We lost touch when you moved to Gerringong. We were roomies and had lots of laughter. I remember many bold and beautiful, warm and generous ways you showed your love of people and of the journey, you did amazing things like revamp Comcare and then sewed pale blue pyjamas with exquisite white lace, or cooked amazing food. I loved your mind, you always looked for another way, a truer path to solving problems. You thought outside the box, your intention was to create and to make better. To make whatever project true to what it could best be. Your heart was generous, warm and at times fierce, then soft. You were a mentor to many, but always a learner first and foremost, open to new ideas and people, to review even your best ideas or anyone else's. You were so happy to become a mum to Adam. I am so sad that you were ill and left your life so early. Thank you sharing a part of your life with me and my son, who also remembers you well.

I was extremely fortunate to meet Sandy and Adam when my family moved into our unit several years ago, they were our neighbours Sandy touched my life. Extremely generous, kind and unbelievably understanding...I will never forget her bubbly personality coming through my door, fruit salad in hand or some other culinary delight for me to feast on whilst I was pregnant with my second child... Sandy was my pillar of strength through some very trying times and I idolised her 'go get em' attitude, she left a very large footprint on my heart <3 I have always wondered about Sandy, always had 'GO SEE SANDY' on my to do list....Sadly I didn't and have now heard of her passing and am shattered Sandy you are an inspiration and an amazing friend, I miss you and will never ever forget you Love forever Kym. xx

I have just learnt of Sandy's death. we worked together for may years setting up Comcare. My wife Christine was the maker of many of her colourful clothes. Sandy was one of the most remarkable people I have ever met. He vitality and energy were stunning and left much of the Canberra bureaucracy aghast at her lateral thinking and determination. I will always remember her.

i baby sat adam for sandy for many years, i also made a few artworks for the old bank she purchased in portkembla to hang on the walls. She was the most lovely caring lady, and very generous. I miss he very much.

Happy birthday mama. I miss you

I remember working with Sandy in the CLB (Community Liasion Bureau) at YACON during 1981. I had just returned from an overseas holiday and found employment (temporary) in the CLB. I think I worked there for about 9 months before moving on. At the time I was 25 years old and Sandra was one of the senior staff in the CLB. There were several characters working in the CLB then including a guy who came from TV advertising and one or two ‘refugees’ from the Ministers Office. There was also one person who had spent time in the State Treasury. Sandy fitted into this eclectic mix and was a larger than life figure, full of energy, incredibly outgoing and above all positive. An inspiration to the more jaded souls who worked there at the time ! Of course 1981 was in the shadow of the glorious 70s and life for most was sweet. No computers or emails to compicate life then. I always remember Sandy talking of her latest overseas trip – to Europe and she was to be in Paris on Bastille day. Sounded grand and she was very enthusiastic about it. Farewell Sandy, you made the world a better place !

Sandy You taught me how to love again and you taught me how to live again. You were an inspiration to me and not a day goes by that I am not in use of your wisdom. You were the complete package lady...the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, You are well missed. Thank you for taking the time to be my friend Wilma XXXXX

Sandy You taught me how to love again and you taught me how to live again. You were an inspiration to me and not a day goes by that I am not in use of your wisdom. You were the complete package lady...the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, you are missed thank you for taking the time to be my friend Wilma XXXXX

With the memory of Sandy still incandescent, we're planning to establish an Art Reference Library in her honour in the town she worked hard to bring back to life - Port Kembla NSW. The Red Point Artists group - a non-profit outfit that reaches out to its multi-cultural, multi-level community, received a box of art books from Sandy last August. Artists have added to the gift, but it's still in boxes (you don't make a fortune out of art in Port Kembla). If you'd like a Sandy Halley bookplate to attach inside an art book donation, or you've a suitable lock-up bookcase needing a good home, please let them know on redpointart1@gmail.com

