Ailsa Stewart had "so many connections to people, and a genuine interest in them too". Photo / Lucy Drake
Ailsa Stewart is being remembered as "an extraordinary individual".
The former nurse, Whanganui DHB board member and Whanganui district councillor died on August 25, aged 77.
As well as her extensive work in Whanganui, Stewart's 55-year nursing career took her to Tonga, the Solomon Islands, and Scotland.
She received the Women's Suffrage Medal in 1993 for 30 years of service to women and children, and the Queen's Service Order in 2006 for valuable voluntary service to the community.
Stewart was also a teacher and mentor for caregivers, a role she began in 2000.
Long-time friend Margaret Campion said she first met Stewart in 1988 and they had remained close friends ever since.
"She was involved with so many things over the years, and at one point I was even helping her with a sweet stall up at the Opera House," Campion said.
"That was just one of her many voluntary jobs. It's quite staggering, really.
"Because she never married, her involvement with the community has been her lifeline. She wasn't just an observer either, she's played an active role in everything she's done."
Stewart's sister, Margaret Miller, said the two remained close throughout her life.
"We had an orchard down in Nelson, and she'd always come down for a visit to see what was happening," Miller said.
"She actually flew her two cats, Lucy and Sally, up from there, after my son's cat had a litter of five kittens. We kept three and she took two.
"We'd call each other every week, and she took a great interest in all her nieces and nephews."
Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall said Stewart was "an extraordinary individual".
"She was the most regular attendee of council meetings for the 11 years or so I was there," McDouall said.
"Ailsa was a councillor herself in the 90s of course, and every year she would submit, even when she wasn't at the table anymore.
"She worked hard to shape the city and the district, and always with good humour.
"It's a sad day. I couldn't really believe the news, because Ailsa is one of those people you think will be there forever."
The Sarjeant Gallery was richer for having Stewart involved in it, the gallery's events coordinator, Raewyne Johnson, said.
"Ailsa was actively supportive of the Sarjeant and its projects, rarely ever missing an exhibition opening or other event during her years as a Whanganui district councillor.
"For the last seven years and right up until a couple of weeks prior to her recent surgery, Ailsa has been a regular presence at the gallery, volunteering with numerous projects and assisting with the hosting of events."
Stewart attended Castlecliff Primary School, Gonville Primary School, and Whanganui Girls College, and Campion said her friend remained a "loyal past pupil".
"She was also very loyal and involved with the Presbyterian Church.
"Another thing she did for years and years was help with food at model-United Nations days for schools, making sure they all had their lunches."
Most recently, Stewart had been chairing a local history group.
"She spoke there two months ago about her father, who was a sea captain and the harbourmaster at Castlecliff. It was just so interesting," Campion said.
"She's been doing all the artwork that's up throughout the hospital as well. That's been her baby, and we were invited to the unveiling of the most recent work.
"It was a wonderful day, and I kept thinking to myself 'What an amazing legacy'. I'm sure the hospital will be forever grateful for what she's done."
Campion said Zonta Whanganui, The Whanganui Alzheimers Society, the National Council of Women, and NZ Masters Games were just a few of the local organisations she had been involved with.
She also volunteered as the Whanganui DHB's archivist.
In the 100th year of Zonta International, Stewart was given one of the 100 awards for Women of Achievement.
"She 'retired' after 55 years of service, however Ailsa did not have the word 'retirement' in her vocabulary," a statement from Zonta Whanganui said.
"Here in our Zonta whānau we could always rely on Ailsa for support and she gave generously of her time and money advocating on behalf of our causes.
"She ensured that the breast cushions for mastectomy patients that Zonta ladies made were regularly donated to Whanganui hospital and the Cancer Society, and she helped initiate our emergency care bags for women admitted suddenly to hospital without the necessary hygiene and feel-good products.
"Eliminating family violence events were supported, as were our charity fundraising for groups from a wide ranging spectrum such as Birthright, Women's Refuge, antenatal and postnatal depression, Grandparents raising Grandchildren, Alzheimers and Age Concern.
"Over her life [there were] too many to list."
Rosemary Hovey worked with Stewart for three terms at the Whanganui District Council, and said Stewart popped up "here, there, and everywhere".
"She was an amazing volunteer, and involved in so many things," Hovey said.
"Ailsa just kept on going, and many of the texts I've got have said the same thing - we all thought she would go on forever.
"I guess the difficulty now is how people will pick up the things she was still in the middle of."
Whanganui's Medical Officer of Health, Patrick O'Connor, said Stewart had been in charge of the maternity unit when he began at Whanganui Hospital "many years ago".
She ran a very well organised service, O'Connor said.
"She was irrepressible, and always persevered.
"I worked with her on the District Health Board as well. She kept herself well informed and was always prepared to take on new ideas.
"If you stay in this business too long there are various cycles of change, and it is possible to get a little bit jaded by it all.
"Ailsa saw a lot of things and stayed interested throughout.
"When I first came here I was surprised to see she had a photo on the wall that was taken on my uncle's farm. She just had so many connections to people, and a genuine interest in them as well."
Campion said Stewart kept up with all her work, "right until the bitter end".
"She was one of those people who just knew everybody, and if she didn't, she knew how to find people.
"I'm going to miss her hugely. She'll leave a big gap."
McDouall said Stewart told him recently that she was named after Ailsa Craig, an island in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland).
"It dominates the landscape there, and I think Ailsa Stewart dominated the landscape here. She was always there on the skyline, just like Mt Taranaki is always there.
"When people like Ailsa, or Ed Boyd, or Wendy Pettigrew pass away I always think 'Who's going to step up?'
"These are people who are the holders of local knowledge, who volunteer their time and energy.
"They are irreplaceable, and Ailsa is a striking example of that. She was one of the great Whanganui people."
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