Lorna Campbell van der Lijn (nee McKellar, formerly Conway)
Born Glasgow, Scotland, 6 Dec 1931 – Passed away peacefully in Palmerston North, on April 12, 2025 – aged 93 years.
Lorna was a WRNS Royal Navy officer, professional hotelier, and pioneering hospitality educator, she developed and taught hotel management programs at CIT Petone, playing a transformative role in building New Zealand’s tourism and hospitality industry. A lifelong artist, who studied in Paris, her art reflected a deep appreciation of light, colour, and form – all of which she captured beautifully.
Lorna was a passionate defender of animals and a supporter of the SPCA and wildlife charities. She loved participating in and following sports, was a devoted rugby fan of Scotland and the All Blacks, and loved golf, tennis, yachting, and captained her school’s hockey team. Bagpipes and Scottish traditions always stirred her soul.
Loved deeply as a devoted mother to Fiona (d.1991) and Christopher (Canada), sister to Duncan and Sylvia McKellar (UK), wife of Johan (Joop) van der Lijn (d. 2013), and much cherished daughter of John and Nora McKellar (deceased).
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team at Arvida Olive Tree for their loving care, and to Brenda, Lorna’s home aid and a loyal friend to her last moments.
Following private cremation, Lorna’s ashes will be scattered at a later date, her final farewell to a life lived with passion, grace and love, accompanied by the sound of a lone highland piper, among Aotearoa’s Southern Alps and lakes she loved so dearly. To honour Lorna’s lifelong love for animals, please consider a donation to the SPCA or a wildlife charity of your choice.
To read tributes to Lorna and/or to leave a tribute yourself please visit her Tribute Page.
Lorna was Laid to Rest Amidst the Mountains and Landscape she loved most in all of Aotearoa New Zealand.
On Sunday, November 9, 2025, Lorna’s ashes were laid to rest near the Rees River, close to Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu. This landscape held a special place in her life. The light, the vibrant life, the soaring mountains and the ever changing sky reignited her artistic passion and inspired her back to painting and all the work she created over the subsequent years.
The following afternoon, a final tribute took place on the shore of Lake Wakatipu. Two pipers played in honour of a proud Scots-Kiwi, a strong and independent woman, and a mother whose unwavering love was felt with certinty every day by her two kids.
As the pipers played, the weather shifted — the clouds lifted, the rain eased, and sunlight reached the mountains across the lake.
It was a simple, fitting farewell in the place that meant the most to her.
Lorna’s legacy is found in her art, in the choices she made, and in the example she set of living with independence, curiosity, passion, determination, service to others, and hard work. Her art remains, and so do the landscapes that inspired it — the same landscapes where she now rests.
St. Hilda's School 1945-49
Art was a passion from very early days, but it was only when I went to boarding school that I received instruction and dedicated time to spend on learning to use water colours It wasn’t that my art teacher was really good! ——— nor was I !! She had a habit of adding her painting as she went round the class !!
As a new girl of 13 years of age, the first term at school was pretty scary. There was a lot to learn besides formal lessons, however, the second term was easier. It was an excellent school in a fantastic setting and I ultimately became sports captain and head girl.
The school had a tradition of entering paintings and drawings for The Royal Drawing Society’s assessment each term and I am proud to have gained their certificates for several entries. Some of those entries are shown here. We chose our own subjects, which are much different from those of the present day.! I am however talking of the years 1945 – 1949. —-75 years ago at the end of WW2.
From Left To Right above (please click on painting for larger version):
TWO MODELS: Three quarter length, full skirts were the style after the restrictions imposed during WW2
THE LADY OF SHALLOT: Sits in front of her mirror admiring herself!
AT THE RACES: Just another subject done at school as were the others in this group.
THE SPANISH LADY: Flounced skirt were irresistible
ROMEO and JULIET
COPELAND ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE: This painting is of the Copeland Island Lighthouse which I saw on a few occasions while on holiday at Donaghadee, in the North of Ireland in 1948 I think! I was out there because I went out with the men who go lobster fishing at dawn. The lighthouse and the surrounding sea inspired my first ever sea painting. I love the sea, any body of water attracts me, the sea ,lochs and rivers.
Parisian Collection of Life Drawings 1952
Pencil on Paper (1952)
I spent about 14 months in Paris as an ‘au pair’ where I studied Life Drawing. I loved Paris and met lots of interesting people from all over the world. I have posted above a few examples of the life drawings I did there.
This is a photograph of me on my way to art school in Paris. It was taken bu a street photographer.
Awaiting Her Master's Return
Pencil on Paper (1956)
I did this drawing when I was stationed, as a WRNS* Officer, at HMS Daedalus which was the headquarters of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. The dog’s name is ‘Cindy’ and she belonged to one of the naval officers at the air station.
*WRNS – Women’s Royal Naval Service
Waitati Inlet
Oil on Paper (1967?)
Dart Valley and Cosmos Peaks
Acrylic on Canvas Board (1968)
Port Hills, Christchurch
Oil on Canvas Board (1969)
