George’s community work in Maleny will be remembered and sorely missed
A TRUE stalwart of the Maleny community, George Diefenbach was a well-known and active participant in various aspects of community life throughout the district for many years.
For over 40 years, George held the position of Chief Hall Steward for the Maleny Show, and was an honorary life member of both the Maleny Show Society and Maleny Historical Society amongst other accolades.
Along with his wife Betty, George was an integral part of Maleny community life, devoting countless hours over many years to support a wide range of community ventures, sporting clubs and fund raising activities, from membership of the Maleny auxiliary fire brigade, men’s shed, golf and tennis clubs to establishing the Maleny community swimming pool back in the 1980s.
A service celebrating his life was held at the Maleny Uniting Church on Thursday September 21, well attended by a large number of family, friends and community representatives.
George Robert Diefenbach was born at Nambour hospital on 16 June 1933, the second youngest of eight children (siblings Nell, Glad, Ivy, Ted, Violet, Norm and John) to parents George and Nellie Diefenbach.
The well-known Diefenbach family lived in many places, including Imbil, Cooroy, Kenilworth and Conondale before moving to Maleny in 1942 when George was 9. Not a particular fan of school, George left his Maleny schooling at age 14 and went on to help the family’s shared farm interests around the Witta area before taking on his first job making cases for pineapple growers’ at the family case mill which was located at Witta. He also went on to work construction on the Montville-Maleny Road, at Packer’s mill in Reesville and Tesch Saw Mill in Witta.
Following a three year courtship, George married Elizabeth (Betty) Howard on 6 May 1961 at the Maleny Methodist Church, and the couple went on to have two children, Susan and Dale. Tragically they lost their daughter Susan to cancer at age 14. A few years later, the couple opened their home and their hearts to become foster parents.
The couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary (60 years) in 2021, and received congratulations from many, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and all levels of Government.
In the early 1960s, while still working at Tesch Saw Mill, George and Betty opened a café (where Peace of Green Gallery now stands) before George went on to join the PMG (Post Master General’s Dept) in a career that spanned 31 years.
Throughout his life, George was an exceptional sportsman, and excelled in all areas of sport including cricket, badminton and tennis; he was also a keen golfer.
An avid reader, gardener, sports lover and musician, George is remembered for his kind, practical nature and quick and often cheeky wit, and for being a loving husband, father, father-in-law, poppy, brother, brother-in-law and friend. George passed away peacefully aged 90 on Sunday 10 September.
Cr. Winston Johnston said he had known George and Betty all his life and they were both lovely people and great supporters of the community.
“George was a long term contributor to the Maleny Show who lived a great life and was a popular man who will be greatly missed by many. He came from a well-known and highly regarded family. In recent years we have lost a lot of people who have helped make Maleny community what it is today,” Cr. Johnston said
sonia@gcnews.com.au
Main image: Betty and George at their granddaughter Danica’s 21st
