Christina Hosier
In Memoriam

Christina Royal Hosier

11 August 1965 - 12 November 2019

Eulogy given by Andrea Hosier
I want to start by thanking each of you for coming today to remember and celebrate the colourful life of my sister Christina. It means a lot to me and to Chrissy to see you all here today. There are so many memories for me that come to mind as I look out at your smiling faces.

I thought I’d begin by sharing a few words about the thoughts, feelings and images that flood my mind when I think about my quick witted, sharp minded, gorgeously tall and incredibly capable BIG SISTER.

Christina was many many things. She was a wild beautiful colourful soul, with a generous laugh and an utterly brilliant mind.

From a young age, she possessed an innate maternal instinct, she was highly protective of me and mum and always a patient teacher. Growing up literally under her, as she towered above me…. I admired and sometimes envied her - as everything seemed so easy for her. She was an all-rounder who naturally drew people to her.

With her as my big sister, life was never boring. Her mind was always at work. As a child…. And some might say as an adult… Christina was full of both energy and mischief. I fondly recall one of our best stories from Karalta Park Dalby days when we hatched a plan to escape our Nanny’s watchful eye to visit mum out in the paddock on the tractor. Unfortunately, the plan went pear shaped when Christina’s giddy enthusiasm saw me shoved over the fence, landing on my head screaming…. Safe to say that blew our cover, but we still succeeded with mum coming to the rescue.

Mum’s mission for her 2 girls was for us to grow up to be capable women, prepared for life and the road ahead. We were well traveled country kids, living in the city with Uncles on properties and Grandparents on the Gold Coast. We knew how to navigate a foreign city reading a paper map, surf the North Cliff break, muster a head of cattle and write thankyou letters when appropriate.

Christina was a seriously strong swimmer, and a great horse women. She had a soft spot for animals of any kind - big or small.

School at St Margaret's for Chis was a breeze. She was naturally gifted in the classroom and on the field. Not only was she talented at both netball and swimming, she was a straight A student with a swag of awards. For me, one of the most remarkable things about Chris was her mind. Both sponge and steel trap combined with and insatiable thirst for knowledge. Life in this mind must have been for her, so much harder.

Gatton Ag College in ’82 …. by then it was an established family tradition learnt from our cousins, to quickly leave home and find freedom fast. This is exactly what Chrissy did. Leaving the nest, she fast discovered a freedom from home and the self-imposed feeling of responsibility. She formed solid, long-lasting friendships with many of you here today and was endearingly tagged with the nickname of ‘Yuk’. She was an unassuming beauty, 6’ with long blonde hair. She revelled in life at Gatton living with Pynee, Coolie and the black cat at the house known as the ‘thunderbox’. Alway generously including me in her huge friendship groups, from the GPS crew on the coast to the Gatton Ag mob of the country… she was a good mate to many, indicative of the crowd here today.

I’d say we can all agree Christina was no wet rag… nor was she one to follow a crowd. She was a wild woman who marched to the beat of her own drum and didn’t conform to what was expected of her. She wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea… she was more a shot of whiskey. She was a party girl who was bloody good fun.

She had some fabulous partners and beautiful friends who managed to crack past the bravado exterior to appreciate the soft hearted, fragile person she was at her core, but rarely revealed. Fierce yet fragile … vivacious yet vulnerable.

Her most successful career move was in 1993 when she became PA to Glenys Fisher- the Commissioner of Industrial Relations Qld. Christina’s highly intelligent mind lent itself perfectly to the role. She truly loved working for and with Glenys. They had an exceptional working relationship and their friendship and mutual respect endured for 25years regularly catching up to attend QPAC events here in BNE.

If you had Christina as a friend and more so as a sister you knew, no matter what the circumstance, she always had your back. She was fiercely loyal and pulled no punches. I remember in 2002, Qantas management had me jammed into a IR corner so I called my big sister. With zealous ease Chris churned out a highly judicial response, laced with policy and legislation which promptly halted any further proceedings and resulted in my boss getting the sack and me a position in Training. ….. You didn’t mess with the Hosier girls, not with Christina at the helm. Christina Royal Hosier was a force that you didn’t want to reckon with when it came to business. She was the one who navigated us through the administrative sea of Mum’s death but emotionally she was starting to sink.

Christina had an enormous heart and a huge capacity to love. Chrissy Loved and deeply cared for so many people,,,, especially young people. She recognised the wonderful upbringing mum had given us and tried, to the best of her ability, to love, guide and nurture a select handful of children who are now young adults, you know who you are and you know she loved you so much. She was always there for you and she will continue to be there in your hearts forever.
Chrissy will be watching and cheering for you.

I was so proud of her when she made what would have been a very difficult decision to go sober a year and a half ago, I’m sure a lot of us were. She struggled…. She struggled with the many facets of sobriety and of life …… but in spite of it all, she never went back because she didn’t want to be that way again…. And despite the fight she put up, with the city shrouded in smoke and the moon on the rise. Her depressed determined mind decided to take the best of her from us.

