Ponsonby local personality, 71-year-old Valerie Gibson died on Friday 2 October late at night when her house was engulfed by flames.
Valerie was born in Hamilton and when she turned five, attended Diocesan School for Girls where her mischievous nature bucked against the trend, even encouraging a boyfriend to ride his motorbike through the school grounds. At age 21, London called where she flatted with Judith Durham of The Seekers and rubbed shoulders with the Kray brothers. She was actually employed for a time by the notorious criminals as a cashier in one of their nightclubs. Sydney was her next destination before returning like a homing pigeon to New Zealand where she bought her house in Ponsonby.
Valerie, a well-known Japanese Chin breeder, won many awards on the dog show circuit. Her camper van was a well-known sight at these events with her many darlings taking up observance of the proceedings from the windows. After she retired from showing, they remained her constant companions and she was often observed by neighbours having to round them up when they escaped into the street.
The camper van was swapped for a large station wagon which she often parked in the disabled area at New World supermarket with all nine of her pets taking up pride of place in the rear. Needless to say they attracted a lot of amused interest and requests from people wanting to buy one, but Valerie refused to part with any, explaining they were her dearest companions and rather than sleeping alone she shared her bed with all nine of her Chins.
Her enchanting little dogs deserved this special treatment because the Japanese Chin is a true aristocrat hailing from Asia, being prized as a companion for more than a thousand years. He was a popular member of Chinese and Japanese imperial courts, and his distinctive look was developed in Japan where ownership was restricted to those of royal and noble blood.
They are elegant, dainty, mild-mannered and playful. Mercifully Valerie and her dogs must have been deeply asleep when the fire broke out and smoke inhalation would have rendered them unconscious before they perished. Aspen, the sole survivor has been adopted by close friends.
After news of the disaster was broadcast, messages of condolence flooded in from all parts of New Zealand and Australia. A service was held for Valerie at Grange Manor in Mt Eden on Wednesday 7 October with all donations given to the SPCA. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS)