Individual Details
Anthea Zara ALFORD BEd
(27 Sep 1946 - 29 May 2021)
Anthea was born in September 1946, the eldest daughter of Athalie McCulloch and Gordon Alford. Her parents met when Gordon was staying with his family who operated the Mountain House Guest House in Aireys Inlet. Thalie arrived with friends for a holiday. Gordon was asked to help them with their luggage. Gordon met Thalie and was smitten, and immediately started courting her. After the holiday they agreed to correspond,and Gordon travelled to Melbourne as often as he could to visit Thalie. They were married at St Johns Church, East Malvern in 1942.
Anthea lived in Caulfield and then Brighton with her sisters Katrina and Melissa and went to St Leonards Presbyterian Girls College and Brighton High. Anthea attended Caulfield Presbyterian Church, Sunday School and Kindergarten and was an enthusiastic member of the local Presbyterian youth group in Brighton.
She was very fond of her Aunt Kit on her father's side, great Aunt Elsie on her mother's side, and her great grandmother Tilly McCulloch.
Anthea's father inherited land at Aireys Inlet, where they built a holiday house. Many enjoyable holidays were spent on the beach and in the bush at her beloved Aireys!
In her first job Anthea worked as a Laboratory Assistant for Dr Hildred Mary Butler in the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Royal Women’s Hospital. They were specialists in the prevention and treatment of infections during and after childbirth. Unfortunately, Anthea was susceptible to one of the bacteria that they cultured every day. She eventually left to work in the insurance industry. While working and single Anthea was a member of YHA and enjoyed many activities including camping, horse riding, dancing, hiking and downhill skiing. She met her first husband, Geoff Underwood, through YHA. She often mentioned one year when the snow at Mt Buller was 27 feet deep and they had to climb in the 2nd floor window of the lodge.
Anthea and Geoff married in 1969 and moved to a home purchased in newly developed East Doncaster. Their first son, Jason, was born in 1971 and had a pervasive developmental disorder. He was eventually diagnosed with autism in his late teens and schizophrenia at age 19 or 20 and suffered an accidental death while bring treated at Larundel Hospital. Jason's challenges fired Anthea's interest in teaching and special education, but his death devastated the family.
Anthea's second son, Paul, is interested in art and music and is a qualified gardener. Paul married Tania Curlis in 1997. They have a son Patrick (who is here today). Paul and Tania divorced a few years later. We have fond memories of having Patrick visit us, going on outings together and taking him cross country skiing at Lake Mountain.
Anthea lived for several years in Myrtleford where she operated a squash centre and played competitively, which may explain why she developed knee problems and needed a knee replacement.
Anthea studied teaching at Melbourne Teachers College and Special Education at Melbourne University.
Her interests in arts and crafts evolved over many years. These have included making and designing her own clothes, painting, making pottery, spinning and weaving yarns and making furniture. She acquired considerable artistic and technical skills creating multi-media textile crafts and sculptures. She had her work displayed in various exhibitions, including one solo, and at one stage was professionally employed in furniture making. She also taught carpentry to a women’s group in Carlton. In recent years, Anthea has won several ribbons for knitting and crochet at the Royal Melbourne Show. (One of her pieces is on her coffin).
Anthea has used and experimented with many of Australia's natural resources producing a wide range of diverse and interesting pieces. Her works display both technical skill and elegance, as well as a sense of the outrageous.
Anthea has worked as a primary and special school teacher integrating art into the acquisition of communication and language skills.
Anthea was an avid horse rider, bushwalker, cross country skier and surfer and was vitally interested in all aspects of the environment. Her paintings reflect a deep appreciation of the Australian bush and wilderness.
Anthea and I met in 1983 at Metropolitan Community Church in South Melbourne when a close friend from College, Kym Kelly, brought Anthea to church. We had a lot in common, including both having children about the same age, but were slow getting to know each other so a dear mutual friend, Mary Bodkin, did some matchmaking. We fell in love, bought a house together in East Bentleigh in 1986, moved our families in together, and married in 1987.
Anthea loved teaching children and otherwise-abled people. Preps were her favourites. She could relate to a diverse range of people. Having suffered bullying and teasing at school, she had a keen sense of social justice. She loved her gay and lesbian relatives and friends. She was member of the inaugural Education Committee of the Victorian AIDS Council and was active in fund-raising. Anthea was also proud of her African-American heritage. She was also proud to be a friend of the Australian tenor and aboriginal activist, Harold Blair. Anthea celebrated diversity!
