By EMMA WILLIAMSON, IRISi Regional Manager
I first met Ellen around 1996 at a conference. When I realised who she was I was completely awe struck. I was doing research on domestic violence and health as a direct result of the work she and Gill were doing evaluating domestic violence inter-agency forums, so I went to say hello.
We had a brief conversation, she made me laugh, and I’m pretty sure she swore like a trooper, and I thought right then how great it would be to work with her.
Fast forward a couple of years and I was working at Bristol, although my work with the Domestic Violence Research Group I did in my spare time from my paid research job. It wasn’t until 2006 that I got a job in the then Violence Against Women Research Group and worked with her more closely.
Ellen’s introduction to working on violence against women has been well documented. She was a founding member of the Women’s Liberation Movement and a room in her family home was the local Women’s Centre/Refuge. Ellen credits this as the motivation to campaign locally for a safe house for women fleeing domestic violence, and for the groups focus on different policy responses to the issue. This was the start of women’s aid, nationally.
What always struck me about Ellen though was her complete humility and lack of any ego. During her retirement event countless colleagues told stories about how Ellen had stepped up, stepped in, and given others opportunities by just doing the leg work, holding the fort, and being the reliable foundation of the [women’s/union/labour] movement. It was for that reason that we nominated her for an honorary doctorate from the University. We also did it because she was threatening to do a PhD in her retirement, and I quote, “because my mum would like it!” Hearing about the countless times Ellen had put others before herself, throughout her career, made us think she deserved a retirement where she could think about herself, and what she wanted to do instead. Even if a part of that was watching re-runs of Bergerac!
One of the greatest accolades she received was when the local domestic abuse charity named one of their safe houses after her. I remember her talking about going to the ceremony, and in true Ellen style having a giggle about the fact that the plaque would need to be really small so as not to give away the location of the safe house, and how were they going to make the teeny tiny curtains for her to unveil the plaque? I have since met women who work for that charity who tell me that the residents are told about the many achievements of the inspirational women who the houses are named after. Ellen will forever be known as that woman, who let women and children sleep in her house, because they had nowhere to go. Who campaigned for the state to provide women with safety. Who fought for the rights of women to leave their abusive partners and access social resources. Ellen will be remembered as the woman who always put others first and whose deeds, not words, make her a legend who we will not forget.
Rest in peace friend. X.
