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Lesley Elliot - Source: Close Up -
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Sometimes, I despair of the world.
I realise that sounds highly melodramatic but it's true. I just can't believe - or even conceive - what planet people are living on when they come up with certain ideas.
For instance, how exactly did Billboard magazine rationalise that Taylor Swift - a 21-year-old country singer - should be Woman of the Year?
Nothing against Miss Swift, I think she's a hugely talented musician with a long and productive career ahead of her.
I also think of all the chart acts out there at the moment, she's certainly one of the music industry's best role models for young people.
But what has she really achieved to earn that title? What has she done to better the world?
I went to Next Magazine's Woman of the Year Awards in Auckland last week, which honours women who have made an outstanding contribution to the community in their field.
There are five categories - arts & culture, business, community, health & science and sport - which each crown a winner, before the overall Woman of the Year is named.
Lesley Elliot was that woman. It was a hugely moving and inspiring moment.
Lesley was the mother of Sophie Elliott, who was brutally murdered three years ago by her ex-boyfriend Clayton Weatherston.
Most mothers, it's fair to say, would have fallen apart completely.
Instead, Lesley set up the Sophie Elliott Foundation and works tirelessly to prevent violence against women.
She travels the country speaking to school children and wrote the book "Sophie's Story".
She is determined that Sophie's death will not be in vain.
When Lesley's name was read out as the supreme award winner, there was no question she was the most deserving of winners.
As she took the stage, she admitted it was a hugely difficult moment. She couldn't help but think of Sophie, who apparently would have thought it hilarious because her Mum hates having her photo taken.
It was an incredibly affecting moment that touched everyone in the room.
Afterwards, I spoke with some of the category winners, including Christchurch coroner Sue Johnson, who so sensitively dealt with the aftermath of the February quake.
She too was in awe of Lesley. Of how she handled every mother's worst nightmare and salvaged something positive out of it.
It was incredible evening in the company of some of the most remarkable women I've ever met.
And although I haven't met Taylor Swift, and I'm sure she really is a lovely girl, I don't believe she will ever make me - or anyone else - feel like those women did.
To read more Joanna Hunkin opinion click here .
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Post new commentNeil McC said on 2011-10-12 @ 20:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
Totally agree with you Joanna - I am getting so sick of the trash media lauding the exploits of vacuous pretty people who confuse the behaviour of these people, with celebrity when they actually should be using the term infamy. And there is none more who fits into this category than the evil .... that did the killing of this lovely woman's daughter