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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Made every second count
OBITUARY LOUISE SCOTT-GALLAGHER Journalist "She was the glue that held us all together with her life of love, laughter and family. "We will always be our family of three, Louise will never be forgotten, she lives in Lily and watches over her." It is fitting that the story of Louise Scott-Gallagher's life should start with the words her husband, Craig Gallagher, shared during the service to celebrate her life. Certainly neither she nor anyone who knew her ever believed the day would come so soon that her life would need to be celebrated, so characteristically resolute and unswayed was she from the belief that she would beat cancer. As her friend Alison Raye said, in words read out at the celebration - no matter the challenges she faced, Louise's determination to pursue her dreams and live her life on her own terms was unwavering. Louise was born on February 3, 1981, in Omagh, Northern Ireland. She followed two sisters, Andrea and Diane, and was herself followed by her brother Bob. In 1984, when Louise was 3 years old, her mother Anne died from breast cancer, leaving her father Andrew to raise the four children with the help of extended family, on the Scott farm near Gillygooley in County Tyrone. An incredibly tight bond with her family would be maintained through Louise's life. It was a life with not a minute wasted. From a small child, Louise was busy - learning to cook and play music, participating in church, family and community activities, youth groups, Girls' Brigade and general socialising took up her time. She did well at school, attending Omagh High School, where school discos became a term highlight, complete with carefully planned outfits and teenage antics with her sisters and brother, followed by two years at Omagh Academy. Music was always a big part of her life - there were piano, bagpipes and cornet lessons and she spent hours dancing and singing to records, creating routines, talking with her sister Diane late into the night, listening to Atlantic 252 and recording the Sunday night Top 10 charts so she could play her favourite New Kids On The Block songs over and over. She would remain a life-long lover of parties and banter; as her friend Josie Spillane said at her celebration, Louise was "always the first on the dance floor, and often the last one home". A collector of friends around the world, she had a gift for bringing people together. Her exceptional empathy meant she was often the first to provide comfort and care at times of need. A prolific cook, she was a "feeder - that's how she showed love". Many of the people she collected were compelled to join in following Louise's Gillygooley traditions, whether it was sharing a home-made morsel packed in Tupperware or the full Gillygooley Christmas dinner experience, featuring prawn cocktail, turkey and wheaten bread. In 1998 when she was 17 and working at a cafe, Louise was badly hurt in the deadly Omagh bombing. This moment in her life affected her deeply, she lost friends in the bombing, but refused to be defined by it and decided to move to Coleraine in Northern Ireland to study at the University of Ulster. She completed her bachelor of arts degree in English and history in 2002. In 2003, she went to Japan to teach English and there met her good friend Sarah Taylor, who would, in time, be the catalyst for Louise's first trip to New Zealand. Louise returned to Northern Ireland from Japan in 2005, well-versed in socialising, with many new friends added to her collection, and she completed a journalism course, which was to become her passion and career. She started as a journalist at the Tyrone Constitution , later moving to the Dungannon Courier . A stint after that as the press officer with the Ulster Unionist Party in Belfast spoke to a deep personal and familial connection to politics, which Louise spoke about usually only with those who she felt "got" Northern Ireland. Some people felt that her ability to take a position and argue it meant she quite possibly could have had a career in politics herself. In 2011 she moved to England to work in public relations at the Yorkshire Building Society. Sadly, tragedy was to strike again, as Louise's father, whom she was exceptionally close to, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and died in 2013. Louise decided to go travelling before arriving in Queenstown in 2014. Her northern Irish charm landed her a job at popular restaurant and bar Gantleys, before signing on that year as a reporter with local weekly newspaper, Mountain Scene . In late 2017 she interviewed local event manager Craig Gallagher for a story. He was to become the love of her life and they quickly became inseparable. They wanted the same things - to start a family, travel, develop their careers and spend quality time with friends, and their home became the central location for gatherings and impressive Christmas parties. In early 2018 Louise became the regional editor for the Otago Daily Times , in Dunedin, commuting from Queenstown. She gained New Zealand residency in 2020 and late that year took a role as a senior communications adviser for the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, based in Queenstown. She was back home. Over the years Louise had become an involved and much-loved actual and special aunt to many children, including