North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Tania Dalton - ‘She will live on’
The North Shore community, home to former Silver Fern Tania Dalton, has remembered her as inspiring and motivating.
Dalton, 45, died on March 1 after suffering a ruptured internal carotid artery aneurysm during a touch game at Northcote about a week earlier.
Her memorial service was held at North Harbour Stadium on Monday at 1.26pm - the exact time her life support machine was turned off on February 28. It was after North Shore Times had gone to press.
The Netball North Harbour community she was part of posted a tribute on its website extending love and thoughts to Dalton’s family who live in Mairangi Bay.
‘‘Our hearts are broken for the loss of an extraordinary woman who gave her all, and then some, to family, friends, community, the game of netball - to everything she did ... Tania’s commitment and dedication to netball and in particular netball on the North Shore was unwavering - she inspired and motivated us to be the very best we can be and we will carry that on in her memory.’’
Dalton attended and later taught as a relief teacher at Carmel College. She was heavily involved in the school as a parent.
In 1989, as deputy head girl, she wrote in the college yearbook - ‘‘I have always tried to involve myself as fully as possible at Carmel and to give of myself to those senior to me as well as to those junior … I am sure that any achievements I make in life will be a reflection on my Carmel preparation’’.
Members of the college community shared their thoughts.
‘‘T was like part of the furniture in the PE department. I’m not sure how she fitted it all in. She was always so enthusiastic about helping out wherever and however she could,’’ says one person.
‘‘She had a real passion for school sport and took a true interest in every individual ... she always seemed to have time for people,’’ says another.
One person recalls Dalton as always willing to help out.
‘‘She was the type of parent that any school is lucky to have one who is willing to give up their time to share their expertise not only for the sake of her own daughter but for the other girls.’’
Family spokesman Chris Henderson earlier said Dalton will live on in her and her husband Duane’s three children. Dalton played 12 tests for the Silver Ferns between 1996–2004 and 2006–07.