Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching was farewelled at a funeral service and Mass on Monday 21 March at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. In attendance were family and friends of the late senator, as well as colleagues and constituents, and a number of state and federal politicians from both sides of politics, gathering to farewell the 52-year-old who died suddenly this month from a suspected heart attack.
Speaking to the large crowd gathered, Senator Kitching’s husband Andrew Landeryou recalled their wedding day which took place at St Patrick’s Cathedral more than 20 years ago. ‘It feels like yesterday looking down on a grey Derby Day that I saw her walking in,’ said Andrew. ‘Her customary 45 minutes late, looking absolutely radiant, and as she did the sun streamed down directly on her as she stepped toward our married life.’
‘Many of our friends were with us that day and are here with us today,’ he said. ‘I see your faces and your tears … you stood with us every day since. I thank you all so very much for being here in such strength and unity, from the length and breadth of this land … so many people whose life was touched by Kimba’s light,’ and her ‘magnificently impactful, tragically short, life.’
Senator Kitching’s father, William, shared memories from his daughter’s youth, describing her academic achievements and zest for learning. This included a love of modern and ancient history, and languages, with his daughter becoming fluent in Latin, French, Italian and Spanish.
Kimberley believed that each human life had worth and individuality and was imbued with definable human rights. These concepts, she believed, were extendable to the behaviour of nations and so she was a staunch supporter of democracies, and democratic aspirations whether incipient or nascent. Consequently, she was a political friend to Israel, the United States of America, Japan, Taiwan and other countries, the Tibetan and Uyghur peoples and diverse other minorities including long-oppressed Christian groups, some of them in the Middle East.
‘Kimberly greatly loved this country that nurtured her, and those who served to protect it.’
Mr Kitching said that he and his wife, Leigh, Kimberley’s brother Benjamin and husband Andrew had been deeply moved by the ‘torrent of love and comfort’ expressed by the Church, Kimberley’s friends, parliamentary colleagues, embassies and domestic and international human rights groups.
‘Your presence here today and public opinion indicate that she did make an impact through respectful, not vengeful, public discourse,’ Mr Kitching said.
And today we honour Kim’s good life and trust that our present sense of almost paralysing grief and deep melancholia will be gradually banished by joyful memories of an engaging woman and daughter whom we knew so well.’
Prior to entering politics, Senator Kitching worked as a lawyer in the private and public sectors, and served as a Melbourne City Councillor in the early to mid-2000s. She was a senior adviser in several Victorian governments and in 2016, was sworn in as a Victorian senator.
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten, who was one of Kimberley’s closest friends and colleagues, paid tribute to the late senator’s commitment to human rights and justice, recounting her involvement in the push for Australia to adopt Magnitsky-style laws, which seek to curb the influence of corrupt foreign individuals and entities and those who have engaged human rights abuse or violations. Mr Shorten also paid tribute to the senator’s work in rescuing a group of 30 people from Afghanistan after it was seized by the Taliban in 2021. One of those rescued and brought to Australia was a Hazara woman named Roya, who was present at the funeral.
In his homily, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli reflected on Kimberley’s deep Catholic faith and love for St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Kimberley loved this place. It was her ‘go-to’ Church for a quiet prayer and time for reflection. It was where she’d be for the ‘big’ days. It was where Kimberley and Andrew were married. We might fairly say that St Patrick’s Cathedral, this beacon of light on Eastern Hill, was Kimberley’s faith home.’
‘The disappointments and struggles and human limitations that also shaped Kimberley’s life, as is the case for all of us, helped to create the kind of golden shard she was, and by which God’s light shone through.
‘Now, may that perpetual Light shine eternally upon Kimberley; may she rest in peace, and rise to glory.’
