- The Guardian
- Issue #2155
Vinnie Molina, CPA President addressing the crowd.
Hannah Middleton (1942 – 2025) was the Communist Party of Australia’s first woman General Secretary and President. She was also editor of this paper, Guardian, the Workers’ Weekly, as well as being a lifelong peace activist, and an activist for Indigenous rights and public housing.
On 19 July, a large crowd gathered in Sydney, on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, to commemorate Hannah’s life. This was a rewarding celebration of a life well-lived. Speakers included CPA President, Vinnie Molina, General Secretary Andrew Irving, Professor Stuart Rees, and of course Hannah’s partner, fellow Party member Denis Doherty.
Hannah’s books were on sale in the foyer. After music, speeches, and video contributions from Hannah herself the event finished with a stirring rendition of the Internationale.
The following are some tributes to Hannah
“The philosophers have only interpreted the world, the point, however, is to change it.”
Hannah was a very beautiful woman both inside and out. She was a very clever woman and she knew exactly how to deploy her charm alongside her intellect to get exactly what she wanted. In a recent conversation with my sister in law Pamela, we agreed that Hannah was simply a woman you didn’t mess with. Truly intelligent; with the power to feel as well as think and to carefully consider how she could contribute and bring clarity to a given situation. At the heart of all of Hannah’s work has been a deep love for humanity and a desire to make the world a much better place for all.
Hannah’s sister-in-law, wife of her brother Max
I first met Hannah Middleton Nangari sometime during 2012 after I started my PhD working closely with my Gurindji family and community based at Kalkaringi and Daguragu communities in the Victoria River region of the Northern Territory, which is about 830km southwest of Darwin.
While Hannah arrived to do doctoral research work on the strike action, being Hannah, her research turned into deep support for the Gurindji community in their fight for recognition – initially of their human rights, which swiftly segued into sovereign self-determination of their traditional homelands.
I hope Denis will share the story of his and Hannah’s non-violent protest action in breaking into Pine Gap, when they cut through the wire fence and skipped – not ran so as to stay peaceful! – in opposite directions away from the security and police officers chasing them, which had me in stitches laughing when Hannah told me.
When Hannah committed herself to something, it was lifelong, be it as a member of the Communist Party, supporting Land Rights and First Nations Social Justice, or as a Peace Movement Advocate.
Hannah never gave up the fight to make change for the good wherever she could. Hannah’s passing is a significant loss to the world but she has planted so many seeds of hope and courage that will continue to live on in others and the work they do.
Brenda L Croft (she/her; me/we)
Gurindji | Malngin | Mudburra Peoples, Australian First Nations; Anglo-Australian | Chinese | German | Irish | Scottish heritage
Professor, Indigenous Art History and Curatorship
Australian National University
I have truly valued your friendship and collaboration in many causes. I have watched in awe as you have persevered over these latter years as your mind continued to drive you to contribute to the common weal regardless of your personal circumstances.
Professor Stuart Rees, founder of the Sydney Peace Foundation
An intellect such as yours certainly was a gift to the working class. A communist is necessarily an optimist. The future is still with the class that you spent your life struggling for.
Denis Doherty
Andrew Irving, CPA General Secretary addressing the crowd.
Hannah, you’ve been an extraordinary inspiration … a trailblazer for the Australian left, a guiding ideological force. For who you are, and everything you represent, the very best of humanity
Andrew Irving, CPA General Secretary
Vinnie Molina, CPA President addressing the crowd.
Vinnie Molina, CPA President finished the event by reminding everyone that it was a celebration, not a funeral. He reminded the audience that Hiroshima Day events are upon us, and that the slogan “Hiroshima never again” has never been more relevant. Vinnie urged everyone to attend Hiroshima Day events in their city. He also urged those present to write to governments which are complicit in the genocide being committed by Israel to act.
Vinnie finished by returning to the Marx quotation Hannah loved – the point is not to just interpret the world, but to change it.
That’s what the CPA is trying to do. Give us a hand!
