To all of Helen's family & also her friends and family at Forest & Bird, my thoughts are with you all on this sad day.
Tracy Hinton
Forest & Bird » Other
RIP Helen
(58 posts)-
Posted 7 months ago #
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Another mighty totara in the conservation family was on it's way but has fallen. Strength to everyone around her; farewell and peace to you, Helen.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Helen was a great journalist full of ideas and energy and with a quick intelligence. She didn't just talk about getting things done - she was a dynamo.
She was one of the feistiest people I have known - always ready to take on a battle if she believed in it. She was a staunch advocate for her communications team, and we valued her high standards, encouragement and support.
For all Helen's professionalism, she also had a life. She was besotted with horses and endurance riding. Most Mondays we'd get a rundown on her weekend ride, as she limped around the office complaining about her aching leg muscles.
My heart goes out to Mark, her Mum and Dad, her sister, niece, nephew and her extended family. We will all miss her terribly.
Marina Skinner
Helen's colleaguePosted 7 months ago # -
Oh no.
Helen was a real trooper, a great voice for our natural heritage and was a tremendous support for the environmental-conservation programme I host on Radio Live weekends.
We shall miss her greatly, personally and professionally.
We will work that little bit harder in respect of her memory.
Thoughts and sympathies to her closest friends, colleagues and family from myself, and everybody at Radio Live.Graeme Hill
Posted 7 months ago # -
A great tragedy.
Helen shaped the Communications portfolio and the Forest and Bird magazine into a very efficient and effective media presence.
She has also been very seminal in getting the Forest and Bird management and organization running much better than in the doldrums of a few years ago. As a key support to Mike, our General Manager, she has been very important in helping Forest and Bird move forward.
Thank you Helen. And a special KIA KAHA to Mike and the staff, to Helen's family and friends,
Peter Maddison (On behalf of many Forest and Bird friends)Posted 7 months ago # -
There are no words. No words at all that can possibly express how numb I feel and how much of an enormous loss this is - to us all. (I have and always will be rubbish with written word huh Helen - you were always the magician.)
Oh Helen. Man... too soon. Far far too soon.
From the very bottom of my heart, I and the rest of the Forest & Bird whanau will miss you dearly. Sincere sympathies to Mark and the family.
To wild and fun-filled adventures that lay beyond Helen. May the laughter keep on rolling - just take a few of those Kaimanawa horses with you hon.
Much love and respect my friend and colleague,
Kirstie Knowles
Helen's colleaguePosted 7 months ago # -
Posted 7 months ago #
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What a very sad loss. Our deepest sympathy to Helen's family, friends and colleagues at Forest & Bird from all friends and colleagues at Department of Conservation
Nicola Holmes
General Manager Marketing & Communications
Department of ConservationPosted 7 months ago # -
Thank you for all your kind words. It is comforting to know that our Helen was special to so many people. Her funeral will be on Monday January 4, we are not yet sure of the time or place.
We know how special she was and are so very proud of her.
Jan Ashworth
(sister)Posted 7 months ago # -
My thoughts are with Helen's family on this sad occasion. I was deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news of her passing so suddenly. Rest in peace.
Posted 7 months ago # -
To Mark, Helen's parents, sister Jan and wider family my heart goes out to you for this shocking loss.
Helen was great. She was feisty and engaging, with interesting opinions - there was seldom any doubt about where Helen stood on any issue.
Most of all Helen was great fun to work with. She was often loud, often very witty, sometimes exasperating, but never dull.
Last week we played a game of beach volley ball with a plastic blow-up globe across the open plan office. Helen beat me by a good margin - that's a coffee I still owe her.
Helen was an incredibly hard worker. If something needed to be done she just got on with it. The speed and quality of her writing was legendary.
I'll miss laughing with her about her slow and painful "John Wayne" walk after a grueling weekend of endurance horse riding. I'll miss hearing more of the sayings of Frank Hayden. We'll now never see the "Sayings of Aalbert" - one of Helen's latest projects.
Its been a real honour and pleasure to know and work with Helen.
Kevin Hackwell
Helen's colleaguePosted 7 months ago # -
Helen, you were a legend girlfriend. I am really shocked and sad that you have passed, it is so awful to be taken so suddenly and so young. Gorecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, which you loved, is playing for you now, and the candles are burning bright to light your way. I am remembering the good old days at F&B for you and Laura and Kirstie and me - especially at Ernersto's for our daily lunches, and Scopa for our weekly drinks. And who will ever beat me at Free Rice again? Your sparky personality and formidable intelligence and writing talent will be missed so much by so many. My heart goes out to your Mark and your parents and sister and your niece and nephew especially; and to all your family and friends; and to your beloved animals - your horses and cats and pukeko's too. Such a tragic loss for us all. Ka kite ano Helen, I hope you find peace on the other side. Love Sue x
Posted 7 months ago # -
Bainy –I will always remember you and our time spent together at Forest & Bird. You are a huge loss to those you loved, rescued, nurtured and inspired. You were a truly remarkable woman and kicked butt like no other. It has been an honour to work with you and to laugh with you. You certainly made this world a brighter place. Shine on Chika
Posted 7 months ago # -
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Helen's death. As well as being a conservation communicator extraordinaire, Helen has also helped Wellington's conservation volunteers to get their stories out to the wider public through her workshops at the annual Wellington Restoration Day. My thoughts are with Helen's family, friends, and colleagues.