eight nieces and nephews. After several years trying for her own longed-for child, she found out she was pregnant following IVF treatment, in February 2023. A few months later, she felt a lump in her breast. It was cancer and she underwent a single mastectomy in June. A treasured daughter, Lily, was born healthy in September 2023, at 32 weeks. Wanting her daughter to have her own memories of her mum, Louise did everything she could to fight the cancer that was taking over her body, never letting it take over her mind or her determination. While undergoing multiple rounds of different chemotherapy treatments she continued cooking, cleaning and caring for Lily and Craig, spending as much time as possible with friends and family, travelling and working, and organised and attended parties, events, coffees, lunches and dinners until only weeks before she died. On May 7 this year, she received the news the chemotherapy had not worked. She and Craig married on May 19 and she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, the following night. She was 44 and she made every second count. - Contributed
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Obituary: made every second count
LOUISE SCOTT-GALLAGHER "She was the glue that held us all together with her life of love, laughter and family. We will always be our family of three, Louise will never be forgotten, she lives in Lily and watches over her." It is fitting that the story of Louise Scott-Gallagher's life should start with the words her husband, Craig Gallagher, shared during the service to celebrate her life. Certainly neither she nor anyone who knew her ever believed the day would come so soon that her life would need to be celebrated, so characteristically resolute and unswayed was she from the belief that she would beat cancer. As her friend Alison Raye said, in words read out at the celebration — no matter the challenges she faced, Louise's determination to pursue her dreams and live her life on her own terms was unwavering. Louise was born on February 3, 1981, in Omagh, Northern Ireland. She followed two sisters, Andrea and Diane, and was herself followed by her brother Bob. In 1984, when Louise was 3 years old, her mother Anne died from breast cancer, leaving her father Andrew to raise the four children with the help of extended family, on the Scott farm near Gillygooley in County Tyrone. An incredibly tight bond with her family would be maintained through Louise's life. It was a life with not a minute wasted. From a small child, Louise was busy — learning to cook and play music, participating in church, family and community activities, youth groups, Girls' Brigade and general socialising took up her time. She did well at school, attending Omagh High School, where school discos became a term highlight, complete with carefully planned outfits and teenage antics with her sisters and brother, followed by two years at Omagh Academy. Music was always a big part of her life — there were piano, bagpipes and cornet lessons and she spent hours dancing and singing to records, creating routines, talking with her sister Diane late into the night, listening to Atlantic 252 and recording the Sunday night Top 10 charts so she could play her favourite New Kids On The Block songs over and over. She would remain a life-long lover of parties and banter; as her friend Josie Spillane said at her celebration, Louise was "always the first on the dance floor, and often the last one home". A collector of friends around the world, she had a gift for bringing people together. Her exceptional empathy meant she was often the first to provide comfort and care at times of need. A prolific cook, she was a "feeder — that's how she showed love". Many of the people she collected were compelled to join in following Louise's Gillygooley traditions, whether it was sharing a home-made morsel packed in Tupperware or the full Gillygooley Christmas dinner experience, featuring prawn cocktail, turkey and wheaten bread. In 1998 when she was 17 and working at a cafe, Louise was badly hurt in the deadly Omagh bombing. This moment in her life affected her deeply, she lost friends in the bombing, but refused to be defined by it and decided to move to Coleraine in Northern Ireland to study at the University of Ulster. She completed her bachelor of arts degree in English and history in 2002. In 2003, she went to Japan to teach English and there met her good friend Sarah Taylor, who would, in time, be the catalyst for Louise's first trip to New Zealand. Louise returned to Northern Ireland from Japan in 2005, well-versed in socialising, with many new friends added to her collection, and she completed a journalism course, which was to become her passion and career. She started as a journalist at the Tyrone Constitution , later moving to the Dungannon Courier . A stint after that as the press officer with the Ulster Unionist Party in Belfast spoke to a deep personal and familial connection to politics, which Louise spoke about usually only with those who she felt "got" Northern Ireland. Some people felt that her ability to take a position and argue it meant she quite possibly could have had a career in politics herself. In 2011 she moved to England to work in public relations at the Yorkshire Building Society. Sadly, tragedy was to strike again, as Louise's father, whom she was exceptionally close to, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and