A life of love, adventure, and community spirit

Died: June 11, 2024.

Kind and caring, and a champion for her community.

That is how Jan Renwick will be remembered following her passing in June this year.

And to her family, she was so much more.

A wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, some of the phrases her family have used to describe her include “fashionista”, a woman with “a big heart and sometimes bigger hair”, a “hippie at heart, crystal lover and follower of alternative medicine” and a woman with an “honest, trusting, calm and fun-loving nature”.

Jan and husband Lindsay became a family of four after welcoming daughters Carol and Georgia.

She then got the sons she never had when they were married, to Andrew and Digby respectively.

Jan supported her loved ones in everything they did, and relished the role of grandmother.

“Nanny Jannie was cherished by her grandchildren - Mathilda, Kirby, Archie and Jack,” Georgia said.

“She had a special, individual relationship with each of them. Mum loved them equally and recognised their unique characteristics early and championed them as they grew into incredible adults.

“She loved her great-grandchildren - Arley, Tommy and Daisy Mae - and took every opportunity to connect, communicate with and visit them.

“She loved sitting quietly having special cuddle times and soaking up their incredible energy. They really were the light of her life.

“Mum supported dad in all of his activities. They had a genuine partnership, and she fully embraced his career, hobbies and interests.

“She once said ‘well I might as well just join in’.

“She was especially proud of dad's achievements in local government and filled the role as lady mayoress with elegance and flair.

“Meeting the governor general in 2018 at government house was another extraordinary day for mum and us all.”

Jan had some stellar achievements in her own right also, in her sporting and professional careers, and as an active community member.

“Jan loved the boating world; skiing was her passion and she was great at it,” Lindsay said.

“A highlight was skiing along the Melbourne Yarra River in front of thousands for Moomba.

“Speedboats took over and we travelled following the boats.”

Carol said skiing was not her mum’s only passion.

She said ‘Jan the sports girl’ was also the netballer in a bright canary yellow tunic, an avid walker and the dancer.

“From ballet, Scottish highland fling, jitterbugging with Dad, to line dancing - she was always keen to try something new,” Carol said.

“The ultimate Jane Fonda gym freak, she always looked hot in the flouro leotards and retro leggings.

“She loved aerobics, exercising, bushwalking, tai chi, yoga, bike-riding and healthy eating.

“Mum was a walker and it was important to her. Everyone has seen mum walking around this town.

“Her passion extended to bushwalking. She saw an ad in the local paper that simply stated ‘People interested in bushwalking’.

“Initially, she ignored the word bush, but when she was 10km up a beautiful mountain she learnt about having the nomadic lifestyle herself.”

Other passions for Jan were gardening - and the Deniliquin Community Garden, of which she was a founding member - and local history.

“Mum loved taking long walks around the streets of the town, collecting cuttings from the neighbourhood and often stopping to have a chat and returning from her 20 minute walk more than two hours later,” Georgia recalled.

“Mum attended an agricultural women's conference in 2004.

“Working closely alongside the chairperson and members of the Deniliquin Council, mum established the Deniliquin Community Garden which officially opened in 2006.

“Her vision to create a shared space to grow vegetables and produce is one of her proudest and greatest achievements, and she was delighted to receive her life membership.”

At the Deniliquin & District Historical Society, Jan was an active and loved committee member who would also go that extra mile to entertain visitors.

“Jan had lots of interests, one being the Historical Society where she carried out her role as treasurer to perfection,” Lindsay said.

“And when we had tour buses, she would dress up in her old maid's costumes, sometimes showing off her bloomers.”

Carol said her mother was always adventurous, which everyone found inspiring.

“Mum was a cool, groovy lady,” she said.

“At age 69 she got her first tattoo on her granddaughter's 18th birthday - much to the disgust of Dad and Georgia.

“The best advice that Mum ever gave to me was, ‘surround yourself with great friends’. It's clear that she lived by that motto.”

Jan came to Deniliquin in the 1950s.

Her father Jock was a radiographer and had been a prisoner of war, and her mother Anne was described as a “lovely stylish woman”.

“Jan was the perfect reflection of her mother,” Lindsay said.

Jan also had a brother 10 years her senior, named Barry.

She arrived in Deniliquin from Cootamundra in the flood year of 1956, aged 15.

“My first encounter of Jan was an interesting one,” Lindsay said.

“The George Street boys were doing kick-to-kick across the street when Jan came cruising down the road on her little green bike.

“I stab-passed the football straight into her front wheel and she crashed. Jan hit the ground - in her words, she got the totters and he (me) was being an absolute smart alec.

“A few weeks later at the original Regent Picture theatre at the town hall, our little romance started and it was love from then on.

“We were married in Melbourne at St Patrick’s Cathedral on November 25, 1961.

“Our honeymoon was at Yarrawonga Cypress Gardens Boatel. We skied each day and one of those days she left me out in the middle of the lake because I was complaining about the speed she was going. I wanted the speed between 19 and 21. Thank goodness for life jackets.”

The couple welcomed Carol in 1963, and then Georgia in 1966.

“We were living in our Henry St house, but we never stayed still for long.

“Work had us on the move, all around New South Wales for KGR Constructions.

“First to Tooleybuc, Leeton, Griffith and finally to Albury as area manager.

“It was hard to settle there, but as always Jan made it a comfortable and loving home.

“Our next move saw us come back home to Deniliquin as publicans of the The White Lion Hotel.

“And how Jan loved to travel - trips to the USA, Europe, Bali and beyond.

“She went abroad as a true independent, joining Sing Australia to Italy. She loved that experience.”