My beautiful daughter Lily summed it up simply when we broke the tragic news of her Aunts passing.

She looked at me and said “she just wanted to go and be with your mum”

She’s out of pain now and Christina, with every fibre of my being I wish for you my dear sister, Rest in Peace.
Namaste Chrissy

Eulogy given by Glenys Fisher
It was a challenge this morning to dress with colourful joy when I am grieving Christina, my friend for more than a quarter of a century. The good news is that this story is not about me, but the extraordinary and unique Christina Hosier.

Christina first entered my life in 1993 when she applied for the position of my Associate at the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. Christina had been encouraged to apply by another friend, Helen Ceron, who had studied the Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations with Christina. Helen, who is here today, was right in thinking all those years ago that Christina would be perfect for the position and that she and I would work well together.

Christina’s and my working relationship lasted 14 years. Obviously, she enjoyed the role and we enjoyed working with each other. I realised early on that she was skilled in managing me, although I never gave the game away. At times, I confess, I was not so skilled in managing her. As many of you would know from your own experiences, directing Christina as to how and when certain tasks needed to be done was not always easy. She had a very independent mind.

Christina had a gift in working with clients of the Commission, particularly those who were not represented by unions or lawyers. She could reassure nervous litigants, calm agitated ones and ensure they were focussed on the purpose of the proceeding and the outcome they were seeking. She had the capacity to speak to them in language they could understand, devoid of jargon.

Christina was well liked and respected by union and employer advocates as well as lawyers and barristers. Again, she had the capacity to speak with them in their language. If necessary, she ensured they toed the line but was always ready for a laugh when circumstances allowed.

She was fiercely loyal and always highly protective of me. With me being on the petite side and Christina being more statuesque, we both knew that should a client become especially aggressive, she would only have to stand up and start to move slowly and quietly towards them for the situation to diffuse. It was not a strategy that was used more than once or twice, but it was highly effective.

Christina and I travelled a lot together around the State for work. We regularly enjoyed a meal together at the end of the day. It always amused me that If Christina did not like the way the restaurant was set up or was dissatisfied with the service, she would simply take over the running of the restaurant. This was her hospitality training shining through. But never once did the restaurant staff become upset. Usually, they were eating out of her hand by the end of the night, such was her ability to connect with people.

I think it is fair to say that Christina was known amongst the industrial relations community as a bit of a wild child when it came to socialising. But I think those stories are best left for reminiscing at the wake. There are also of course stories that only she and I share from when we were travelling on circuit together. As the old saying goes, what happens on tour, stays on tour. However, it would be remiss of me not to share one story. After dinner on the last night of the hearing in Mt Isa, Christina decided to meet some locals at the hotel bar. When I finally roused her from her deep slumber the next morning, we caught the flight back to Brisbane. We both had checked luggage. It was only much later in the day she realized that her suitcase was empty because she had “forgotten” to pack. She had to ring the motel to have her belongings sent to Brisbane. It took a couple years before she 'fessed up to me.

Although Christina left the field of industrial relations in 2007, it is a measure of her standing in the industrial relations community and the esteem in which she is still held, that many current and former practitioners have attended today. Also present today are Members of the Fair Work Commission, current and former Members of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and Associates. The Industrial Relations Society of Queensland also notified Members advising of Christina’s passing.

Commissioners and Associates have a one on one working relationship. During our 14 years together we developed a close personal friendship in addition to our professional relationship. I have benefited from sage advice from Christina over the years and knew that she would be there for me if ever I needed her.

Christina and I remained in close contact even after her resignation to pursue adventures outside of work. We both enjoy the ballet and would use various performances of the Queensland, Australian or international ballets as a chance to catch up. While I will miss her company at future performances, I will long cherish the memory of Christina’s audible delight in graceful pas de deux and the athleticism of male dancers leaping around the stage.

Over the past year, Christina and I regularly attended the lunch time concerts by students of the Conservatorium of Music. The quality of the students’ performances could move Christina to tears. We looked forward to discussing the performances and catching up with the goings on in our lives over coffee and cake after the show.

I knew of Christina’s suffering through our regular chats but her last text to me on 5 November, the day before we left to go to Japan, showed no sign of what the future was to hold. We had made plans to see each other on my return and she looked forward to hearing about our adventures. I am deeply saddened that her illness has cruelly deprived us of the opportunity to spend more time together. Christina’s joy in music and dance will always be treasured memories.

Christina enriched many people’s lives in so many ways. A little bit of light has gone out of my world but she will live forever in my heart.

Christina, farewell my dear, dear friend. You are finally at peace.

Christina will be interred at
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens
329 Nursery Rd Holland Park
Private Memorial Family Plot Number 49
Bed 10 Area 16