Vale Vicki (Eulogies for Vicki Turner-Jones)

The news of the sudden and unexpected passing of Vicki has come as a shock to
all who knew her.  Vicki was only thirty-nine years old.  She leaves behind a
family of two children, Phoebe and Jade, a husband Ross Clarke and many
bereaved friends and co-workers.  

Vicki was well known for her vision of a nuclear free world.  Vicki was a
founding member of People for Nuclear Disarmament, an organisation to which
she gave her all.  She worked for peace in every way possible.  She wrote
letters and put out newsletters; she brought her wide range of friends into
the process, introducing many peaceworkers to each other; she spoke at schools
and was often a guest speaker at other organisations' functions.  Her
commitment to her ideals were motivated by her desire to make the world a safe
place for her children.

Vicki was a driving force behind the dramatic nonviolent direct action
campaign opposing nuclear ship visits to Brisbane.  Many times she put herself
on the line; swimming out into the Brisbane River, into the path of
approaching nuclear warships.  She was arrested for these protests many times.

Her work for peace was not limited to nuclear disarmament work.  Her work for
social justice is exemplified by her arrests during the SEQEB struggle.

Vicki was a person who made a difference.  Her work and her acheivements
continue to inspire us in our endeavour for a peaceful world.  The CIA, ASIO,
Qld Special Branch and the French Secret Service can all close their files on
Vicki.  They can forget her now, she will trouble them no more; but in our
hearts Vicki's memory will live on.

Michael Petter


Vicki Turner-Jones was probably the major person influencing my involvement in
the peace movement.  We first met face to face in the office of People for
Nuclear Disarmament (PND) early in 1984, although we had actually been having
phone conversations since 1983.

We seemed to spend the next few years doing crazy things together, like laying
out newsletters  in her dining room until three in the morning, attending
clowning and street theatre workshops, painting banners on weekends and most
of all protesting against nuclear warships.  I always remember an occasion
early in 1985 when a group of us decided to go out in a tiny boat and place
peace flags on marker buoys in the navigation channel at Moreton Bay.  Vicki
didn't want to miss out on the occasion and it wasn't until she started
turning green that she confessed she always got seasick.  A huge thunder 
storm came up that day just as we were landing the boat, yet Vicki managed to
turn being saturated and seasick into having an hilarious time.

It was Vicki's joy and passion that gave everything she was involved in that
special quality.  She placed her body on the line at so many nonviolent direct
actions, giving courage to others to follow her example.  Once when a US
warship arrived  and all the boat and surfboard activists seemed to have been
detained she made the decision to swim from the shore, fully clothed, to the
ship as it docked, leading to her arrest. Vicki was arrested many times for
her beliefs.  She gave articulate media interviews and acted as a convener and
spokesperson for PND, the Peace and Environment Fleet and the Nuremberg Action
Group, always with dignity and a total commitment.  She was willing to take on
any task within a group and had a special skill in networking and cementing
alliances between people.  Vicki always had a little something of herself left
for other people,  no matter how tired she was.  I can't help wishing now that
she'd been a bit more selfish about her own health and needs during those last
few weeks when she was in the grip of a terrible illness.  How like Vicki not
to bother anyone with her own problems.

Vicki went on to become one of my closest friends and confidant.  It was in
her company that I met my husband.  Her strength and good sense were always to
be relied on, and I know that many people felt she was the person you could
always discuss your problems with.  Vicki's contribution to the peace and
nonviolence movement will be felt for many years to come.  She had a wish to
one day dive from the cliffs at Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island and swim
with the school of dolphins who lived there.  I believe that when she moved on
from this world she must have achieved that dream.

Marit Hegge


It was with enormous sadness that I learned of the tragic death of my friend
and co-conspirator Vicki Turner-Jones.  She was a true friend and powerful
inspiration.  I totally concurr with the fine comments in her memory made
elsewhere in this conference [Pegasus Networks' cafe.brisbane], and we hope
that, at our various meetings and gatherings, a Standing Silence in her memory
is observed.  I, and my friends who knew her, have talked together, grieved
together and celebrated her life and example together, even though I am so far
away from home at present.  As Gandalf the Wise says at the end of Lord of the
Rings, "I will not say, 'Do not weep', for not all tears are an evil".  May we
remember her in perhaps the best way possible, in a way I am sure she would
like us to: continue the good work, with courage, humanity, humour, and
celebration.  Vale Vic!

PS: I would hope that we all look after Ross, Phoebe and Jade, and let them
know we are there, and are supporting them through this most difficult time.

Mark Hayes


I had been out of the country for several months, returning in early July.  I
didn't get a chance to spend more than some brief time with Vicki until a
couple of weeks after I arrived back in Aussie country, partly because she was
very busy with the leadership challenge for John Campbell and the many other
usual activities she was involved in.  I had spent some time in San Francisco
while I was away, occasionally wandering around the Fisherman's Wharf area. 
For some reason, I often thought of Vicki there because I felt she would have
enjoyed the history, the scenery, the art, the street entertainers, the
happiness, the sadness, the bravado, the restaurants...  She had often told me
how much she would like to travel and see so many of the places she had read
and dreamed about...

I wanted to bring her a gift  that would express the warmth, appreciation and
respect  for one of my closest and dearest friends... I searched and pondered
for some time before I finally decided on the silly, sentimental "Cable Car"
music box that plays "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", about as corny as you
could get... but I thought she would like it.  It was the delivery of this
silly little gift that took me to lunch with Vicki a couple of days before she
left for good.  Not much happened except the usual inquiries about the trip,
politics, the movement...  I gave her the music box...  It was really nice to
see her... but I didn't know it would be the last time... a couple of days
later she was gone.

I think the intermittent tears that I couldn't stop for many days were partly
for myself as I realised how little I had expressed of my appreciation and
love for one of the finest people and grass-roots leaders I had ever known...
and there would be no further opportunity to do so...

Then I felt the grand memories of the experiences we had together scaring
warships, drinking cups of tea, good wishes... a poor description of a rare
connection I treasure for the inspiration and motivation that will be with me
for as long as I'm kicking around on this precious planet.  vaya con dios  my
friend.  Maybe our paths will cross again... 

Jerry