Tasmania’s LGBTQIA+ community and beyond pay tribute to Sharon Corvinus-Jones following the news of her passing. Sharon was a passionate anti-suicide worker, LGBTIQA+ community leader and awareness trainer and one of the first openly transgender shearers in Australia.
Sharon Corvinus-Jones was a “change-agent” who lived and worked in rural Australia for all of their life.
She had a passion for suicide prevention and community development through education, supporting rural and regional communities.
Sharon won three awards for her work in LGBTIQA+ inclusion”
- The ‘Red Herring Surf Social Inclusion Award’ in 2010.
- The ‘LGBTI Rainbow Award’ in 2013.
- And the ‘Human Rights LGBTI Award’ also in 2013.
She was awarded for Sharon’s long-term commitment to developing social and support networks and suicide prevention.
Sharon grew up in Boulia in outback Queensland and was one of the first openly transgender shearers in Australia.
She moved to Tasmania after she was rejected by her family and friends because of her sexuality.
Rodney Croome from Equality Tasmania said, “There has been an outpouring of grief across Tasmania at the news of Sharon’s death because she touched the lives of so many people.”
“She was a tireless anti-suicide worker, LGBTIQA+ community leader and LGBTIQA+ awareness trainer.”
“Many people will remember the inspiring story of her remarkable life, always told by Sharon with her characteristic blend of kindness and directness.
“Those who worked with her will remember her charisma, generosity, able leadership, strong sense of purpose, infectious laugh and the fact she always turned up even when it was hard.”
‘She had a larrikin streak and was incredibly strong’
As the Chief Executive Officer for Kentish Regional Clinic, “Sharon was more than just the leader of our organisation,” the organisation’s Board of Governance ce said.
“Sharon’s most notable contributions were her personal development of the LGBTIQA+ training program.”
“Which she delivered with her unique lived experience and her work and delivery of the CORES Australia and HIPPY training programs.
“Sharon deeply believed each of these programs was of significant benefit not only to the safety, education and empowerment of individuals but also to the entire community.
“She had an overwhelmingly positive impact over her many years in the Tasmanian community sector and was recognised for her work, reflected by her many awards and accolades.
“Sharon’s tenacity and strength of spirit will leave an indelible legacy on our organisation and the broader groups and communities within which Sharon worked in Tasmania, and nationally and internationally.
“She had a larrikin streak, and was an incredibly strong, supportive and fiercely confident individual and the driving force of our organisation.”
Founder and CEO of Rural Pride Australia, Daniel Whitthaus, shared that he first met Sharon almost two decades ago.
“She attended a challenging homophobia workshop for educators that I ran at Rose Bay High School in northern Hobart, in partnership with her employer at the time, Working It Out.” he said.
“Even then, I was struck by how enthusiastic, inquisitive and reflective Sharon was, qualities I’d learn were part of her foundations.”
“Back then, I taught Sharon my educational program, and soon after that, she created her own.”
View this post on Instagram
Powerful advocacy against the backdrop of two of the most homophobic parts of the country
“A decade later, I really got to know Sharon as we drove throughout North West Tasmania,” Whitthaus said.
“In what would be a three-year project to identify emerging LGBTIQA+ leaders, train them in what we knew about rural LGBTIQA+ leadership and train the mainstream health system around them.”
“We drove to and from literally every nook and cranny of the North West, and in that time I discovered Sharon’s wicked humour and her masterful storytelling ability and her purpose.
“For years, she had singularly been the entire LGBTIQA+ support and service system for the North West, and she knew this wasn’t sustainable, even for her.”
“Sharon was Australia’s first professional female shearer, was one of the first of our LGBTIQA+ pioneers to talk publicly (and in the media) about gender diversity and honed sharing her story in ways to make it about the audience rather than about her (this is rarer than you’d think.)”
“Sharon didn’t do these things before they were cool; Sharon made them ‘cool’ (i.e. understandable, palatable, digestible).”
“More remarkably, all this was done against the backdrop of what were once the two most homophobic parts of Australia: the former ‘punchlines’ of outback Queensland and North West Tasmania.
“Aside from coming to know her as a trusted colleague, Sharon became a dear friend.
“She was not only generous when inviting me to stay with her or finding resources for me to work alongside her, she was also generous in sharing her story with me.”
‘Sharon set the standard’
“As we drove for hours, talked before and after workshops or sat with a cuppa overlooking the mountains on her farm in Mole Creek, I heard her journey as a human, a practitioner, a leader in life, love and family.” Witthaus shared.
“The strengths of growing up in outback Queensland, and thriving on the land in the North West of Tasmania, were challenged and tested by decades of hate, violence and misinformation that took their toll.
“It was an honour to hear – and observe – how Sharon navigated the complexities of all this with full heart and intent to ensure no other human would face what she had, including so many she’ll never know the names of.
“What I’ll remember, be inspired by and take on in my everyday life is how Sharon Corvinus-Jones showed up and turned up, especially when it was inconvenient – and would’ve been too inconvenient for most.
“She found ways to do this regardless of which project or organisation she worked for, regardless of whether she was funded to do it or not, and when she was unsure of the outcome.
“That’s because Sharon understood the gravity of everyday leadership, and it’s one major reason why she saved and changed countless everyday LGBTIQA+ lives.
“On so many counts, Sharon set the standard, and a standard I measure things by today. Thank you, my friend. It was an honour.”
An informal celebration of Sharon’s life will be held at the Mole Creek Hotel on the 2nd of February from 3 pm.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Sharon bought our Community together our elders travelled from Hobart and other places to meetup and represent the Community she will never be forgotten she is remembered every day a great loss to the rights of our Community loved by all. She was our JOAN OF ARC.