1914 2000

Louise Hordern to all Seahorse Members will always be remembered as a very special , loving and remarkable person who always had a kind word to say about everything and everyone she came in contact with.

To many at Seahorse Victoria she was one of the first in the club to welcome new members along….I was such a member a few years ago…. like many others here today. With her cheery smile and friendly voice …..when asked ….."How are you?"……Louise always used to say ……" I'm still giving plenty of cheek ,… because it's more blessed to give …than to receive". This always, without fail would always bring a smile from whomever she was talking to.

Louise was always first at the club meetings and normally last to leave. Many of us at Seahorse Victoria owe a great deal to Louise . She worked tirelessly as our club librarian and committee member for many year bringing the library books along to each meeting on the special book transporter that she personally had designed. (A remarkable effort considering her age.) She built a library that by today's standards would be one of the best of it's type on transgendered matters that exists today. It was her pride and joy.

Louise also wrote and compiled a very successful book called …." Crossdressing Questions and Answers"……. which many of us in Seahorse Victoria and other transgendered people elsewhere have read , taken on board and learnt from the information that Louise had compiled . The transgender community as a whole owes a great deal to Louise for the information written her book.

Louise also as we all know was a very generous person and for many years opened her Mt. Evelyn home for the annual Seahorse BBQ which invariably ran longer than the scheduled time frame…We have very fond memories of those special times.So many of us joined her at her home for that annual event and wondered in amazement at her disappearing wall that she had designed and built.

Seahorse Victoria awards life memberships to special people who have given outstanding service within the club ….Louise was one of those few very select members……"Member 001"…Her efforts , tireless work , help and assistance within the group have been warmly received and appreciated by all who came in contact with her.

Louise was some one whose simple cheer and good will helped so many people over the years that she was with Seahorse Victoria. Like Elaine Barrie 1996 Rainbow award winner and the recently deceased Lady Paula Howard….Louise Hordern is part of a generation owed a debt of gratitude by the transgender community for her courageous ,inspirational and pioneering contributions that she so willingly gave.

Louise, you will be sadly missed by all who knew you within Seahorse Victoria and the transgender community.

Thank you Louise for being part of our lives…. May you rest in peace.

(These words were written and spoken to the congregation by Paula Corbett , President , Seahorse Victoria at Louise Hordern's funeral on Friday 29th of December 2000)