Anne Mary Wells passed peacefully on Thursday, Mary 21, 2020 with her beloved children David, Michael, Jacqualine, Anthony (Burt) and family by her side.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She was aged 73.
Anne was born in Haarlem Holland.
Her parents Jack and Corrie Van Hoof and siblings, Lucy, Marian, John, twin Sonja, Nessie, Olga and Carla migrated from war-torn Holland to Australia in 1953 and settled in the Shoalhaven.
As children, they lived in the rural areas of Berry, Kangaroo Valley and St Georges Basin, and had to walk miles to school and sport.
A fact her son Michael said Anne quickly reminded him of if he grumbled about having to walk to anything, he said with a smile.
Anne is remembered as a Culburra Beach 'icon' where she lived many years of her life.
She was often seen sitting on the bench overlooking Culburra Beach with her sweet little dog, Shellby.
As a young woman, Anne was a swimming teacher in Sydney and was delighted to say that she taught Australian Olympian Shane Gould to swim.
Later, Anne knitted garments for fashion designer Jenny Kee.
Anne with her children Jacqualine, Michael and Burt would travel to Center Point Tower to attend the Fashion Show displaying Anne's beautifully knitted garments.
At the end of the show they would be invited to the boardroom where Jenny Kee would give Anne a large sheet of graph paper on which the next intricate design was drawn (in little xxxs) for Anne to decipher and knit into amazing, world-class jumpers.
Anne was always proud of her children's endeavours, starting with nippers at the Nowra-Culburra Surf Lifesaving Club, Shoalhaven Rugby Club and surfing.
She even cooked pea and ham soup to raise funds so Burt could travel to New Zealand in the Australian under 17 Sports Academy rugby team.
Her children have wonderful families and have shown the same level of dedication and determination in taking on challenges or overcoming difficulties and making the best of life.
In recent years her daughter Jackie often traveled south from Newcastle to provide comfort and support to Anne, leaving her husband Danny to run the family tiling business.
It is without doubt, that Anne's grandchildren had a very special place in her heart.
She was the adored Oma of Hayden, Linden, Maddison, Rhys, Tyrah, Harrison, Jackson, Talisha, Lachlan, Yazmin, Alivia, Kye, Oatley and Rohan.
She truly loved their visits, especially so when Burt arrived with Oatley and Rohan to play at Oma's beach.
One particular highlight Anne talked about was an overseas trip with her son David, who was working with John McLean the first wheelchair athlete to finish the course at the world's toughest multi-discipline sporting event - the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon.
As John and David reached the summit John, with his last gasping breath, called out to Anne 'Hi there Moedy' (Dutch for mummy).
Anne was a member of the Shoalhaven Orchard Society and happily showed visitors her dancing lady orchards and other treasures in her garden.
In the mornings Annie would mosey over the road to her favorite bench to chat with the locals.
She spent many hours looking out to sea, keeping an eye out for sea eagles or whales as they migrated north then south with their babies.
In the evenings Annie would take herself and Shellby to Crookhaven Heads saying "I'm going to Crooky for a looky".
Anne knew all the fishing boats, and without fail, each Wednesday would read the South Coast Register from cover to cover while waiting patiently for the next boat to return safely from the sea.
She treasured the peace and tranquillity of the area and delighted in seeing a brilliant sunset over the waters of Greenwell Point and beyond.
One local called Anne - "Annie Girt by Sea" - a very fitting tribute.
The family extends special thanks go to Dr Domonic Frawley for his wonderful care of Anne for more than 25 years, the care by the doctors and nurses at the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre and Karinya.
A memorial service for Anne will be held at Culburra Beach once social distancing restrictions are lifted.
Anne Mary Wells - August 20, 1946 - May 21, 2020