Tributes have poured in for television personality Maggie Tabberer after her daughter confirmed her death in a post to Instagram
Tabberer, who was 87, was a Australian TV and fashion icon, and her daughter echoed those sentiments in her post.
“This morning we lost our beautiful mother and Nanna. She was an icon in every sense of the word and we will miss her dearly, along with the rest of Australia,” she wrote.
“Rest in peace Nanna. We love you to bits forever.”
The glamorous model had various successful careers, including as a TV presenter, an editor and a fashion designer.
Known fondly as Maggie T, she was the first local model to appear on the cover of the then just-launched Australian Vogue.
She won back-to-back Gold Logies in 1970 and 1971 and in 1981 launched a plus-size clothing label, Maggie T, the same year she became fashion editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly, where she stayed for 15 years.
Tabberer remained working and in the headlines until recently, posing as the Women’s Weekly cover girl again only last year, at 86.
Gossip columnist Andrew Hornery said Tabberer was a “legend” and a “champion”.
Posting on Instagram, he said: “I’m bereft as much of Australia will be hearing the news this morning that Maggie Tabberer has died. Legend. Icon. Champion. There are not enough descriptors to truly encapsulate what she represented over a seven decade career.
“We crossed paths many times and it was always a pleasure. She enjoyed a little tittle tattle and had a wonderful sense of humour – self deprecating but always positive. What a life. Vale lovely lady.”
Fashion designer Jayson Brunsdon also took to Instagram, posting an old photo of Tabberer and saying: “Farewell Maggie Tabberer . You were an inspiration.”
Lifestyle and fashion reporter Melissa Hoyer said Tabberer was “one mighty class act of a human” and was a “huge influence in my wee career and over the years”.
“The word ‘icon’ gets thrown around too much – as we all know - but that, she truly was. Maggie had that way about her – she was compassionate and free of ego. An innately stylish woman until the end.
“An extraordinary life. Thank you Maggie. You’ll never be forgotten. Vale.”
