Aunty Pat lived her life with courage, independence and good cheer. She was one of those people who show you how it is possible to live one's life well. I will remember her as one of the admirable Holmes girls, older sister to my mother Judy. I so enjoyed her gentle humour and listening to her early memories at the Saturday morning teas in Kew in recent times. She was so fortunate to have the extreme care and love of her family in her final days, but then, she was instrumental in creating them. I will not forget her.

I have just lost my best and oldest friend.. If there was a greater human on this planet I never knew them. She was my mum. Strong, intelligent, selfless, compassionate, caring and eternally optimistic, she only ever saw the best in people and situations. She left the world a lot better than she found it. I owe her everything. I will miss her deeply but her memories will replenish me. She was 88 and she died peacefully at home surrounded by her children. Peace, perfect peace.

I’m not sure how many times I travelled from the state’s North East to Melbourne as a child. Dozens and dozens probably and for a kid barely in his teens the solo journey was an adventure. I would arrive at Irymple Avenue well after dark having made the three-stage journey a little tired and travel weary. As I made my way past the kitchen window there was always, always, always the reassuring warm greeting from a kind and sing-song voice, the clatter of a few pots and pans and the smell of something nourishing. It felt like a home arrival. She voted Labour and had done after reading Animal Farm as a younger girl. A small point to raise when writing about a person’s life I realise, but it affected me. It made me re-examine literature for one thing and reassured me that it was OK to be profoundly influenced by other’s writings. She helped me to accept that politics isn’t about policy; it’s about beliefs and conviction. She absolutely convinced me that one person’s small act of kindness to another trumps all the writings in Hansard. I like thinking about the kindness Aunty Pat showed so often, something that defined her in my eyes and typical from a past generation. I’ll miss chooks in the back yard, the bathtubs of fish and waterweeds and the native patch in the front yard of a house in the Eastern suburbs. I’ll miss her gentleness, her optimism and her love of a great discussion. Without making a fuss, she made those around her better.

I spent so much time as a child in your house that you have always been a very important person in my life. Lovely lady. Lovely memories. Long time family friend of Barbara Kemp(Kerr)

We have special memories of an admirable lady - always positive, considerate of others and a true example of a courageous and neighbourly spirit. She lived what she believed in. Much loved sister of Judy (dec), sister-in-law of Angas, aunty of Heather, Andrew, David, Richie (dec), Fiona, Robert and James.

We have special memories of an admirable lady - always cheerful, concerned for others and a true example of a courageous and neighbourly spirit. Much loved sister of Judy (dec), sister-in-law of Angas, and aunty of Heather, Andrew, David, Richie (dec), Fiona, Robert and James.

We have special memories of an admirable lady - always cheerful, concerned for others and a true example of a courageous and neighbourly spirit. Much loved sister of Judy (dec), sister-in-law of Angas, and aunty of Heather, Andrew, David, Richie (dec), Fiona, Robert and James.