At Karinya, we are remembering the beautiful Elisabeth Hawkins, pictured here volunteering at the 2025 Karinya House Walk for Hope.

On behalf of everyone at Karinya House we extend our heartfelt condolences and thoughts to Elisabeth’s family, friends and all who knew and loved her.

Some of us were privileged to represent Karinya House on Thursday, 9th July, as family, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate Lis’ beautiful life well lived.

Lis started volunteering at Karinya House in 2023, having seen a story about Karinya in a community newsletter. Lis quickly became a ray of sunshine. Turning up every week with a bright smile and a willingness to do anything and everything she could to make the lives of the staff and the women we walk with easier. Everything could be anything from childcare, to accompanying women to appointments to rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck into cleaning, to spending time chatting with a woman. In 2025 Lis moved into a paid role of support worker, working weekends and overnights.

The thoughtfulness that Lis always demonstrated can be seen, on the day that she was asked to drive to the south of Canberra to pick-up a mother and her 2 young children who were living in a garden shed, who were moving into Karinya House. Knowing that the children might be confused and scared, Lis had thought to take along snacks and toys to occupy the children on the car trip. The care and compassion Lis showed to this family were at the core part of who Lis was. The mother told caseworkers in the following days that during that car trip, she knew that all would be OK, because of the kindness shown to her and her family by Lis.

Lis’ 20 years of experience as an early childhood educator, was evident in how she particularly blossomed when she cared for a toddler or baby. Her love for all things of nature was a great source of conversation.

Not only did Lis care for the women we work with, she also demonstrated care and kindness to the Karinya team, leaving a little treat or kind note for the support worker coming on shift after her. Lis would also often leave home baked sweet treats in the staff room for the whole team. She certainly baked a mean banana muffin!

Along with all the stories of love and care, every person at Karinya who knew Lis, has used the word “kind” to describe her.  The word “kind” feels like a word people use all the time, but the truth is Lis was always kind. A Kind mind, a Kind smile, a Kind heart.

Lis, we thank you for your genuine love care and support for all at and through Karinya House. We will miss you.  Go Well.