Veteran journalist Genevieve Westcott farewelled
Veteran broadcaster Genevieve Westcott has been remembered as an ‘‘extraordinary, kind reporter’’ and an adoring mother, at her funeral in Hastings.
About 70 friends and family barely noticed the rain as they gathered at Crestwood Chapel for her final farewell yesterday afternoon.
The award-winning journalist lost her battle with breast cancer last week, aged 65.
Canadian-born Westcott entered New Zealand journalism in the golden age when ‘‘glass ceilings were being shattered’’ – but only one of them did it with a foreign accent, TV host and former colleague John Campbell said during the service.
‘‘She stood out in way that was remarkable. She was a journalist through and through and her stories changed the world. She won awards during intense competition.
‘‘She really did hold people to account who deserved to be held to account. She was never unfair.
‘‘She was an extraordinary, kind reporter. She was called a pitbull all the time but she was a profoundly kind person.
‘‘Because the people she batted for didn’t have a lot of support in their lives. She was extraordinary.’’
After the service, Campbell told Stuff that everyone in the media business respected Westcott and he learnt plenty from her.
‘‘I went to 20/20 as a young, green reporter, she taught me a lot ... People loved her, everyone in this business knew she was brilliant.
‘‘But there were people who thought: ‘Who are you? You’re far too big for your boots and how dare you behave this way.’
‘‘But she always knew what she was doing was right.
‘‘I don’t recall ever thinking ‘Wow, Genevieve you’ve gone too far there.’ She had an extraordinary ability to be fair and she loved the theatre of it . . . She was a brilliant, beautiful, talented journalist.’’
Songs by Norah Jones and Leonard Cohen drifted through the chapel as Westcott was remembered as funny and personable, with a love of dancing, cross-country running and synchronised swimming.
She was always the first to offer help but the last to ask for it.
Her son, Jamie Kenward, said his mum moved to Greenmeadows in Hawke’s Bay last year to be closer to him and his family.
‘‘She had many friends who will miss her so dearly. Mum made you feel like you were the centre of the universe . . . I will always love you and strive to make you proud. I never had to share you and Dad with anyone else.
‘‘I remember lying awake some nights worrying that one day I’d have to say goodbye to you both.’’
Westcott met her Kiwi cameraman husband Ross Kenward in Canada. The couple moved to New Zealand and joined when it launched in 1989. Kenward died in 2014. The couple had one son, Jamie, and a grandchild.
During her reporting career, Westcott worked for TV3’s 60
Minutes, 20/20 and A Current Affair programmes. She also worked at Newstalk ZB and for TVNZ’s Eyewitness News programme.
Jane Dent, who worked with Westcott at TVNZ, then at Massey University, said her friend set ‘‘the gold standard of TV’’ and touched the lives of countless people.
‘‘I can’t imagine how many lives. She was an amazing, dynamic, brainy, bright, beautiful woman.’’
Former 60 Minutes reporter Paula Penfold, now with Stuff Circuit, said Westcott’s style left a lasting impact on local journalism.
‘‘Being Canadian, she had a forthrightness that New Zealand hadn’t seen before.’’
Westcott was carried from the chapel to the tune of I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons. ‘‘That’s a wrap,’’ Kenward said.