I rushed back to Australia from overseas to see my dearest Marlene. I was stunned when I heard the news only a few days prior to the 15th (thankyou Angela). For 8 years we shared a love of poems , books, singing with SUMS and so many memories are firmly imbedded in my mind. Marlene is a beautiful person, compassionate and caring with a love of people and friends and family and teaching,literary pursuits and of course music. There are so many memories, all of them beautiful. When I first met her ,Marlene was dressed resplendent (as always in time to come)in a lovely hat and amber beads and earings etc. I was fascinated by her and asked her where she was from and she told me Austria and I switched immediately into German-mode and spoke to her in German until my knowledge failed me. I was most happy to be able to talk with her so much in years to come as she sang in our Tenor section Another I have is Marlene reading her beautiful poem "Peace" at a SUMS Camp. When we last spoke on the 15th of December I said to her "Ich sollte Deutsch lessons von ihnen gehabt haben!" to which she said "Es ist nie zu spät, leben zu erlernen ist über das lernen" So true. Auf wiedersehen mein schöner freund, bis wir uns wieder treffen.

Johanna McBride

13 years ago

Dear Demjin, Here is Marlene's Poem about Peace: FUMBLING FOR THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: WHAT IS PEACE? AND WISHING YOU PEACE PEACE Is elusive, it needs to be found, I hope you may find Peace. PEACE comes through creatIve effort, I hope you will make PEACE PEACE is the reward for pain-filled reconciliation, I hoe you will EARN your PEACE. PEACE slides into the gently prepared heart I hope you will READY your heart for PEACE. PEACE exists in the moment but should endure, I hope you will constantly BREATHE life into PEACE. PEACE links hearts and minds, I hope you will generously SHARE your PEACE. PEACE brings joy song and laughter, I hope you will walk joyously with the companions of PEACE. And when at the end of your life's good journey, you take your rest, All of us will know that you ARE truly blissfully at PEACE.

When I think of Marlene, it is more than just many happy memories of being with her, always inspired and inspiring, beginning with my first encounter as a schoolgirl in 1965 when she swept into our dull classroom, bright as a bird of paradise and persuaded some of us to recite German poems at the University of Newcastle where she was a lecturer in German. Those poems are embedded in my "hard drive" just as her influence on my life was, where I continued on with German to a PhD and a period as an academic. Even after we both gave up German and academia, our lives continued to intersect and interweave over many points, both professional and personal shared passions, forming a rare and rich tapestry bonded by love, and shaping, to a large extent, the person I have become. Marlene is not just part of my memory she is part of my spirit.

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