Sally THORBURN Obituary

Sally welcomed me into Emerging Artists Trust with open arms. She saw potential in everyone and gave me, as well as others, permission to pursue our crazy and almost impossible dreams. Thank-you, Sally

Dear Sally, you will be missed

So sorry to miss the service for Sally today. Andrew and I are sick. We are sending our love to family and thinking of our fond memories of Sally at this time. Arohanui, Sharon Boyd

As an 18-year-old, Sally was a huge influence on me when I met her. She was so cool and worldly and had amazing parties and introduced you to interesting people and always had an interest in people of all ages.
She was talented, determined and sophisticated. An amazing networker, she always initiated thought provoking conversations, and built a community of like-minded people around her. Fun, vivacious and charming.
RIP Sally you shall be missed.
Condolences to Mark and to your family.

Sally and I met at VUW and studied together and many BBQ's and dinners and I would join some of her Film Festival bookings and also shows and shows and shows.

Sally I loved our critiques of things, challenging each other, encouraging each other and always able to have a joke, a laugh and wry exchange. You made things happen with your elegant and persistent energy and your love of bringing people together. Moe mai ra e hoa.

Such a shock to hear that our beautiful Sally is gone. Her kindness and support helped me become a member of the arts community in New Zealand when I had only been here a short time. She welcomed me into the writing community and became a mentor and guide without whom I would have missed many wonderful experiences here, and I'll always be grateful. I loved her sense of humour and her warmth and I will miss just knowing that she is there. Thank you from the heart, Sally, go well.

When I moved to Wellington in 2016, Sal was one of the first people I met. To my delight, much of her creative energy was engaged in connecting the right people with each other, and.zing! The most amazing things would happen. She was a bit of an alchemist in that way; she always knew who would go together properly and who might make great work together. But her responsibility never ended there. She was also someone who created and held space for creative connections to flourish and grow. My Summer Shakespeare experiences in particular come to mind.

She played an enormous part in my own development as an artist in Wellington, and she gave me tireless advocacy, staunch friendship, and loving support. She always had my back. She always had my best interests in mind. She always wanted what was best for the people she loved. And I really appreciate her for that.

Dear Sal, I really, REALLY miss you. I can’t believe that you are gone. I wishtoo many things.

A soft `tap tap´ on my ajar office door. I turned, and there was that gentle generous smile of beautiful Sal...and then it wasn´t there. Too hard to believe. Such a warm, kind and caring soul, sometimes quirky, always delightful. Whether sharing analyses of theatre productions in the foyer, anecdotes, issues, volunteering - sometimes with Vere, EAT selection panel decision-making in her apartment, with its stunning panoramic sweeping view of the harbour and city through to the child-like gleeful gasps at the New Year´s Eve fireworks, I loved Sal´s company. Her contributions to Theatreview were capped by obtaining the Te Reo component to its name. I will treasure her gifts, intangible and tangible, sometimes given for a celebration, at other times for no reason...and yet every reason. Your 60th birthday present is still on my desk...awaiting your return... Loving thoughts always, xoxDawnxox

Sally had a lifelong interest in and involvement with most of the arts. But the bulk of her professional career was dedicated to fostering theatre and the visual arts, especially the former. She worked assiduously and over a long period for such initiatives as Summer Shakespeare and the Emerging Artists Trust. For Sally, involvement with these initiatives was more than a job that could be confined to allocated hours. She lived her roles across the duration of the day, week, month, and year, unfailingly attending numerous performances, events, and meetings at various venues.
I had the pleasure of accompanying Sally to many of these events and being in her company was always stimulating and invariably lifted the spirits. She was simply good company.
It is hard to accept that someone so vivacious and full of energy is no longer with us. RIP Sal, you will be greatly missed. Condolences to Mark and the Thorburn whanau.

Sally's welcoming smile and shining eyes always lifted our spirits, whether she was greeting us as producer of Summer Shakespeare or sharing an opening night event somewhere. I valued her commitment, passion and advocacy for the arts. Bette Cosgrove's message below says it all.

Dear dear precious Sally, shining special person. Go well, my dear. My warm thoughts to her whanau in your grief.

Dear Sally has gone.
Such sadness.
She was a loving friend to many.

Sally was the "Free Spirit"of our family, a most wonderful human and we are devastated. Condolences and much love from Queensland.....Fly free Sally!!

Sally gave me one of my first opportunities when moving into the Arts and film world. She was kind to me which was extremely empowering. I am grateful for the impact Sally had on my life. Thoughts and prayers to Sally´s friends and family.

The saddest of news. I have wonderful memories of the fun we had at school and later A wonderful person to all. Condolences to her family. She will be missed by all Rest in peace Sally. Todd barker

What shocking and sad news... thinking of you Mark, and your family - and all who knew and loved her. TP x

My heartfelt condolences to the Thorburn family. In the brief time I knew Sally back in the 1980s she had a profound impact on me. We shared a love of art and Sally introduced me to the optical illusion artist such as Vasarelli. We had a lot of fun together. Sally was a fun loving and beautiful soul. She will be missed.
Regards.
Rob Stephenson.

I studied with Sally in what seems like not so long ago but actually 30 years has passed since we first both started our photography course based in Hanson St, Newtown.
Sally was always curious, considered and a kind and positive classmate to be around.
I was genuinely saddened to hear of Sally's death and my caring thoughts are with Sally's family and those closest to her.

Oh Sal. I have no words. One of a kind and kindness personified. Love to your dear mum and whanau. Sandra x

So very sad our Sal gone!!!
far to soon in an exotic place also, dearest Sal always original, such a caring, loyal and devoted friend to many. So much kindness and special loving care to Ron. We are in shock Sal so sudden. Much love to whanau and healing. Bless you Sallyxxxx love Leigh & Bruce, Ron and Taranaki maunga xxx

I knew Sally at high school and afterwards , she was a lovely dynamic woman

We are extremely shocked and saddened to hear that Sally has passed.
The Wellington performinh arts community has lost an amazing advocate and supporter of young artists.
Sally sat on our Board at Theatreview for many years, and her legacy is community connection and work she put in to enable the gifting of our te reo name this year, which was her final project for Theatreview, before she sadly resigned from our Board.

We are so grateful for her care and support, lending us her expertise and experience from her decades of theatre mahi in Wellington.

Our thoughts are with her whanau and beloved friends.
Many who worked alongside her at Emerging Artists Trust or Summer Shakespeare Trust.

Moe mai ra moe mai ra.

Bette Cosgrove
Chair Theatreview Trust

Sally and I worked together on many Summer Shakespeare productions, prior to Covid. I was in Front of House, and hit the ground running under Sally's knowledgeable eye. Rest in peace Sally. Condolences to your whanau and friends.

Your friendship meant the world to me. I will cherish our time together., you are forever in my heart. ♥

I was really lucky to know Sally, she was a passionate, tireless advocator for artists in Wellington and she was constantly looking at how she could help inspiring artists. A huge supporter of the arts, she was at every play, exhibition, going to dozens of movies in the Film Festival. But more than that, Sally had a big heart and was a dear friend, she once did one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me, which just speaks to what a caring, generous person she was. Wellington has lost a special part of it's community, so many people got their first chance to reach for their dreams because of her. Sally, travel well, lots of love, Gavin, Argelia and Harry

Shocked at the news. A dedicated, if occasionally misunderstood, lover, advocate and passionate supporter of the Arts. RIP

Arohamai. Very sad to hear this news about Sally. My thoughts are with her whanau. Arohanui