Mrs Paterson first took over the role of executive director in 1998 and quickly became its long-term driving force and champion. But as preparations begin for this year's awards, to be held on July 24-25, it is without the spirit and tenacity of Mrs Paterson, who died at her home in Wendonside in February after fighting oesophageal cancer for 26 months. She was 60.
Until last year, when Mrs Paterson's illness forced her to pull back from their day-to-day organisation, she lived and breathed the awards for about 10 months of each year, continuing to tweak and further streamline the event long after it had become an established highlight on the national fashion design calendar.
Along the way, she watched the event become a springboard for New Zealand amateur designers, allowing them to show their work to an erudite judging panel and, in turn, to a fashion industry always hungry for new talent.
She found it particularly rewarding seeing fledgling designers begin to build careers in the industry after first showing on the event's catwalk, and it was fitting that in 2013 she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to fashion.
Mrs Paterson's involvement with the event goes back to 1988, when it was started by 4ZG, the Gore radio station, as a community make-and-model competition. That year she modelled her own entry.
In following years she successfully entered various categories and in 1996 and 1997 took her place on the judging panel.
Born in East Gore in 1954, Mrs Paterson was the third daughter of Ernie and Ngaire Stark. She attended Gore Main primary school and after completing studies at Gore High School worked in the fabric department of Southland department store H & J Smith.
Her stay there was for just over a year, for into her life had stepped young Wendonside farmer Wade Paterson. They were married in 1972. Before the wedding she not only completed her bridal gown but also the dresses for her three bridesmaids and a flower girl.
One of her bridesmaids was the now leading Dunedin designer Donna Tulloch. Donna, a lifelong friend, showed off her matchmaking skills by introducing Heather to her future husband, who would go on to become not only her marriage partner, but her partner in business, her wing man and her best friend.
''She was wise, creative, inspirational, brave and loyal and I adored her and cherished her,'' Mr Paterson said.
''It was good knowing that whenever I set out to achieve something, Heather always had my back.''
Mrs Paterson moved seamlessly to her new rural life on the Patersons' Wendonside family farm, where she and her husband raised their three children, Rebecca, Scott and Matthew, and were always involved in the local community.
Playing in a Waikaia women's rugby team in 1978 as an openside flanker, Mrs Paterson was described as ''an effective scavenger in the loose''! The same year she was a member of the first all-woman crew at the Wyndham car rally.
Her creativity and artistic flair also saw her step easily into the varied role of an event organiser. Whether it was a car show, a heritage trail, a rural women's week, a conference, a wedding - or her own funeral - she did it with vision - and well.
In 2006, the New Zealand Automobile Association's Woman of the Year award was bestowed on her and two years later she was a recipient of a Gore district community award for her contribution to arts and culture. In 2014 she was recognised as a Paul Harris fellow by the Gore Rotary Club for services to the community.
Despite her many outside endeavours, the core of her world comprised her three children, husband Wade, and, more latterly, her six grandchildren and the extended family.
''She was an amazing mum, who created a wonderful family and home environment,'' her daughter Rebecca said.
''She always encouraged and supported us in anything we did. She was inspirational and we were so proud to have her as our mum.''
The family have watched from the sidelines the ongoing success of the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards and this year the organising committee, headed by Mr Paterson as chairman and made up of a number of people involved in the show for the past decade, is hell-bent on making it one to remember.
''A friend asked Heather once how she managed to get so much done. She said the thing to do is simply wake up in the morning and believe you can do it,'' Mr Paterson said.
Mrs Paterson is survived by her husband, three children and six grandchildren.
