Waihi Icon Shirley Spurr Sent Off In Style

Posted by Gold FM on 31/01/2012

The good, the bad and the ugly all featured in our community today. The very UGLY was the theft of food and drink intended for Shirley Spurr's funeral today (from the Waihi Memorial Hall overnight). And the breaking into, tagging and theft, that occured at Koru Florist and Gallery as well, was just plain BAD.

But then the GOOD people of Waihi rallied to support the Spurr family and offered food, money and their help to make sure Shirley's funeral ran without a hitch.
St Joseph's Church over-flowed with people wanting to pay their respects to Shirley and her family.

A karanga and then a rousing haka broke out as she was brought out of the church and placed into the hearse.

She was taken on a drive through the main street and stopped outside "Julie Anne Fashions" ( her shop) for a few moments, before being taken to the Waihi Community Marae.

The Ngati Waihi people who gathered at the Marae expressed their aroha and paid their respects to her and her family with karanga, korero, waiata and haka. For years she'd been a driving force in helping to establish the modern Marae that Waihi can be very proud of. She was loved for the straight up, no nonsense lady that she was and she'd have been proud of her community today.

Thanks for the memories Shirley. Moe mai.

Members of the Waihi Community Marae performing a haka for Shirley Spurr before she left the Marae for the last time today.