Memorial to bowling great Millie unveiled | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

The words "perfectly suited" echoed across Kuaue Cemetery as a family-crafted feather korowai (cloak) was lifted to unveil "Queen of the Green", Millie Cecelia Khan's headstone on Saturday morning.

It is a fitting memorial to the 65-year-old bowling legend who died suddenly, after suffering a heart attack a year ago.

A classic photograph of her delivering a bowl in New Zealand representative colours is permanently etched on the rear of the plate.

Above the photograph the words many of her teammates know so well, "Fly, Big Bird, Fly" are engraved.

Daughter Teresa Murray said at the end of her mother's "infamous pre-tournament massages", she would trace the shape of a bird on the back of her teammate and whisper the words into their ears.

"It was her way of supporting them and getting them prepared to give it their best shot on the green. It was her motto," she said.

A white jack and bowl, from the first set Khan bowled with - gifted by Jack Sommerville after he won gold at the 1974 New Zealand Commonwealth Games with them - is mounted at the foot of the headstone.

A koru design, carved by New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft's master carver Clive Fugill, adorns the front of the plate.

"It symbolises a continuation of life and mum's life will continue through her mokopuna and seven children. Many of them have taken up bowling," Mrs Murray said.

Her daughter Marina Khan, from Tokoroa, is a New Zealand Academy and Waikato representative.

Known as "Top Cat" or "TC", Khan was known as a fearsome competitor, winning 12 national titles and medals at the Commonwealth Games, Asia Pacific Games and the world championships.

In 1990 she was awarded the MBE for her services to bowls and last year was the first Waikato bowler to earn Gold Star and a bar while representing the Matamata Bowling Club.

Khan joined the Ngongotaha Bowling Club earlier in 2003 and more than 200 family, friends and fellow bowlers were at the club to help celebrate her life on Saturday.