Patricia Pak Poy

Sister Patricia Pak Poy was an Australian religious sister, educator and activist known for her contributions to social justice, particularly for the ban on the use of landmines.

Life and education Pak Poy was born on 16 October 1935 in Darwin, Australia to Chinese immigrant parents, Alberta Chee Quee and William Pak Poy. The family evacuated to Adelaide during World War II to escape the impending threat of Japanese bombings in Darwin. In 1963, she obtained a Diploma of Education and travelled to the United States for further studies. From July 1970 to May 1976 she returned to Adelaide undertake the role of Principal of St Aloysius College.

Humanitarian work After joining the Sisters of Mercy, Pak Poy dedicated herself to education and social justice causes. She was involved in many social justice projects, including the opening of Catherine House, a crisis centre in Adelaide for women experiencing homelessness, as well as the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, and Australian Catholic Relief.

Her work took her to Asia, where she collaborated with the Jesuit Refugee Service to improve the lives of refugees in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. During this time, she became acutely aware of the urgent need for landmine clearance in Cambodia and the need for support of the civilian victims. This experience prompting her to start advocating for a ban on the use of landmines, which she did by studying refugee law and networking globally with Human Rights and humanitarian organisations and councils. Under her leadership, the organisation played a crucial role in changing Australian government policy. In 1995, ICBL-AN launched a petition calling for a total ban on anti-personnel landmines.

In 1997, she represented Australia as a non-government member of the Australian Delegation to the discussions and negotiations for the UN Review of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and Protocol II and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction. 1998 - Returned Services League ANZAC Peace Prize

Memberships Chief Patron of the UN Association of Australia (SA Division) Human Rights Council of Australia. Hope Adelaide Inc.

Publications Pak-Poy, Patricia & Tasmanian Peace Trust (1998). Building our capacity for peace. Tasmanian Peace Trust, [Hobart]. Fisher, Rosie & Pak-Poy, Patricia & South Australia. Children's Interests Bureau (1986). Children are residents too! : children in the housing estate : a set of guidelines for planning. Children's Interests Bureau, [Adelaide]. Pak-Poy, Patricia (Contributor) & United Faculty of Theology - Jesuit Theological College (Contributor) & Gray, Janette (Creator) (2006). Campaigning to Ban Landmines: A Theological Reflection. David Lovell. Pak-Poy, Patricia (Contributor) & United Faculty of Theology - Uniting Church Theological College (Contributor) & Massam, Katharine (Creator) (2006). Ethics and Theology in the Public Square: the Australian Network of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. David Lovell. Pak-Poy, Patricia & Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (Australia) (1980). Development education : some thoughts on education to justice in the Australian context : a short paper prepared in response to an invitation of the bishops of the Episcopal Committee for Development and Peace. Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Brickfield Hill [N.S.W.]. Pak Poy, Patricia & Pak-Poy, Patricia, (editor.) & International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Australian Network, (contributor.) (2006). A path is made by walking it : reflections on the Australian Network to Ban Landmines, 1991-2006. David Lovell Publishing in conjunction with ICBL Australian Network to Ban Landmines, East Kew, Vic.