VALE -MERLE

On April 30th, Smart St. lost it's patroness and guardian angel Merle Keenan. Known to all as Mert she was an indefatigable supporter of our work over nearly 50 years. From cheering us on at the Kew Town Hall in 1975 when we won best film for 27A to organising phone trees to ring SBS in support of our ASIO series PERSONS OF INTEREST in 2014, she batted for Australian film, actors, directors and writers - and tirelessly for me, her son. She was a big personality who loved strength in women and devil in men. Unfailingly, she held out a hand to those who weren't as strong as her. She probably wouldn't describe herself as a feminist but she demanded equity for women and woe betide the man who thought otherwise. She was her own woman - courageous, strong and funny. She instructed that there be no funeral but instead two parties, one in Melbourne and a second in Sydney where there will be champagne, good food, music, dancing and laughter. And that's what's going to happen. Vale Mert.