Late Aussie icon Maggie Tabberer remembered for life lessons, generosity and contributions to the fashion industry

“Be positive rather than negative, always wear clean underwear in case you get run over, I look better with my hair up, and don’t spit in the gutter.” Those are the four lessons Maggie Tabberer’s daughter Brooke reflected upon at the memorial service for the fashion icon held at the Randwick Ritz on Monday. It was one in a sea of moving tributes for the woman, who was also considered a pioneer for Australia’s working women. Tabberer died aged 87 in December last year and is succeeded by her two daughters and grandson. Ms Tabberer was the fashion editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly for 15 years and also wrote a fashion column for the Daily Mirror for 16 years. She ventured into the realm of television as a panellist on Beauty and the Beast, and the host of her eponymous chat show, Maggie. She also designed her own fashion label, Maggie T. These achievements gained Ms Tabberer two Gold Logies, a painting of herself in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, an AM award, and a place on the bestseller list. “She had such a presence, even for those who didn’t know that she was a national treasure in Australia”, Tabberer’s second daughter Amanda Tabberer recounted on Monday. “Her passing has left a huge hole in so many hearts around Australia, but it has left a canyon in ours. She was generous, funny, positive and above all - she was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Amanda said. Described as the apple of Ms Tabberer’s eye, her grandson Marco Bella said: “All the love she received from fans and friends was given back two-fold to those close to her and we will always cherish what a marvellous person she was.” “I guess Nanna’s love for me came from our love for quipping remarks as well as a mutual understanding and respect for one another, and a love for the finer things in life.” Tabberer, who was known to refer to all those around her as “darling”, leaves an undisputed legacy with many describing her as an “icon” and a “remarkable Australian woman.” “In the case of Maggie Tabberer AM, she is every adjective you could ever come up with. She is a legend, she is an icon and a beautiful person,” journalist Mike Munro said. Long-time friend of Ms Tabberer, Marcia Hines, echoed this sentiment. “Sometimes in the English language you try and find something, you try and find a description of someone [but] words fail. That’s Maggie,” she said. Ms Hines remembered her friend as a “very classy woman”, who represented what women were allowed to be “back in the day and even now”. The Australian singer performed a touching acapella of Amazing Grace at the service. Former parliamentary Speaker Bronwyn Bishop also attended the memorial. Ms Bishop said she had known Ms Tabberer for “a long, long time” and attended the celebrations “to pay respects and say thank you for a lovely life and to her daughters to say ‘your mum was really appreciated’”. When asked about the legacy Tabberer will leave, Ms Bishop said: “That women could achieve in what was a new medium at the time - and she was a pioneer in the field.” Media personality Deborah Hutton met the “trailblazer with a brilliant career”, in the 1980s, and said it was “a truly humbling experience to be in her orbit for all those years”. For journalist Leo Schofield, it was an honour to know Ms Taberrer, who he met in the 1960s. Jonathan Ward knew Tabberer professionally and also had the opportunity to be part of her extended family. “She meant probably everything to me... she was the most beautiful woman with he most compassionate way what she did with her life and I think she’s an inspiration to us all.” “Some people come into your life for a reason and some people stick - and she really stuck with many of us and she’s going to be sadly missed, but always remembered.” Friends of Tabberer since they were about 12 years of age, Faye Selby, Beverley Boas and Maxine Shmueli described her as “a real lady who taught us how to be”. “We’ve always admired Maggie for who she is, regardless,” Selby said. Ms Tabberer had a profound impact on those closest to her, as well as leaving everlasting contributions to the fashion and television industry.