Inspirational speaker Kathy Kelly encourages us to spread kindness

Passionate, kind and resilient, these are the words used to describe Kathy Kelly who lost two of her three children in a four-year period. And she has a suggestion of what people should do every day to encourage kindness.

Kathy Kelly is speaking on kindness on International Women’s Day.

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Passionate, kind and resilient, these are the words used to describe Kathy Kelly who lost two of her three children in a four-year period.

Thomas Kelly, 18, was the victim of a coward punch attack in 2012 and in 2016 his younger brother Stuart, 18, took his own life.

In the face of such heavy tragedy Mrs Kelly, the keynote speaker at the International Women’s Day Lunch at Westfield Eastgardens on March 8, has refused to give into the darkness, instead putting kindness at the centre of her life.

As an inspirational speaker she encourages us all to spread kindness by doing an act of goodwill every day.

Ralph and Kathy Kelly along with daughter Maddy during one of their visits to Thomas’ memorial in 2014.

This includes smiling more and listening to someone who really needs to be heard.

“Simply help others around you,” she said.

“And help instil this value in our youth so that kindness becomes the norm.”

But how does she remain resilient in the face of such tragedy?

“It has been very difficult even after almost seven years since losing Thomas,” she said.

“When tragedy struck our family a second time, when Stuart took his life four years later, I wondered how I could possibly carry on.

“But I looked to our beautiful daughter again and knew I had no choice. Madeleine gives us strength and we in turn give her ours.

“I have found purpose through my family, being open and honest about my feelings and through the extraordinary acts of kindness that absolute strangers have shown us.”

The Kelly family continue to agitate for change through the Thomas Kelly Foundation, which has been a powerful catalyst for social and behavioural change in Australia’s drinking culture through education and its Take Kare initiatives.

IWD POWER

International Women’s Day on is March 8 and the theme for this year is More Powerful Together.

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