The Alexandra woolhandler and woolclasser had been in Dunedin Hospital being treated for lung problems and died on Tuesday night.
She was recognised by Shearing Sports New Zealand as a Master Woolhandler, won the Golden Shears open woolhandling title in 2005 and 2006, and won her first New Zealand open title in Te Kuiti last March.
During the 2007-08 season, she also won the New Zealand Spring Shears title in Waimate and the Southern Shears title in Gore.
Ms Nathan (49) had worked for Elsie and Peter Lyon, of Alexandra, at Lyon Shearing Contractors since 1985.
Mrs Lyon said yesterday that Ms Nathan started as a woolhandler and moved to woolclassing about 10 years ago.
"She was a very good woolhandler, one of the best, and has trained a whole lot of people in the industry," Mrs Lyon said.
"She was probably a hard person to have training you, because she was a perfectionist, but she set a high standard for the people she trained."
Ms Nathan was well regarded in the industry throughout the country and would be a big loss, Mrs Lyon said.
"She's lived in Alexandra since 1985 and is like part of our family."
Shearing Sports New Zealand chairman, John Fagan, of Waihi Beach, said Ms Nathan's death was a loss to the shearing industry and also to shearing sports.
"Gina was a great one for encouraging the young ones to come along to competitions and competing herself as well, leading by example," Mr Fagan said.
Ms Nathan's funeral would be in the Hawkes Bay on Sunday, but a service was also likely to be held in Alexandra at some time, Mrs Lyon said.
