Community mourns respected woman who died in storm

The victim of the weekend’s wild storm has been remembered as a woman with “immediate warmth” who was loved by her family, friends and colleagues at the University of Tasmania.

A UTAS manager, wife and mother tragically killed during wild weather conditions on her Beulah property on Saturday afternoon is being remembered as a “force for good” who brightened the lives of all she met.

Jacinta Vanderfeen died when a tree fell during a ferocious storm which brought down thousands of trees and many power lines in the Sheffield area.

Jacinta and her husband Ken were trapped by a tree which fell on their property. Mr Vanderfeen survived the freak accident and is recovering from injuries in hospital.

The UTAS community will hold an online wake to mark her passing today while the family will wait until Mr Vanderfeen has recovered enough to be part of a celebration of her life.

Mrs Vanderfeen’s son Tate alerted the wider community on social media that is was indeed his mother who had died in the storm.

“With heavy hearts our family wishes to confirm the news that our beautiful mum Jacinta has passed away. The proudest mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty, friend, colleague and mentor to so many,” he said.

“Dad was badly injured in the accident but is stable and is expected to make a good recovery. The messages of support and love have been overwhelming. They are so appreciated however we also ask for some privacy at this time as our main focus now is ensuring that Dad can make a full recovery.

“We will celebrate the life of our incredible mum as soon as we can all be together. The details of this celebration will be advised.”

University of Tasmania Vice Chancellor Rufus Black told the University of Tasmania community Jacinta was a “truly extraordinary person of great wisdom, kindness, warmth, and generosity.”

“Her death is a terrible loss for her family, Aboriginal community members of the North-West, and the whole of Tasmania.

“Here at the University, her absence will be deeply felt. Jacinta was a much-loved member of our community who brightened the lives of everyone she came in contact with, however briefly.

“Jacinta was a force for good in our University. As our Manager of Workplace Diversity and Inclusion, she worked to make sure our community was one where people felt safe, included, respected and welcomed.

She brought enormous skill and talent to the role, and she also brought those things that were so obviously a part of who she was – care, compassion, respect and gentleness. She made us a better place. We were privileged to have had her with us.

Mrs Vanderfeen was also widely respected for her many roles across Aboriginal communities in Tasmania, especially through the Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation in Devonport.

Distinguished Professor Emerita Maggie Walter - who worked with Jacinta when she was Pro-Vice Chancellor of Aboriginal Research and Leadership from 2014-2020 - said Jacinta was the lynch pin of her family and a much-loved member of the UTAS and Aboriginal community.

“She was the warmest person I have ever met,” distinguished Prof. Walter said.

“She helped increase the number of Aboriginal staff at UTAS. You knew if Jacinta was in the room everyone was feeling welcome.

“She had an immediate warmth which was just so beautiful and natural.”

Originally published as Community mourns respected woman who died in storm