional knowledge holders and may still be part of the children’s reading materials to this day. Helen was a great collaborator and enjoyed lots of laughs during joint projects. She was one of the most dedicated champions for marginalised people that many have come across in their working life.

Helen was a very valued, yet quiet member of the Early Childhood team, as well as various UNE schools that the ECTE program was situated in over the years. She retired in 2015, not because she wanted to but because of health issues. Helen’s other key professional focus and commitment was to adult learning styles/approaches and related research. This include supporting, supervising and mentoring many post-graduate students and academic colleagues at UNE. Helen was also a strong advocate for those with a disability. She spent much time working with the disability services in Armidale to provide information, examples and resources for her students. Helen had a strong sense of social justice and was prepared to fight for the right to continue to work after her diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.

Helen was a generous and supportive colleague and mentor. She was always willing to listen and share her considerable knowledge and wisdom, especially in those areas she was passionate about – early childhood education, a pioneer in Indigenous education and educational research, among others. So many School of Education graduates must attribute at least some of their success to Helen’s insight and encouragement. Helen’s courage and fierce determination in recent years was an inspiration, one that many of us would hope to emulate if we were faced with a similar challenge. She was a key figure in the UNE Fiery Cottage  – a group of university women who regularly gathered to share ideas, build research culture across the disciplines and to support for early career women. Helen attended (and led) many memorable events with these women including the winter soups seminars in the cottage, the Judith Butler lecture In Sydney in 2005,  the  Summer Institute of the Antipodes in 2017, many book launches, and  the monthly lunches of recent years held in Booloominbah. Helen continued her close involvement with the Fiery Cottage women until 2018, always eager to provide a kind word of advice, to contribute to the fiery cottage research newsletter and to read the work of emergent scholars.  

Helen may not be so well known for ‘The Sooties’, a small group of past early childhood HDR students that still meet annually in Armidale. The Sooties fondly remember Helen as a steady and patient hand guiding their studies. Her dedication as a teacher and dear friend were much appreciated, plus her quick wit and caring nature were absolute gifts to all. The group well recognise she was one of a kind, she will be missed and always celebrated by ‘The Sooties’.

Helen will be remembered fondly by many friends and colleagues in Armidale and beyond.

Some comments from colleagues and past HDR students

I was lucky enough to work with Helen and got a chance to see what a great woman she was.  I inherited her Social Justice unit in early childhood education and do enjoy teaching this unit. She gave me a good piece of advice to develop the unit. I learnt so many things from her. She is also the person who introduced me ‘Mersey Valley cheese’ and ‘Cinema Choc Top Ice creams!’ I will miss her dearly and wanted to extend my sympathies to her family.

I have so many rich memories of Helen. When I arrived in Australia in 2002 Helen took on the task of teaching me all about this new country for me. She took me with her on her research trips to Indigenous communities and preschools. She was so generous with her knowledge and connections. She introduced me to the elders and families and celebrated the rich cultural heritage they hold. She made sure I met the artists and that I understood the importance of ‘yarning’. She also opened my eyes to the many inequities in the provision of support systems for these communities. She strongly advocated for our indigenous students and would spend considerable time mentoring them. On these trips she also introduced me the notion of mateship, Aussie ways and vocabulary. I learned the hard way what a ‘roo bar’ was for and I learned how to boil a billy can for that institution of ‘smoko’.

Helen was also a strong advocate for those with a disability. She spent much time working with the disability services in Armidale to provide information, examples and resources for her students. Helen had a strong sense of social justice and was prepared to fight for the right to continue to work after her diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.  Hockey kept Helen fit and active and I hear she could crack that ball. What a fighter, what a tough and strong woman. I learned a lot from Helen. I am going to miss her so much.

Equity and equality were foundational to Helen’s professional pursuits. She not only taught but lived out these beliefs, and principles by being an advocate for social justice in her involvement with many in her community and in local and regional organisations. These included Minimbah Aboriginal School, Kulai Aboriginal Preschool, PEDAL Early Childhood Intervention Service, The Challenge Foundation and in her earlier years as a paediatric occupational therapist at The Needs Centre in Armidale.

Early life influences included time spent on the family property east of Armidale, at Wollomombi and with her neighbour, Australian poet and environmentalist, Judith Wright. This, she would say, was instrumental to many of her beliefs on the importance on the place of the land and that of indigenous culture. Her times growing up in the bush with her many brothers coloured many of her tales and her own relationship with her daughter Alex and subsequent grandchildren were highly prized. This importance of family permeated much of her work in both lecturing, research and her inherent compassion and care shown to her many colleagues and indeed, students. 

 It was these influences, beliefs and principles that infused the content of her teaching work at UNE. Her lecturing in areas of social justice in early childhood, Aboriginal studies, and young children with exceptionalities, were often defining moments for students, challenging students to think past their previously held and pre-conceived beliefs and attitudes and grasping a vision for a more inclusive society.

 Helen’s legacy of inclusion and social justice will continue to have an ongoing impact through all those fortunate enough to have been called her students and those of us, privileged to have called Helen, a mentor.

 About 10 years ago the early childhood team had a scholarship of teaching and learning group. Helen was an important member of the group. In our group we talked about our metaphors of teaching and learning. Helen had such a powerful metaphor that I think describes her well. She talked about the river that travelled the Waterfall Way and the power the water had in forming the gorges. Over time and with patience the water changed the landscape. At times the river levels were high and at other times the levels were very low, but still the water continued to change the landscape. This is our Helen, changing the landscape of her world over time and with patience.

 I never worked with Helen in the EC team at UNE but I did have fond memories of her. Her generosity and kindness really touched me. I remembered her bringing fruit from her garden to my office – a simple but loving gesture to someone who just moved to a new town. I also remembered her bringing her dog to visit me because she knew l loved dogs. She was thoughtful and caring. I also liked Helen’s sense of humour. I had the privilege to review a book with Helen not long after I starting working at UNE. She made me feel special by offering this opportunity. She listened to my views about the book and I felt respected and valued by this experienced academic and researcher. I am going to miss her.

There will be a celebration of Helen’s life at St Peters Anglican Church on Friday at 2.00 pm https://www.piddingtons.com.au/notices/.