Former Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) President and committed advocate for better aged care, Merle Mitchell AM, has died.
“Merle was a sharp, determined, tenacious, compassionate advocate who touched the lives of millions across her long life,” said ACOSS CEO, Cassandra Goldie.
“Merle leaves an extraordinary legacy of lives made better, organisations built and stronger, and policies which have stood the test of time. As importantly, Merle Mitchell leaves a powerful message to us all about what true leadership really takes.”
Ian Yates, the CEO of the consumer peak body for older people Council of the Ageing (COTA), described Ms Mitchell as a ‘genuine people’s hero’.
“From her days leading VCOSS, to her more recent contributions to the Council on the Ageing, and many other civil society organisations in between, Merle lived and demonstrated compassion and a deep commitment to fight discrimination and disadvantage and to protect people’s rights,” said Mr Yates.
“And in the last years, from her nursing home, she was a fearsome and articulate advocate for the rights of people in aged care.”
Ms Mitchell, who was President of ACOSS from 1989-1993, was awarded the Member for the Order of Australia (AM) in 1991. In 2015, she was the recipient of a Community Hall of Fame award as part of the Australia Day Awards.
Ms Mitchell is also remembered for her submission to the Aged Care Royal Commission, after moving into aged care with her late husband Eric in 2016.
“I had lost my independence, control over my life and I felt I had lost my connection with my much-loved community,” she told the Commission in 2019.
Ms Mitchell, who was 87, died in Waverley Valley Aged Care in Glen Waverley, 19km east of Melbourne’s CBD.
She will be missed.
