Doreen “Rene” Marie O’Halloran
5/9/1919 to 4/7/2021
RENE O’Halloran had a passion for crafting and spent countless hours volunteering in her community.
She was believed to be one of the oldest residents in Balranald, sadly passing away just months before her 102nd birthday, on July 4, 2021.
Rene was born in Melbourne on September 5, 1919, to Dora and Dan Dowling.
In 2019, for her 100th birthday, Rene told The Guardian celebrating that milestone “feels like 100 per cent”.
Her secret to a long life was “the grace of God, the occasional sherry and red wine, and strong faith”.
Rene attended primary school at Presentation Convent Windsor (formerly Presentation College Windsor) in Melbourne until Grade 6 when she was the school’s dux.
She was then tutored at the family’s Balranald property, Walmer Downs, up to Year 10.
After moving to Balranald, Rene married “the boy next door”, Kieran O’Halloran, on February 25, 1941, eventually growing to a family of nine living in Ettrick.
Rene lived at Ettrick for 70 years until moving into Balranald.
She was always busy with home duties, volunteering at gymkhanas, St Vincent’s, and being a member of many local committees.
A winner of many local craft and flower shows, Rene’s hobbies included combing wool, spinning, weaving, dying wool, and knitting garments.
In her younger years, Rene enjoyed art, riding horses and reading, and in her later years took up learning Italian again.
Rene was the mother of seven children – Ann, Trish, Rich (deceased) Tony, Mary, Peter and Margie – and she had 22 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Rene’s daughter, Margaret Murphy, thanked the staff at Residential Aged Care and Dr Slava at Balranald MPS their continuous care of Rene over the past eight years.
Lillian Altman
