The late Ian Kennedy

The late Ian Kennedy OAM is a true example of someone who selflessly gave themselves into bettering the lives of others. Ian was a well-loved member of the Mackellar community, being a great advocate for Palm Beach and Pittwater, as well as an active member of the Palm Beach and Whale Beach Committee.

The Starlight Foundation has a mission to let sick kids just be kids, by giving them some much needed joy and happiness during often very difficult and challenging times. An Australian foundation that has significantly impacted many young lives and families, for 29 of their 30 years Ian has been proud patron of the Starlight Foundation.

Ian was an integral part of the founding board of Starlight and the foundation as a whole. Always the entrepreneur it was Ian’s vision and tenacity which delivered Captain Starlight from Planet Starlight and into the Starlight Express Rooms for the sick kids and their families - programs still unique in the world, today.

He was also a Starlight Wish granting volunteer, he never ceased to be inspired by the joy and hope provided by a life changing Starlight Wish.

According to Starlight, whenever a decision was to be made he was would ask “what would be best for the starlight child”. Ian will always be part of Starlight, he is in their DNA. He always sought to be true to Starlight’s mission and to brighten the lives of Australia’s seriously ill children and their families.

 Ian went on to be part of the founding board for Livewire, an organisation that supports seriously ill and hospitalised adolescents. For Ian, the need of the children was central to everything.

Ian’s legacy truly is the thousands of seriously ill children’s lives that Starlight brightens every day.

Ian is survived by his wife Susie, son Sam, and his 5 grandchildren. I am sure they are immeasurably proud of Ian’s grand legacy.

I will never tire of hearing the remarkable stories of the people of Mackellar, many of which have had a profound influence on the community. Ian, in his own right, is one of those remarkable stories.

As we remember Ian today, let us think of a life that was well lived – a life full of purpose. Ian will be dearly missed, but his memory will continue on every day as lives are continuously touched by the great work of the Starlight foundation.