Mourners remember 'such a girly girl'

Alysha Webster

Alysha Webster's friends surrounded her small white coffin with pink balloons, flowers and butterfly decorations yesterday in memory of the girl who loved "everything beautiful".

More than 300 people were at the funeral for the 7-year-old girl from Whenuakite, on the Coromandel, killed by a shark during a family holiday in Vanuatu last Wednesday.

The mourners, including many of the 130 pupils from Alysha's school, packed the Cooks Beach Community Hall, spilling out onto the balcony and lawn and listening to tributes on speakers set up outside.

Alysha's grandfather, Brian Webster, said he did not wish to dwell on her death, but to remember his granddaughter as she was.

He said Alysha had been very excited about the sailing holiday to Vanuatu, waking her parents at 4am the day they left because she was so eager to go.

"I'm so sorry Alysha," he said, weeping, at the end of his speech.

Alysha's maternal grandmother said Alysha was independent and full of personality. She said Alysha loved butterflies and rainbows and was "such a girly girl".

"Alysha, you wanted everything in your short life to be beautiful," she said.

Alysha's sister, 9-year-old Jessica, gave a tribute to her "dearest sister".

"She was everything to me," she said. Alysha's parents, Grant and Sheree Webster, did not speak, but held a framed photograph of their daughter.

Alysha's teacher, Barbara Harvey, asked everyone at the funeral to join Alysha's Room 3 classmates in singing I Can See Clearly Now.

Several of Alysha's young friends also spoke, recalling her pretty face and great personality. One girl remembered giving Alysha a makeover. "I made you a rock star and it suited you."

The Hungry Caterpillar, a story about a caterpillar who turns into a beautiful butterfly, was read near the end of the service.