Annie Helm

Arohanui, dear Annie. My first ever singing teacher. I am so grateful to have known you and for your guidance and care of me, as a teenager, who only ever wanted to sing show tunes. I still use everything you taught me and the advice you shared, all these years later.

“Ann(e) sings in the morning,
With walking birds she sings
A song of fairy butterflies,
Of flowers and kindly things:
And when she sings it seems to me
No voice on earth could lovelier be
When sweet Ann(e) sings. “ - song by Michael Head.

Rest well, sweet Annie

Two years ago Jing and I visited Annie at her home. She was as vibrant, sharp and funny as always. She was happy and appreciative of her favourable situation at that time of her life.
She made us lemon, ginger and honey tea.
This morning I remembered her from Dunedin days.
Audrey and I had to visit deputy Mayor Peter Chin (opera singer) on Baha'i business. Audrey asked him if he knew about the faith. He gleefully replied with a beaming smile "do you know Annie Betts?". It was a good meeting.
Farewell for now dear friend. You brought us much love.
"With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee: rejoice! To the court of holiness I summon thee; abide therein that thou mayest live in peace for evermore." --Baha'u'llah

This morning, I walked to a wild and rugged coast of Otago Peninsula, to sit on a quiet beach (with a sealion nearby!), and reflect on an amazing year with Annie as a housemate back in 2011-12 (along with Leo) and the reunions that followed in the years after.
She was a joy to live with at Buckley Road, especially around dinnertime, providing plenty of laugh, a wee bit of (operatic) singing and I even looked forward to those Friday nights in just talking (our views of the world were aligned) or watching DVDs with her. When she left, she did leave a void and I do regret not getting the chance to see her when I was last in Wellington. Wish I could be there for her memorial service. She will live long in my memories. Peter

Dearest Anne
I remember you not only as one of my longest known friends, but primarily as the dedicated Baha’i that you were for many years. I know you remained a lover of Bahá’u’lláh till the end even as your spiritual path developed many threads.

“ SON OF THE SUPREME!
I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?” Bahá’u’lláh

There is joy in knowing your spirit is flying free.

Dear Annie. We met through our mutal friend Eileen. You came into my life like a ray of light, unique engergy and power. You supported me through a tricky longterm relationship break up and you took my daughter under your wing. I miss your delishous vegan meals, the cakes you baked, conversations, politics and feminism, your humour and your wisdom. You had plenty of your own battle wounds and pain but always had time to support and advocate for others. The world is a different place without you. I hope you have found your peace and are flying free. Thank you and I am forever grateful. xx

When I first met Annie in the early 90's, we seemed to rubbed each other up the wrong way. This is how it was for many of us early mental health activists. We all felt alone, individually carrying the burden of raising awareness of the abuses within the mental health system. But we weren't alone and over time we grew to deeply love and respect each other and the hard work we did. Annie and I had many things in common and we came to realise we had walked side by side in this long and difficult battle for many years. It is time to rest now my friend. Know that you made a great difference. 🙏🙂💕

I first met Annie when I worked at Kites Trust in Wellington. We shared a love for Central Otago and Dunedin. We also travelled to the USA together; San Fran, Indianna and New York. We drank cocktails on the top of a hotel in Manhatten, we navigated plane cancellations, train delays, lost laundry and driving on the other side of the road. Finding good vegetarian food wasn't always easy.
We shared many stories including the love for her family. She was very supportive of me as I grieved for my husband who had died the year before. The trip provided us with the opportunity to see psychiatric facilities that had eliminated the practice of seclusion. We came back with high hopes but unfortantely the practice still remains.

Much love to Annie's whanau x

As Leo said in his beautiful poem Annie was a woman of opportunities. Annie was a true friend to many - you could contact her in any state of mind/ distress and get understanding and insight and she would gently share the possibilities of a situation , how I will miss that.
When I think of Annie I think of stories . How lucky we were at the last birthday celebration up the Coast where Annie was in full flight. One of many stories I remember is when taxi driving in Wainui when Georgia and Morgan were young Annie adroitly getting the mongrel mob leader on side so the gangsters always paid up after one of them tried to evade paying.
Annie made friends wherever she went at gatherings at my house she could be seen reading the i-ching for people or connecting with some one in corner . The party at Breaker Bay hall before Annie went to visit Harrison in the States bringing her community together. Morgan up a ladder hanging balloons, Shelley cheerfully washing dishes . Out walking and Annie would greet a street person she had come across in her travels. When i was away up North and my younger son went off the rails for a bit , Annie ignored the tinnie house vibes and bowled around and invited herself in to see how he was doing
As Annies plus 1 during lockdown because i lived around the corner. i would call in on my way home from work nursing and talk at a distance through the door. There was often an offering of german apple cake.
as others have said there were hard times too and Annies spirit was tested many times but she came back again and again.
i cold talk about Annies in the survivor movement , that fight for justice and the eventual apology . Annie supported many peer initiatives and back in 2013 myself and a colleague nominated Annie for Exceptional Contribution to Mental Health Service in Australia or New Zealand at The Mental Health Services Conference of Australia and New Zealand (TheMHS) in Melbourne and she was awarded it . it was the work of a lifetime when the apology was eventually made

https://kitestrust.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/fight-for-justice-for-former-inpatients-recognised-with-australasian-award

