This was published 8 years ago
Tara Nettleton, widow of Khaled Sharrouf, remembered as reckless, funny teenager
By Natalie O'Brien
School friends of the late Tara Nettleton, the widow of Islamic State terrorist Khaled Sharrouf, who has died in Syria, have paid tribute to the 31-year-old and recalled their fun days together as the "Cheso girls".
In social media posts dedicated to her, friends shared photos of their early years at Chester Hill High School, NSW, and remembered the girl that they grew up with.
Jade Koda posted: "Rip TARA very sad!!! You deserved so much better! Although you chose a different life. I will remember you As the reckless funny teenage girls we were."
"Having fun and living life ... I hope your in a better place now π₯π₯πLONG LIVE THE MEMORIES CHESO GIRLS"
In social media posts dedicated to Tara Nettleton, friends shared photos of their early years at Chester Hill High School.
Another post from Lisa Laver said: "My best friend my sister i will love you dearly and keep those amazing memories that we shared. Everyday i just wish we never went our separate ways. I miss you rip taz. Will see you again xxxxxxxxxx."
Another just said "so sad" and "the memories will live on forever".
Tara Nettleton met her friends at school and also her husband to be Khaled Sharrouf while they were students at Chester Hill High School. By the time Tara was 17 years old she had her first child with Sharrouf and named her Zaynab.
Sharrouf was arrested in 2005 and jailed for his involvement in the Pendennis terrorism plot. He was released from jail in 2009 and in 2013 travelled to Syria to join IS, using his brother's passport. Ms Nettleton later took their five children and flew via Malaysia with them to Turkey and then travelled on to Syria to join him.
In this class photo, Tara Nettleton is circled in the second row from the bottom.
Ms Nettleton had suffered from appendix-related trouble before she left Australia. She died on September 11 last year from infection and complications following surgery for appendicitis.
Ms Nettleton's mother Karen only recently learned of her daughter's death.
Lawyer Charles Waterstreet told Fairfax Media on Thursday that Karen Nettleton was too grief-stricken to speak further about her daughter's death.
However, she too paid tribute to Tara with a fresh-looking tattoo on her forearm that was seen on Thursday and read:
"Tara
19.03.1984 11.09.2015
My baby...I'll miss you forever"