Vale Noelene Ward

Noelene Ward (Photo supplied by the Star Weekly, photographer Damian Janevski)

Last Friday, we bid a sad farewell to Noelene Ward, who passed away following a very short illness.

Noelene was a much-loved mother to Lynsey and partner Anthony, and to Liam (dec), wife to Marcus and a proud grandmother to Wren. Her contribution to Live4Life and other suicide prevention events and groups, particularly her work with Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group, cannot be overstated. She touched countless lives through all of her efforts.

The Ward family’s lives were forever changed when their beautiful son Liam died by suicide in September 2008. Liam’s death became the catalyst for the establishment of Live4Life. Noelene sat on our inaugural committee and later our board, offering not only her time and expertise, but her whole heart.

She brought enormous depth to the work — a rare combination of lived experience, generosity of spirit, wisdom, and humanity. She was kind, strong, courageous, interesting and interested. She also brought warmth, humour, and joy into spaces that often held grief and complexity, reminding us that connection and light matter, even — and especially — in difficult work.

To many, Noelene was a role model, a quiet anchor of support and to all who walked alongside her, a reminder of why this work we do, matters. We will remember Noelene with deep respect, love, and gratitude. She leaves behind a powerful legacy in so many areas — built not just through action and advocacy, but through compassion, courage, and an unwavering belief in the value of human connection.