Posted 7 months ago # -
A message from Craig Potton:
Helen was such an energetic and engaging person to be around with such a big heart for her horses and others ... all my sympathies to her partner and family and close friends.Posted 7 months ago # -
Please refer to this thread also, http://forum.forestandbird.org.nz/topic/new-kcc-website - the KCC website is just such a fitting tribute to Helen's passion and energy for conservation, and probably one of the last things she did for F&B before the Xmas break.....although she was always so busy, I may stand corrected on that and it could've just been but one item on her extensive "To Do" list!!
Posted 7 months ago # -
A message from Cath Wallace and Barry Weeber,
All our sympathies to Helen's family and to her colleagues and friends at Forest & Bird. This tragedy is a real shock and Helen's energy and skills will be sorely missed by the conservation movement.
Posted 7 months ago # -
A Message from Rory Newsam
Very sad to hear about Helen. She was a good one and they are rare. We are thinking of you all.
Rory and the DOC Comms team.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message of condolence to Helen's family from Suzi Phillips (immediate past executive member). A shocking tragedy, and all her best wishes to Helen's family.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Helen, you will be greatly missed by all at Forest & Bird. I enjoyed you being part of the team and you were always professional in all you did and I always respected your opinion. A terrible tragedy and condolances to your family and all your friends.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Sue Maturin
To Mark and Helen's family, friends and colleagues – my heart goes out to you. Losing that feisty, talented, wonderful women is so hard and sad, and so unbelievable. Helen was an upfront, can do -will do- done, kind of person, who worked with enormous speed, but also had time to share her mischievous sense of humour. Helen made things happen, like the high country cake on Lambton Quay. I will miss you Helen, miss your emails, miss your way with words, and miss your ideas and support.
With love Sue
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Marco Lambertini, CEO Birdlife International
I was shocked and saddened in hearing of the tragic accident that has killed Helen Bain.
We all remember Helen for her passion and dedication, and the great help in getting Forest and Birds and other Pacific Partners engaged as part of the BirdLife Pacific Partnership through communications and education work.
Please convey my deepest sympathy on behalf of BirdLife International to all staff and Board members of F&B and to Helen’s Partner and family.
We will all deeply miss Helen.Best regards. Marco
Posted 7 months ago # -
Missage from Don Stewart, Pacific Director, Birdlife International
This is dreadful news, not just for Forest and Bird but for the entire conservation realm in New Zealand and the Pacific. Helen, as you know, was instrumental in helping bring Forest and Bird and BirdLife Pacific closer together for the advancement of the objectives of both our organisations and we will always remember and cherish with gratitude her visit to us in Fiji earlier this year and her continuing and highly appreciated work in raising the BirdLife profile in New Zealand through her passionate and knowledgeable articles in the Forest and Bird magazine and in other ways. Would you please convey deepest condolences and respects to her family and colleagues from all of us in the BirdLife Pacific Partnership Secretariat in Suva and from our Pacific Partners in Australia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Palau and Samoa. We shall all miss her very much.
Sincerely
Don
Don Stewart
Regional DirectorPosted 7 months ago # -
Message from Maakie Manten, Programme Development Manager
BirdLife International | Pacific Partnership SecretariatI am so sorry to hear about what happened to Helen. We were just making plans last week for some more Pacific articles in the F&B magazine next year. I still can't believe it.
She leaves a big gap.
My sincere condolences and best wishes to you all,
Maaike
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Gillian Pollock
What a shock to hear of Helen's death. She will be very much missed. Please pass on my sympathy
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Marion Yoder
Just heard from Ken Carpenter about Helen's untimely death. My condolences to you both and to Helen's many friends at Forest and Bird. She did a lot in a short number of years on this earth and my heart goes out to her friends and family.
Fondly,
Marion
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Wayne McCallum, Biodiversity Officer ECAN
Just a note of condolences for the loss of Helen over the holidays. From what I have heard and seen with Forest and Birds communications development since I returned, Helen and her team had been doing a fine job. I appreciate that her loss, personally and professionally, will be greatly felt by F&B.
Wayne
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Marijke Bakker,
South Canterbury BranchWith great sadness we heard of Helen's accident today.
Helen will be sadly missed by her Family and Forest and Bird.
Most of our committee members have met or have been in contact with Helen on various occasions.
Her commitment to Forest and Bird has been much appreciated by our branch, and her articles in the
magazine have been an inspiration to members. She will be very hard to replace.Please accept our sincere condolences.
.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Jan and Peter Riddick
Peter and I were very upset to hear, this morning, of Helen's untimely death.
It is a very sad time for all of you who have worked so closely with her in Wellinton and a great loss to the wider Society.Jan
Posted 7 months ago # -
Message from Lucy Paul, Senior Private Secretary
Office of Hon Dr Nick SmithI just heard the tragic news about Helen. On behalf of myself and the rest of the staff in the Minister's office, I wanted to pass on our condolences and thoughts at this difficult time.
Best wishes,
Lucy
Posted 7 months ago #
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