ABOVE: Harmony Walsh featured on ABC’s Backroads Kyogle.
TRIBUTE by Susanna Freymark
Harmony Walsh from Kyogle was a protector of Mother Earth and a sheer force of nature herself.
Her sister Kate said Harmony wanted the Earth to be a better place and “she did everything she could to make that happen”.
Anyone driving by Harmony’s house on the slope of the hill at Fairy Mount in Kyogle would see signs about water, gas mining or other protests in Harmony’s front garden.
Resident Stan Munro described Harmony as “the soul of Kyogle”.
Her death on March 18, 2023 came after a short and brave battle with cancer.
Harmony died at home, as per her wishes, aged 70, with her closest family and friends by her side.
Kate said loving friends had surrounded Harmony in her final weeks.
“To me she was my sister Jennifer Mary Walsh who I loved dearly.
“I am so grateful and honoured to have been with her in her last days.
“I will be forever grateful to her two special friends and granddaughter Lilly and grandson Angus and his partner Hannah who were by her side in those last few days when she needed us.
“I would like to say thank you to a couple of very special people in my sister’s life who had been looking after her since she first because ill. They know who they are and to me they are saints.”
Harmony as she was known by everyone didn’t like it if I called her Jenny, Kate said.
“She changed her name years ago and knowing her love of people, animals, nature and the planet I can understand and know why she changed her name. It suited her perfectly but to me she will always be my sister Jenny.”
Kate was almost two when Harmony was born in Melbourne.
“I got her for my birthday,” Kate said.
“She was a funny kid. She had beautiful white curly hair and our Dad called her Snowy.”
Difficult life experiences made Harmony who she was – a kind brave woman who was not afraid to speak her mind or to promote issues important to her.
She loved frogs, there are frogs all over her house, Kate said.
Harmony loved nature and all animals. Yet she was also quite able to slaughter a chicken or pig and store it in the freezer to eat later on.
“She was a tough bird,” Kate said.
Kate and youngest sister Glenda are from Melbourne and are actors and singers.
Glenda starred in the original production of the musical Hair and Kate performed in many musicals. Kate also leads a poetry class at her local U3A.
When Unumgar’s Kym Watling decided to direct a play about family violence It All Begins With Love, Harmony was one of the actors. Kym said Harmony shone in her role in the play.
Harmony had many jobs during her life – first working at the Commonwealth Bank, later as a mental health nurse, a teacher’s aide, fruit picker – the list goes on.
She will be remembered for the volunteer work she did in Kyogle and Coraki where she ran a music program for Aboriginal children.
“She was a doer,” Kate said.
Harmony was twice widowed during her life.
She was always full of ideas, Kate said.
Back in 2016, Growing Kyogle sponsored a Bright Ideas Night where people presented their ideas for projects to improve Kyogle. Harmony presented the winning idea to build a labyrinth in Kyogle.
The Friends of the Labyrinth was formed and the labyrinth installed.
“Moving to Kyogle was the best thing Harmony ever did,” Kate said.
Harmony was a prolific writer of poetry. Her son Daniel died in 2020 and it was a sad and challenging time for her.
“I was unable to be there for her in person at that time as coming from Melbourne we were locked out of NSW,” Kate said.
“I wrote a poem for him. She used poetry and writing as therapy as I do also.”
Kate has a voice recording of Harmony reading a poem she wrote called Vote the Bastards Out.
“I should play it on election day but I don’t want to be arrested,” she said.
Kate has selected a special song to play at Harmony’s funeral.
“I picked It’s Not Easy Being Green by Kermit the Frog.”
Harmony was larger than life and in her death, the Kyogle community can celebrate this big life at her funeral or at a tribute at the labyrinth.
Harmony’s funeral is on Thursday, March 30 at 10.30am at the Sacred Earth Funeral Home 45-47 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Coraki.
A memorial for Harmony will be held at the Kyogle Labyrinth on Saturday, April 1 at 5.30pm. People are asked to wear purple or mauve and to bring a candle to light up the Labyrinth.
Harmony is survived by her daughter Rachel, grandchildren Lily and Angus and great grandson Jack.
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