Farewell to group member

South Taranaki Maori gathered to farewell another key member of the Patea Maori Club yesterday. Sylvia Turama Kershaw died at home last Friday, aged 72. Mairini Kershaw said her aunty Sylvia, who embodied the spirit of discipline and pride, would be remembered for her unflinching support of her whanau, iwi and hapu. "She was bossy, grumpy and grouchy because she was the boss," she said. A staunch member of the Patea Maori Club, Aotea Utanganui and the Pariroa Marae, she made sure her opinions were heard but thrust others into the limelight. Born and raised in Kakaramea, Miss Kershaw was the second eldest of 14 children and grew up fast when her parents died. Aaron Kershaw said his sister took on the role of their mother but never had any children of her own. Mr Kershaw said she never married because of her dedication to the family and overzealous protection from her brothers. "When she brought boyfriends home we chased them away," he said. After a 40-year career working as a telephone exchange operator first in Patea and then Auckland, she returned to South Taranaki to be close to family. Fellow club member Maggie Tiahuia Kahu, best known for her work as the vocalist and poi soloist on the hit song Poi-E, also died last Friday and was laid to rest yesterday after her tangi at Wai-o Turi Marae. Ad Feedback - © Fairfax NZ News AIRD HARPER Last updated 05:00 01/05/2012