died in 2013. Louise decided to go travelling before arriving in Queenstown in 2014. Her northern Irish charm landed her a job at popular restaurant and bar Gantleys, before signing on that year as a reporter with local weekly newspaper, Mountain Scene . In late 2017 she interviewed local event manager Craig Gallagher for a story. He was to become the love of her life and they quickly became inseparable. They wanted the same things — to start a family, travel, develop their careers and spend quality time with friends, and their home became the central location for gatherings and impressive Christmas parties. In early 2018 Louise became the regional editor for the Otago Daily Times , in Dunedin, commuting from Queenstown. She gained New Zealand residency in 2020 and late that year took a role as a senior communications adviser for the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, based in Queenstown. She was back home. Over the years Louise had become an involved and much-loved actual and special aunt to many children, including eight nieces and nephews. After several years trying for her own longed-for child, she found out she was pregnant following IVF treatment, in February 2023. A few months later, she felt a lump in her breast. It was cancer and she underwent a single mastectomy in June. A treasured daughter, Lily, was born healthy in September 2023, at 32 weeks. Wanting her daughter to have her own memories of her mum, Louise did everything she could to fight the cancer that was taking over her body, never letting it take over her mind or her determination. While undergoing multiple rounds of different chemotherapy treatments she continued cooking, cleaning and caring for Lily and Craig, spending as much time as possible with friends and family, travelling and working, and organised and attended parties, events, coffees, lunches and dinners until only weeks before she died. On May 7 this year, she received the news the chemotherapy had not worked. She and Craig married on May 19 and she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, the following night. She was 44 and she made every second count. — Contributed
New Paper
23-05-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Girls' Brigade Singapore to grant 5,000 residents' wishes, from home appliances to school supplies
Madam Noorashikin Ahamed, 34, can now prepare healthier meals for her husband, who has asthma that has affected his brain function, using an air fryer she received on May 22. "My husband is on a strict diet. (With this air fryer), I can now cook air-fried chicken meat or fish. No need to add pan-fried oil, so his meals are healthier," said the homemaker, whose wish was granted by the Girls' Brigade Singapore (GBS). Other wishes fulfilled as part of a project to support vulnerable Singaporeans included a speed agility training set for 12-year-old Haiyul Qhayyum Abdullah from Cantonment Primary School. "I have wanted a speed agility ladder training set for a very long time," said the Primary 6 pupil. "I will try to lend this stuff to my friend to train in football together." Haiyul and Madam Noorashikin are among 5,000 residents whose wishes are being fulfilled between May 22 and July 31 as part of the fifth and largest edition of GBS' annual Girls' Brigade Friend in Deed project. Under the project, which started in 2021, beneficiaries can ask for any item within a $60 budget. Wishes granted in the past included bedsheets and home appliances such as electric kettles; health and wellness items like mobility aids and blood pressure monitors; and school supplies and toys for children. This is the first year the project is partnering with the Ministry of Social and Family Development's social service offices, which helped to identify more beneficiaries. GBS president Sharon Liat said: "This project is close to our hearts because it gives us a chance to know Singaporeans from all walks of life. We love listening to their stories and giving them a chance to wish for something that they would really want or need." At the launch of the 2025 edition of the project on May 22, 40 households in the Jalan Kukoh neighbourhood were the first to receive their wishes, distributed by 43 Girls' Brigade members and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, and Culture, Community and Youth. Girls' Brigade Singapore president Sharon Liat and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, flag off deliveries to beneficiaries on May 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI "As the social issues we face grow increasingly complex, community partners such as Girls' Brigade play a key role in leveraging networks to galvanise resources to uplift families and individuals who need an additional helping hand," said Mr Chua. "This includes ComLink+ families, who face additional challenges and often have to stretch limited resources to meet various needs," he said, noting that nearly 2,700 beneficiaries under the Girls' Brigade Friend in Deed project are in ComLink+, up from 400 in 2024. Under the ComLink+ scheme, low-income households get financial incentives and other support if they take steps to improve their lives, such as holding stable jobs with CPF contributions. "I hope that more community and corporate organisations will be part of efforts such as this so that together we can ensure that no one is left behind as Singapore progresses," said Mr Chua, who will be