Former mayoress farewelled

FORMER City of Berwick mayoress Sue Smith was farewelled at St Andrews Church, Berwick, on Saturday 7 January after losing a battle with cancer.
She became a loved and respected mayoress when she moved into public life after her husband Trevor became a councillor for the former City of Berwick and was the mayor for 1992-93.
Friends and family were aware that this was a major challenge for Sue who was breaking into a totally new realm in her life.
Eulogist Reverend Ineke Gyles said Sue was born at the Winston Private Hospital, East Malvern, to Alan and Dorothy Marshall and attended Oakleigh Primary School and Waverley High School.
“She began work at Portman’s in Chadstone while waiting for a place to train as a mothercraft nurse at St Gabriel’s Children’s home at Balwyn,” Ms Gyles said.
Her work was synonymous of her personality that was built on caring.
The Rev Gyles said her brother Barry in 1971 brought home a stranger and from that moment there was no doubt that she had met her life partner.
She said that while they were ice-skating their hands touched for the first time and their future was set.
“They were married only four days before Trevor was sent to Puckapunyal for his national service training.
“This meant four lonely weeks for the couple before Trevor was allowed a few hours’ leave one Sunday afternoon. That seemed an eternity for a couple so much in love.
“Their first home was a rented room in a private residence at Liverpool, NSW, but to them was equivalent to a Toorak mansion.”
Trevor served in the army at Seymour and during that time the couple created their family unit with Angela and Nigel.
Sue often joined Trevor with the children for sports days and became a highly skilled archer.
The Rev Gyles said that during a coaching clinic at Frankston she came under the gaze of the Australian Olympic archery coach, Hans Wright.
“Never one to talk about herself there was a moment of sheer delight when she managed to “Robin Hood” one of Australia’s leading archers from 60 metres,” he said. “This was a million to one shot, but it put a grin on her face and a twinkle in her eye.
“Sue became a member of the Victorian Archery Squad and trained hard to qualify for the Moscow Olympics.
“We will never know where this would have led her because her mother at that time passed away and Sue withdrew from archery.
“Two special moments in her life came when grandson Jack and granddaughter Nanny Sue were born.
“Most will recall her role as mayoress during which time she displayed warmth, composure and elegance that has seldom been matched.