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-psych-patients-call-for-apology/VZBRY6YFQ26ST2WQG6DC32IQEM

Kia ora Anne,
As you know, we met when I was a mental health promoter, and you were the one who really knew. You taught me so much. You laughed at me and gave me insights that I have never forgotten. Thank you for your contribution, your life, your song! May the next adventure be a good one.
Richard

We met Annie in the laughter yoga on a grey over cloudy day in Christchurch, just after the February quake in 2011. OMG [!!], she had the most infectious laugh and all our bellies would wobble up down endlessly with joyous laughter. Tears rolling down our cheeks. However, there was a lot more about Annie. One day at a friends place where we all congregated for dinner and we were all embroiled in joyous conversation - all of a sudden Annie started to hum a melody and off she went to the piano and starting playing. It was, I called it a "Clair du Lune" moment from Claude Debussy and we all went of on cloud 49..........and every time I hear piano music, this very moment comes to mind, where Annie transported us into another world. That was Annie, she could transport your mind into music, social local issues of this world and with that, widen our horizons immensely. Rest in peace dear Annie, a last hug from us all with a wobbly laughter and running tears down our cheeks, in this never ending winding road of LIFE.

Annie was a very bright first light for me when I needed help as never before. She threw a halo of hope. Her warmth, wit and concern for others shone strongly and uniquely. It's the debt that can never be repaid. Travel lightly now my much missed friend and meditation partner. 🙏💗

Your graceful presence, your generosity, the poetry we shared. Thank you Annie for all you brought to the world.

I was so lucky to learn from Annie during my time living and learning in Aotearoa. I so admired her tenacity and wisdom. And her humour.
Sleep well, Annie. Thank you for all you have done for our movement ❤️

I first met Annie in a group massage at Convergence, without talking we moved to protect a young woman from unhealthy energy. That's how it was with us a connection that needed few words. I was so in awe of how she had episodes of mental unwellness and was still so damn fiesty when well. This was the part of her that impacted how I sit in the world. She has been and will continue to be the person that inspires me to live my life more fully. I am sad that I cannot come to the service as I'm traveling back to NZ that day. Arohanui.

Teenaa koe Anne,
I wear your 'gift' to me with special pride. Such wise words 'be quiet, meditate, live purely and like the moon come out from behind the clouds and shine'.
With much respect and aroha: Martin Burke, your Marty.

Your mum was a great and joyful person who shared her inspiration to so many others.
I never met her here in Dunedin personally yet I feel I know her and sense her beautiful being.
God Bless her name character and spirit forever x

Arohanui Annie
Much love from someone who admired your courage, your humour your musicality, and the difference you made in Aotearoa.
Janet

I met Annie when I was 16. She just got more special over time. When I think about her achievements, they will last a long time. I think she will continue to have an influence, through her descendants, but also from the realm where she is going. Expect wonders and marvels, Annie style

I first met Annie at a like Mind's conference in Hamilton. Annie incoraged me to become a leader. Annie had the ability to be sweet and kind and at the same time strong a sharp blade a cutting toug when it came ignorecine. RIP brave soldier Annie was always fighting the good fight. She was inspiring wise compashit. Funny diplomatic loving. The sky is darker with Annie's bright star gone. Always in my heart love Susie

I first saw Annie in Plimmerton singing Arias from the top of the outdoor steps of her flat
I knew I had to get to know her. That was in 1979 when I was pregnant with my first daughter. We became firm friends and had many laughs together.
I remember her as a Sanyastant following Bagawan, dressed in red and orange. Luckily the colours suited her.
I met Georgis and Morgan when they were babies in Wainuiomata.
I visited her in Dunedin and kept in touch with her in all her moves. She was a great friend; a great advocate and she lived her life with dignity and integrity.

Annie was the kind of friend who was always there for you when you needed support. She came and sang at My Dad's funeral way back in 1984, then again at Mum's funeral in 2009 and she came and sang at my 70th birthday, much to my joy.Her wonderful humour was always present and very much part of her charm.She was an activist and fighter, who knew much more than most, what she was fighting for and against.We had a huge amount in common, when I look back although our lives were so different.If I loved something you could almost guarantee than Annie would too, Whether it was Leonard Cohen,cello music, fabulous art and knitting marvels, we shared the same appreciation, which are some of the reasons that I treasured her friendship.She will be long missed,as a v special spirit , and for her unique and marvellous talents and gifts.