Koroit loses iconic figure

In the early hours of Friday Mrs Fiorini-Lowell passed away aged 94.

Known by many as the Queen of Koroit, Mrs Fiorini-Lowell was born to the famous Bourke family.

Her parents, Eddie and Mary, owned the Koroit Hotel, where young Mary was born.

This hotel is still in operation today and is known as Mickey Bourke's.

This title comes from Mrs Fiorini-Lowell's brother, the late Mickey Bourke, who took on the hotel after his father.

Wendy and Bruce Murley have owned and operated the hotel since 2000 and became close friends with Mrs Fiorini-Lowell.

Mrs Murley said her friend would not be forgotten by the people of Koroit.

"Everyone loved Mary, she was certainly a big part of Koroit," Mrs Murley said.

"She was very proud of the hotel and we were very lucky to become close to her, she was part of our extended family.

"Whenever she would walk into the hotel she would look around and check out who was there."

While Koroit was home for Mrs Fiorini-Lowell, she also spread her wings far and wide, making a name for herself as an actress on the global stage.

She travelled extensively in Europe and was the English voice for Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida.

She was also an author, with her book, Poems from the Holy Land, published in 1980.

Her love of poetry and Koroit collided early this century when Mrs Fiorini-Lowell penned the poem The Humble Spud.

The poem has become an unofficial Koroit anthem and was performed by Mrs Fiorini-Lowell to a national audience on the Koroit episode of the ABC TV Back Roads program in January.

Mrs Fiorini-Lowell's standing as the Queen of Koroit got a public airing annually when she was a featured guest in the Koroit Irish Festival's street procession.

Koroit Irish Festival president Adele MacDonald said Mrs Fiorini-Lowell's presence would leave a big gap.

"Mary was larger than life, she was just such a charismatic person," Mrs MacDonald said.

"She loved going in the procession, carrying the Cork flag and waving to everyone."