sworn in as Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law on May 23. He will retain his social and family development portfolio but will relinquish his role in community, culture and youth. Corporal Pan Ying En (left), and Corporal Chloe Wang at The Girls' Brigade launch of the GB Friend in Deed Project 2025 at Jalan Kukoh on May 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Secondary 3 students Pan Ying En and Chloe Wang, both 15, from Raffles Girls' School (Secondary), said they felt heartened by the warm reception from beneficiaries. "When we went to deliver the gifts, I saw how they smiled a lot. They were really welcoming and tried to ask us to go in (to their homes) and talk to them," said Ying En. GBS has fulfilled the wishes of more than 12,500 beneficiaries to date. Members of the public who wish to adopt or deliver wishes to beneficiaries may do so till July 31. For more information, visit
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Girls' Brigade Singapore to grant 5,000 residents' wishes, from home appliances to school supplies
(From left) Students Ferrina Phuah Ru Xu and Nakshatra Yogaraja alongside other Girls' Brigade members deliver wish items to beneficiaries at Jalan Kukoh on May 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE - Madam Noorashikin Binte Ahamed, 34, can now prepare healthier meals for her husband, who has asthma which has affected his brain function, using an air fryer she was given on May 22. 'My husband is on a strict diet. (With this air fryer), I can now cook air fried chicken meat or fish. No need to add pan fried oil, so his meals are healthier,' said the homemaker whose wish was granted by The Girls' Brigade Singapore (GBS). Other wishes fulfilled as part of a project to support vulnerable Singaporeans include a speed agility training set for 12-year-old Haiyul Qhayyum Bin Abdullah from Cantonment Primary School. 'I have been wanting a speed agility ladder training set for a very long time,' said the Primary 6 pupil. 'I will try to lend this stuff to my friend to train in football together.' Haiyul and Madam Noorashikin are among 5,000 residents whose wishes will be fulfilled between May 22 and July 31 as part of the fifth and largest edition of GBS's annual Girls' Brigade Friend in Deed project. Under the project, which started in 2021, beneficiaries can ask for any item within a $60 budget. Wishes granted in the past include home appliances such as electric kettles and bedsheets; health and wellness items like mobility aids and blood pressure monitors; and school supplies and toys for children. This is the first year that the project partnered the Ministry of Social and Family Development's social service offices, which helped to identify more beneficiaries. Ms Sharon Liat, president of The Girls' Brigade Singapore, said: 'This project is close to our hearts because it gives us a chance to know Singaporeans from all walks of life. We love listening to their stories and giving each one a chance to wish for something which they'd really want or need.' At the 2025 edition of the project's launch on May 22, 40 households in the Jalan Kukoh neighbourhood were first to receive their wishes, distributed by 43 Girls' Brigade members and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development. The Girls' Brigade Singapore President Sharon Liat and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development Eric Chua flag off deliveries to beneficiaries on May 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI 'As social issues we face grow increasingly complex, community partners such as Girls Brigade play a key role in leveraging networks to galvanise resources to uplift families and individuals who need an additional helping hand,' said Mr Chua, who will be sworn in on May 23 as Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law. 'This includes ComLink+ families, who face additional challenges and often have to stretch limited resources to meet various needs,' he said, noting that nearly 2,700 beneficiaries under the Girls' Brigade Friend in Deed project are on ComLink+, up from 400 in 2024. Under the ComLink+ scheme, low-income households get financial incentives and other support if they take steps to improve their lives, such as holding stable jobs with CPF contributions. 'I hope that more community and corporate organisations will be part of efforts such as this, so that together, we can ensure that no one is left behind as Singapore progresses,' said Mr Chua, who will continue in his current social and family development portfolio, and relinquish his role in community, culture and youth. Corporal Pan Ying En (left), and Corporal Chloe Wang at The Girls' Brigade launch of the GB Friend in Deed Project 2025 at Jalan Kukoh on May 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Secondary 3 students Pan Ying En and Chloe Wang, both 15, from Raffles' Girls School (Secondary), said they felt heartened by the warm reception from beneficiaries as they delivered the gifts. 'When we went to deliver the gifts, I always saw how they smiled a lot. They were really welcoming and tried to ask us to go in and talk to them,' said Ying En. GBS has fulfilled the wishes of more than 12,500 beneficiaries to date. Members of the public who wish to adopt or deliver wishes to beneficiaries may do so till July 31. For more information, visit Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
