General News
17 April, 2026
The De Villiers family with Val Dwyer
Val Dwyer shares her long-lasting memories of the De Villiers family.
Anna De Villiers and I met when we were both employed at Highview Christian Community College in Maryborough, she as teacher/librarian and I was the lab assistant. When I retired in 2006 Anna decided to do so too.
Brendan, my husband and Anna became friends while she was teaching at Highview and he would often work as relief teacher. Brendan learnt the De Villiers’ had bought a house in Majorca and he gave Anna four pages of notes on who was involved in building the house, amongst others, Brendan himself.
Brendan and Anna palled up as they were both keen gardeners. They would get together in Anna’s greenhouse and plant/grow/
propagate every kind of vegetable and flower. They had a stall at the monthly Talbot Farmers’ Market and for many years sold/shared their produce there. The money generated from the sales was sent to a missionary in South America.
We four had many merry social evenings together, Anna and Danny sharing fascinating stories of their life in South Africa. When I turned 70, Anna and Danny put on a feast to remember at their home, with Brendan supplying every edible animal available (including a pig on a spit) and Anna cooking mouth watering African dishes. We had a Scottish theme.
Our friends came from near and afar, some decked in tartan, celebrating with us, as we sang and danced the night away to the music of an impromptu band, featuring Michael Alexander, my brother, on the banjo mandolin, Father Ed Maloney, piano accordion, and Richard Davoren, mouth organ. Highview student Matthew Morse played the bagpipes.
We had a pin board (in photo) of my history, from a toddler in Scotland to the present day in Maryborough. We were all invited to bring our swimmers along and take a dip in the pool and some of the children did so.
When I was president of Mayborough U3A, I invited Anna along as a guest speaker to share her amazing memories and travels with us.
After Brendan and I moved from our hobby farm at Golden Point, Anna and Brendan planted a colourful garden of shrubs, roses and lavender at our new home in Maryborough.
Anna and Danny immigrated to Australia in August 2001, a week before Anna’s birthday.
“That was the loneliest birthday I ever had. Not knowing a soul in this new town,” Anna said.
“Why did we move to Maryborough? One could say that Maryborough chose us. The business model at the Clarendon Clinic suited us and so we decided to make Maryborough our home. Dan and I have three children, and they made the move with us, finishing school at Ballarat Grammar. All three went on to university and loved the experience. They continued their studies, completed further qualifications, and have since married and started families of their own. We now have a total of seven beautiful grandchildren.
“The thought of entering a career in local government had never crossed my mind, but thanks to one of my students, I felt compelled to nominate — and that is when the journey began. I am very grateful for this opportunity and hope that I have been able to contribute meaningfully and give back to a community from which we have gained so much, particularly in friendships and in creating and building a new home for our family.”