Another very special memory I have of Sandy is sharing the sighting of Halley's Comet in1986. I had driven down from Sydney to Canberra, where she was then living in Kambah, near Tuggeranong. I think it was in February and on Saturday night, which was a beautiful, clear night, very little pollution then, we drove up to Black Mountain Tower armed with binoculars. We didn't need them as the comet was startlingly bright and clearly visible to the naked eye. We marvelled at it and speculated about all the stories and superstitions that had been associated with it over the centuries.There were some other people up at Black Mountain Tower but very few. We almost had the place to ourselves and it was still and quiet and so magical! A couple of weeks later Sandy had to go to Alice Springs for some meeting or other and there were hundreds of people there as it had been touted as THE place to see Halley's Comet with the naked eye. Sandy rang me to tell me it was a bit of a fizzer and we had enjoyed a much clearer and brighter sighting in Canberra. I will always treasure this memory as obviously the name is significant. I have always thought of Sandy as our very own special version of Halley's Comet, blazing trails in whatever venture or adventure she attempted and burning brightly with passion and commitment for whatever cause she was pursuing. She gave that same energy and dedication to her friendships and I want to think of her as our bright star, blazing a path through our lives with her remarkable intelligence, unquenchable lust and zest for life and unique extraordinariness. She enriched our lives in so many ways and we are left bereft without her but the better for having known her.

I met Sandy shortly after I moved to Balmain, in 1973. It was at a Balmain/Rozelle resident action meeting ( threafter known as BRRAG and we did) and we were all trying to get rid of the ANL trucks and container terminal. Sandy stood out from everyone, we clicked straight away and spent many evenings planning, plotting urban guerilla action, having the odd glass of wine or two and laughing a lot at the idiocies of bureaucracies. Some of our guerilla actions were pretty borderline in terms of legality but I am sure we caused ANL quite a few headaches. We became firm and close friends, After about a year Sandy confided that she had something to tell me. It turned out that we had had a male friend/lover in common. Not at the same time!! I had met this man during a period when I was separated from my first husband. It had been a passionate relationship but eventually my husband decided he wanted to give the marriage another go, i faced a difficult choice, fining it is possible to love two people, but did go back for a number of reasons including wanting to have children. The marriage ended again 6 months later, the children never eventuated but the man was no longer available because he had met Sandy, understandably fallen for her, cried on her shoulder about me. So she knew lots about me before we even met! We laughed a lot about that and whether it gave her an unfair advantage, talked a lot about the positive and negative qualities of the lover we had shared, deciding ultimately that the friendship we shared was so much richer and more fulfilling than a mere male could offer. Will I ever know anyone as warm, generous, blazing with energy and passion for causes as the Sandy Halley comet?? I doubt it!

In response to an offer of chicken soup, Sandy (always more ready to give than receive) asked if I'd like a grape peeled for me. I assured her I had a resident grape peeler, whereupon my scholarly husband became known as "The G-P". Not content with that, when The G-P slipped off a ladder and landed gracefully at her side, she dubbed him "The Leaping Grape Peeler" (LGP for short). Sandy could find the fun in just about anything, but found my sedate driving a bit of a trial. Sporty cars were more her style and she drove with enviable skill.

That brilliant hair coordinated with th lipstick. Big ideas and new projects, always making it happen,Fabulous Christmas Cake too. So generous, thoughtful, passionate. I could go on, you touched my heart and showed great kindness and compassion in spite of your own more serious issues. I will always be grateful. A force to be reckoned with.

Big bold and always full of colour and lots of fun. We spoke 5 days ago, so tired yet still positive and funny. You are selfless, and generous, in spite of your own dilemma you continued to give. I can hear your voice and see your brilliant hair. Go well my friend with love.

Driving around in your yellow Audi, looking at the properties you had purchased and sharing your visions, having lunch in Port Kembla and visiting the bank many times while being renovated..........laughing!!!!Sandy was such a motivated, knowledgeable, generous woman, will miss your beaming smile and our chats about everything and anything........Was a pleasure to have met you ! xxxxx