The committee of the ANZC regretfully announces that our much loved President, Dianne Biederberg, passed away on 24 May 2024. 

The news comes as a shock to all.

We are indebted to Dianne. She was a genuine, caring leader who worked tirelessly, voluntarily, for our Club. From organising many events to arranging essential Club business, networking, shopping and cooking, writing copy, organising our I.T. and so much more – the ANZC has been incredibly fortunate to have had Dianne as our capable, very kind President. 

We have decided to continue with events that have already been set in motion, to honour Dianne’s hard work.

With sad hearts, 

Helen, Lynne, Michelle, Sue and Sylvia

Committee ANZC

Speech for Dianne, written and read at Dianne’s funeral by Julia Hill

“There aren’t enough words to describe the way I feel right now. There aren’t enough words to describe
how much you are loved and will be missed by everyone. By me. You are more than just my aunty or
godmother from Australia. Dianne – I can’t believe I am writing this speech for you. It was inevitable that
I was going to write it someday, but after just seeing you, sitting at my table on my 30th birthday two
weeks ago, and speaking to you last Monday, this just seems unreal.

I have known Dianne since I was a baby, and she has played such an important role in my life. My first
vivid memories I have are the times we spent together in France. And also that blue bathroom she had in
the Lindenstraat!

When I was in school, I would always come to her whenever I had a new project and needed to write a
paper. My parents had no clue how to work with a computer or what Word was! So after my very first
project, where my mum wrote everything by hand (bless her) and I got told off by the teacher, thank god
Dianne was there to help me step up my game. We would spend hours and hours on writing the best
possible paper. Dianne made sure I got my information mostly from books. Me, being a millennial, I was
sometimes frustrated because I knew all could be found on Google. But she was very determined, and I
will be forever grateful for that. She always would call my mum and ask, AND what grade did we get?! I
remember sometimes you would get irritated towards my teacher because you thought we deserved way better!

Dianne was known for throwing the best parties and dinners in Amsterdam. Although I was still young, I
was around for quite a few of them and I never felt unwelcome. I felt I was part of the crew. Her door was
always open to everyone and de Jordaan will not be the same without you.

Not only was her door always open, but also her heart. She was there for me when I needed her, especially after my father passed away in 2009. I often spoke to her about him, and she would comfort me by telling stories about him, happy memories because she knew him so well, which always warmed my heart. She became my “go-to” person for the advice he would have given me if he were still here. I am very grateful because she filled a big gap he left when he passed.

Now, that gap is empty again. How could I hope to fill it? My heart is aching from losing her this soon.
But at the same time I am very grateful to have had her in my life. I have so many happy memories with
her. Our conversations about my life and her life. She was a classy lady, but we also loved a bit of gossip
here and there! She always took the time to listen and give her opinion, but without any judgement.
We had some wonderful trips together around the world – Vietnam in 2015 and Australia in 2019, where
she showed me where she grew up. It was very special to me to meet her there, because Australia has a
very special place in my heart and we could talk about it for hours. Maybe it is a special place to me
because of her? And we went to Japan in October. I am so, so grateful we decided to go and not wait too
long.

I will end today saying I am comfortable we had a very special bond. Not only was she my tutor, my
guide and my parents’ best friend. She was and always will be my family, my godmother. And to my kids,
she will always be Aunty Dianne. I miss you loads already and I really hope we meet again.”