She’d been a bride but never a bridesmaid or a flower girl – and time wasn’t on her side. But Otahuhu resident Moira Cotman never stopped hoping. And finally the mum of six, grandma of 21, and great-grandma of 26 got her wish when she became her eldest granddaughter Robyne’s flowergirl.
That was on September 10, two days after Moira’s 90th birthday.
"It was not exhausting, it was fun," the petite woman says with a cheeky giggle.
SPRIGHTLY GAL: Flower girl Moira Cotman, 90, gives her granddaughter Robyne and son-in-law Trevor Dix “huge delight” as she leads the wedding march.
Her eldest daughter and mother-of-the-bride Betty Dix says Moira "still dances the highland fling".
"At the wedding of Robyne and Al Taafe, she skipped along ahead of Robyne and my husband Trevor with her basket of petals to scatter.
"It made for a lovely memorable wedding day for all those that attended."
Moira is a well-known Otahuhu identity, having lived there for more than 60 years, bringing up her family of three sons and three daughters with husband Jack.
One of the first to join the Middlemore Country Women’s Institute, now the Middlemore Women’s Institute, in its foundation days after the war, she’s still an active member.
Moira has spent 58 years with the institute’s Garden Circle, 25 years helping deliver Meals on Wheels and is a foundation member of the Otahuhu Historical Society.
After her own children had completed their schooling locally, she continued to help the schools, reading to and arranging flower shows for the children.
An active member of the Otahuhu Rugby League Club, Moira became one of its first female junior coaches, with a champion team for many years.
Summer sport for her also means being on the committee for the Otahuhu Athletic Club.
Heading into her 90s, Moira keeps up the pace at home and in the community.
"I still have my driver’s licence," she says.
"I still drive my Triumph 1977 automatic to pick up friends and take them to meetings." [rc]
© 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
October 6, 2009
NEW ZEALAND: Gran's a flower girl at 90
.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand / Manukau Courier / October 6, 2009
By Romy Udanga, Manukau Courier
She’d been a bride but never a bridesmaid or a flower girl – and time wasn’t on her side. But Otahuhu resident Moira Cotman never stopped hoping. And finally the mum of six, grandma of 21, and great-grandma of 26 got her wish when she became her eldest granddaughter Robyne’s flowergirl.
That was on September 10, two days after Moira’s 90th birthday.
"It was not exhausting, it was fun," the petite woman says with a cheeky giggle.
SPRIGHTLY GAL: Flower girl Moira Cotman, 90, gives her granddaughter Robyne and son-in-law Trevor Dix “huge delight” as she leads the wedding march.
Her eldest daughter and mother-of-the-bride Betty Dix says Moira "still dances the highland fling".
"At the wedding of Robyne and Al Taafe, she skipped along ahead of Robyne and my husband Trevor with her basket of petals to scatter.
"It made for a lovely memorable wedding day for all those that attended."
Moira is a well-known Otahuhu identity, having lived there for more than 60 years, bringing up her family of three sons and three daughters with husband Jack.
One of the first to join the Middlemore Country Women’s Institute, now the Middlemore Women’s Institute, in its foundation days after the war, she’s still an active member.
Moira has spent 58 years with the institute’s Garden Circle, 25 years helping deliver Meals on Wheels and is a foundation member of the Otahuhu Historical Society.
After her own children had completed their schooling locally, she continued to help the schools, reading to and arranging flower shows for the children.
An active member of the Otahuhu Rugby League Club, Moira became one of its first female junior coaches, with a champion team for many years.
Summer sport for her also means being on the committee for the Otahuhu Athletic Club.
Heading into her 90s, Moira keeps up the pace at home and in the community.
"I still have my driver’s licence," she says.
"I still drive my Triumph 1977 automatic to pick up friends and take them to meetings." [rc]
© 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
She’d been a bride but never a bridesmaid or a flower girl – and time wasn’t on her side. But Otahuhu resident Moira Cotman never stopped hoping. And finally the mum of six, grandma of 21, and great-grandma of 26 got her wish when she became her eldest granddaughter Robyne’s flowergirl.
That was on September 10, two days after Moira’s 90th birthday.
"It was not exhausting, it was fun," the petite woman says with a cheeky giggle.
SPRIGHTLY GAL: Flower girl Moira Cotman, 90, gives her granddaughter Robyne and son-in-law Trevor Dix “huge delight” as she leads the wedding march.
Her eldest daughter and mother-of-the-bride Betty Dix says Moira "still dances the highland fling".
"At the wedding of Robyne and Al Taafe, she skipped along ahead of Robyne and my husband Trevor with her basket of petals to scatter.
"It made for a lovely memorable wedding day for all those that attended."
Moira is a well-known Otahuhu identity, having lived there for more than 60 years, bringing up her family of three sons and three daughters with husband Jack.
One of the first to join the Middlemore Country Women’s Institute, now the Middlemore Women’s Institute, in its foundation days after the war, she’s still an active member.
Moira has spent 58 years with the institute’s Garden Circle, 25 years helping deliver Meals on Wheels and is a foundation member of the Otahuhu Historical Society.
After her own children had completed their schooling locally, she continued to help the schools, reading to and arranging flower shows for the children.
An active member of the Otahuhu Rugby League Club, Moira became one of its first female junior coaches, with a champion team for many years.
Summer sport for her also means being on the committee for the Otahuhu Athletic Club.
Heading into her 90s, Moira keeps up the pace at home and in the community.
"I still have my driver’s licence," she says.
"I still drive my Triumph 1977 automatic to pick up friends and take them to meetings." [rc]
© 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
