Her greatest achievement was when not long before Auntie Sue died. She came up with the phrase Where People Smoke Matters and this Auntie Sue's last campaign was launched at her funeral.
She made people aware of passive smoke, Cystic Fibrosis and that people with disabilities have rights.
She accomplished things directly or by inspiring others to do their best and to fight the good fight and to keep fighting.
Auntie Sue was able to use her own illness to a positive advantage to inspire and prick the conscience of others in her campaign to improve and reform health services and in particular draw attention to the health problems associated with smoking, passive smoking and air-pollution.
She was a symbol and figurehead for a grown-swell of public and political at a National and International level action on anti-smoking and passive smoking.
Her personal courage and tenacity played a significant role in changing public opinion and bringing about legislative changes.
For a start Sue was an expert networker - she 'collected' people. Using the contacts that she built up through her many networks, Sue was able to put a lot of pressure on decision-makers. I think her proudest achievement would have been the outcome of her complaint to the Human Rights Commission.
That she was unforgettable and that she inspired and motivated so many people to make a difference in the world.
She was able to get people to understand that the right for someone to have smoke-free access was equal to wheelchair access.
She made a massive contribution to raising awareness around Australia about passive smoke and its affects on non-smokers.
Auntie Sue showed that you could use the democratic and legal process to make a difference.
Auntie Sue showed that by making people understand, you can get them to care.
She was able to achieve smoke-free areas in hospitals, shopping centres, airports and events.
She was able to use radio, television, newspapers, and leaflets to make people aware.
Aunty Sue stood for South Australian Parliament as an Australian Democrat in 1997and was the President of the Adelaide branch of the Australian Democrats.
She was in countless commitees and numerous articles in newspapers journals and television shows.
Aunty Sue spoke at the 9th World Tobacco Conference in Paris 5 months after a double lung transplant and she was able to enjoy her first overseas trip then and meet family, see friends and experience so much.
She had an impact on changing attitudes and culture.
To make so many great friends.
She inspired many to overcome and battle their own problems even health problems.
She won a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission landmark ruling with Neil Francey.
She has not been forgotten and she has been nominated and was in Peoplescape.
She will not be forgotten as she was nominated and will be one of around 600 Australian women who were either first in their field or pioneered Australia in the early days, in the Herstory Archive in the National Pioneer Women's hall of Fame.
Auntie Sue's work paved the way for others to fight for further rights for safe air.
Sue asked and inspired politicians, university lectures and administrators, lawyers, doctors, health promotion officers, journalists etc to do something about passive smoke.
Sue Meeuwissen as the person who, single-handedly dragged the SA Division of the Democrats kicking and screaming into the 20th Century!
She was able to achieve many inside and outside events to be smoke-free.
She did more in her short life than many do with lives three times as long.
Sue was one of a small number of people who have forever changed the smoking rules. This will ultimately benefit many people. (18,000 deaths from tobacco related disease in Australia each year). At a less public level she also showed others with lung disease that life goes on despite having a disability.
It is largely thanks to Sue that smoking in public buildings, in restaurants, food preparation areas, and around children is now seen as either illegal and/or morally blameworthy.
Sue changed things so that people could not easily accept situations which they used to think was normal.
Sue's determination to continue to figth for the right to breath air not polluted by smoke and chemicals was one of her great accomplishemnts. Teaching people how to live each day with joy and zest was another. Sharing her wisdom and teaching us how to live till the very end and die with dignity where other invauluable lessons and accomplishments of Sue's.
Pretty much everything she set out to.
Every one who met her was lucky to be with someone so positive, who never gave up on worthwhile causes and she inspired everyone she met with enthusiasm. What she fought for is still influencing our society today.
She campaigned strongly against smoking in enclosed public areas. This was aimed at stopping people having to inhale smoke filled air caused by smokers... Legislation was passed by the South Australian Parliament which prohibited smoking in enclosed eating areas and many other public areas. Sue was on of many people who publicly supported such legislation. South Australia was the first State to adopt such legislation.
If you want to know more checkout Sue's Life