Margaret’s final goodbye
Hundreds filled Hamilton’s Chapel of Christ the King for the funeral of city councillor and former Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth.
Forsyth, 59, who was serving her third term as a Hamilton City councillor, was farewelled on Saturday in a silver fern covered casket after she died on May 4 from cancer.
Forsyth won two world titles during her netball career and became known for her shooting circle combination with Margharet Matenga. Following her sporting career and prior to becoming a councillor, she also worked as a policewoman.
Former teammate Rhonda Wilcox fought back tears during her eulogy.
‘‘Some people enter your life, make an impression and leave an indelible mark that lasts a lifetime. Margaret Forsyth was one such person,’’ she said.
Wilcox described her sportsmanship as ‘‘extraordinary’’.
‘‘Whilst a 17-year-old seventh former at Hillcrest High School she made her Silver Fern debut in 1979,’’ she said. ‘‘[She was a] teenage netball sensation who went on to become a legendary Silver Fern.’’
She recalled the unique unit she formed with Matenga. ‘‘Margharet M would glide around the circle with those long elastic arms whilst our Margaret moved with power and grace,’’ she said.
‘‘A ball was never deemed out of court until it hit the ground, the opposition was often preparing to throw the ball in when Marge would appear in a horizontal angle and flick it to Margaret who would calming slot the goal whilst the opposition were still pondering what the s..t just happened. They had a strong invisible thread between them which was inspiring on court and mischievous off.’’
Forsyth’s mischievousness was something that featured throughout the eulogies.
Fellow councillor and celebrant Mark Bunting recalled her cheeky sense of humour.
‘‘[In 2020] we all got to know Zoom and Margaret and I would just race to text each other a friendly good morning. She was competitive with everything, and then we would proceed to try and make each other laugh and smile during those meetings,’’ he said.
‘‘It was in these private text moments that I really got to know Margaret’s strong moral compass and her devilish sense of humour.
‘‘Sometimes after some pretty inappropriate text comments you could see her face light up with this huge Margaret smile.
‘‘I kind of hope my phone is in there with her because if it falls into the wrong hands my political career is shot.
‘‘She was and always will be a cornerstone of this community.’’
Mayor Paula Southgate said Forsyth’s legacy would live on.
‘‘She became the chair of our environment committee, and she really embraced being a champion for a greener city,’’ she said.
‘‘Just this week and partly from Margaret’s advocacy it was poignant that the council agreed to make its biggest investment ever in our wonderful gully network, that was Margaret’s influence.
‘‘Just weeks ago our council [also] adopted some crucial environmental principles which will forevermore guide our decision-making... to make sure the environmental impacts of any decisions we make are front and centre, that was Margaret’s influence.
‘‘As chair of the committee she oversaw a ‘nature in the city’ strategy which will have a huge impact on biodiversity. She also oversaw the development of the council’s plan.’’
first climate action
Childhood friend Lesley Patterson said Forsyth began showing signs of the athletic star she’d become from a very young age and described her as a ‘‘true all-rounder’’.
‘‘Margaret and I attended Knighton Normal School. Whilst she was a very clever child she also had a great love of play and this was the beginning of her amazing athleticism. She was an absolute gun at a game called elastics,’’ she said.
‘‘By the time we got to Hillcrest
‘‘[She was a] teenage netball sensation who went on to become a legendary Silver Fern.’’
Former teammate
High School Margaret had quite a reputation as a stunning young sportswoman.
‘‘She had an incredibly quick wit, was an extremely solid scholar...she was hugely musical, and she was just a really warm and very funny person.
‘‘Everyone loved her, and it was just wonderful to be her friend.’’
The service concluded with tributes from her three sons Thomas, Jonathan and Lucien Nabbs before a haka was performed as her coffin was removed from the chapel.