I had intermittent contact with Joan over about the past 6 years or so, always of course in relation to animal welfare, although we spoke about other things as well. We spoke on the phone mostly, when I needed advice about some animal or other. Joan was always so generous with her time and offers of support and encouragement - she was the epitomy of kindness and as one eloquent speaker at Joan's funeral said today, filled with passion and compassion. I was greatly shocked and saddened to hear of Joan's passing and I offer my sincere condolences to her family and many friends. Vale Joan.

Whenever an animal was in trouble Joan was always there, smiling and gentle, always good-humoured. She was so effective. She is the reason so many amendments to protect animals went through Parliament. She knew how to lobby and campaign. One of her greatest coups was to enlist the aid of John Laws to express outrage over draconian provisions in the Companion Animals Bill that would have allowed neighbours to kill cats that disturbed their gardens! As a result of Joan, the Minister came begging for our amendments so that he could move them in the Lower House. The legislation was changed Thank you Joan for caring.

My kindred spirit, my talk, my song; I thought our Friendship would last forever I was wrong Stop all the clocks, cut off the phone Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come Her fight to aid the Voiceless is now done

I have had a few key moments with Joan, I remember sitting in her home and there being a number of cats. It was my introduction to rescue animals. Talking to her about why she had five cats at the time. I think I was eleven. I remember her telling me I should take up tennis, "because no one will every say 'do you care for a game of hockey' " and how she and I had shared the same lecturer at university in Armadale. Almost forty years apart. I've called her over the years about all sorts of things but mainly to do with cats and dogs. She was awesome and never knocked me back with a request. Loved your mum Nicole, she was a great woman and forced the masses to think in a new way about all creatures, great and small.