ANNE Petherbridge, late of Dalmeny, was a passionate woman, and a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
She led a loving and fulfilling life till she died in Canberra hospital in January this year, after a series of illnesses.
As a diplomat’s wife in many countries, as a farmer in Sutton in the ACT, and then as a retiree in Tuross and Dalmeny she made and kept many friends.
Of her relationship with his father Anne’s eldest son Andrew said, “Dad was the centre and great passion in my Mum’s life for 59 years of a wonderful and romantic marriage. They never tired of each other’s company or each other’s interests. They loved nothing better than to travel and experience Australia and the world together.”
Travel they certainly did, as they spent time in important and often dangerous postings such as New York, Ceylon, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Anne demonstrated strength and courage during several incidents, perhaps the most notable of which was in 1979 when she dodged a Pakistani mob and led a convoy of cars carrying American schoolchildren away from their burning embassy to the safety of the Australian Embassy.
On all occasions her sense of humour stood her in good stead.
During the Cold War, when in Moscow, Anne would deliberately leave her diary lying around, knowing that its contents (mainly shopping lists) would be dutifully reported by the maid back to her employer, the KGB. Geoff Eagleson, an exchange student at Moscow University, well remembers the Australia Day she led a conga line of kangaroo hoppers through the halls of the ambassadorial residence singing “Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport.”
Anne’s organisational skills, learned when she completed a Diploma of Public Administration in Dublin, were honed and developed over the years, from being John’s “domestic manager” to secretary, president of the many organisations she was involved in.
Always a hard worker and a generous and compassionate person, Anne worked for Save the Children Fund in Korea, and St Joseph’s Hospital in Pakistan.
And while in retirement on the South Coast, she was actively involved in the local poetry group, Probus, the Narooma Croquet Club, and the View Club.
Her title of “Tea Lady of the Year” in the Croquet Club last year she found both touching and amusing.
Anne was a great cook, believing that food was an important uniting and ritual act to show people how much you cared for them.
Anne dearly loved her family: husband John, daughter Sally, sons Andrew and Gordon, daughters-in-law Miriam and Zena, and grandchildren Phoebe, Francisca, Emelia, Mark and Anneli.
She also maintained a special and close relationship with her brother John, in spite of living in different parts of the world since she was 19.
The family always had animals and the children grew up in a house full of them: dogs, cats, pet mice, baby wallabies, possums, and yabbies.
In the poem printed below called “Samaritan”, her husband John wrote about the help his wife gave to a poor, homeless dog.
Speaking at the funeral service held in the chapel of the Broulee Gardens son Andrew said:
“My mother showed us how to laugh, be generous, tell stories, and about fairness. She taught us integrity and how to approach and seize life positively. She also showed us how to love, care and respect others.”
What better epitaph could a mother have?
Samaritan
By John Petherbridge
I could walk on the other side
avoid the fuss,
involvement.
But not so Anne, my wife.
And hence, this collarless waif of a dog,
Renounced, unfed and feeble,
Is taken by its brownish coat
And settled in some comfort
In the car’s boot. Where, all forlorn,
skin flaked and flea infested,
it looked out nervously,
bedraggled and resigned ,
through wan and frightened eyes.
Then the Ranger, next the Vet,
A cleaning up and check.
Its fate may yet be grim,
but something is restored
thanks to Anne, that one
who never could cross a street,
pass on, put out of mind,
a dog in dire distress.
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