You’ve been listening to some of Anthea’s favourite music, with more to come. At home and at school she learned to appreciate opera and classical music and as a young adult she was into jazz and blues. In her adult life she loved musical theatre and was a fan of Queen, Il Divo, Leonard Cohen, Bryan Adams, Susan Boyle, Andrea Bocelli and Ed Sheeran.
Anthea and I both loved spending time in the great outdoors, and enormously enjoyed camping, hiking, surfing, and cross-country skiing, both with the boys and on our own. Tasmania, the Surf Coast, the Victorian Alps, and in more recent years New Zealand, were our favourite destinations.
To stay fit for bushwalking, we decided to learn to snow camp and cross-country ski. We joined Melbourne Nordic Ski Club and became active members of their skiing and social programme. Anthea competed a number of times in one of the shorter events of the Kangaroo Hoppet which is part of the World Loppet Series of cross-country ski races. In more recent times we have been members of the Winter Group Cross Country Ski Club.
Anthea loved to talk to people! On one occasion, when we were heading out in a blizzard to snow camp on the Bogong High Plains, she stopped so often to talk to people and check they were okay that she developed hypothermia herself.
To have a base closer to the Victorian Alps and fulfill our interest in nature conservation, we bought a 10-acre property with a small cabin on the edge of the state forest at Tolmie near Mansfield. For many years we were members of the Mt Stirling Alpine Advisory Group and the Victorian National Parks Association. We also enjoyed camping on,and eventually having a caravan on, Anthea's parents’ property at Aireys Inlet and were members of ANGAIR, the local conservation group.
In recent times we built a holiday home at Torquay on the Surf Coast which we enjoyed for a few years but eventually decided it was too suburban and sold it in late 2019.
Anthea and I travelled to North America and Europe on long service leave in 1996 and to Europe again in 2015 and 2020. These trips were all in the northern winter so we could Nordic ski and avoid the crowds of tourists. It also allowed us to visit our friend Guido in Italy and my cousins in England.
It was very enjoyable and fulfilling to welcome another grandson, Branan, in 2019 and watch him develop as a baby and become an inquisitive toddler.
Katrina says:
Did I tell you about Xmas circa maybe 1958 or 1959? Anthea received from Santa a Ray Conniff album Ray Conniff - Wikipedia. It sounded revolting but Anthea loved it.
Anthea and I both received Xmas watches. I wore mine for years before it gave out. Not so Anthea, bless her. She jumped into the shower, on Xmas Day, with it on, and it drowned/died. She still enjoyed Xmas lunch however!
Anthea lived in Caulfield and then Brighton with her sisters Katrina and Melissa and went to St Leonards Presbyterian Girls College and Brighton High. Anthea attended Caulfield Presbyterian Church, Sunday School and Kindergarten and was an enthusiastic member of the local Presbyterian youth group in Brighton.
She was very fond of her Aunt Kit on her father's side, great Aunt Elsie on her mother's side, and her great grandmother Tilly McCulloch.
Anthea's father inherited land at Aireys Inlet, where they built a holiday house. Many enjoyable holidays were spent on the beach and in the bush at her beloved Aireys!
In her first job Anthea worked as a Laboratory Assistant for Dr Hildred Mary Butler in the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Royal Women’s Hospital. They were specialists in the prevention and treatment of infections during and after childbirth. Unfortunately, Anthea was susceptible to one of the bacteria that they cultured every day. She eventually left to work in the insurance industry. While working and single Anthea was a member of YHA and enjoyed many activities including camping, horse riding, dancing, hiking and downhill skiing. She met her first husband, Geoff Underwood, through YHA. She often mentioned one year when the snow at Mt Buller was 27 feet deep and they had to climb in the 2nd floor window of the lodge.
Anthea and Geoff married in 1969 and moved to a home purchased in newly developed East Doncaster. Their first son, Jason, was born in 1971 and had a pervasive developmental disorder. He was eventually diagnosed with autism in his late teens and schizophrenia at age 19 or 20 and suffered an accidental death while bring treated at Larundel Hospital. Jason's challenges fired Anthea's interest in teaching and special education, but his death devastated the family.
Anthea's second son, Paul, is interested in art and music and is a qualified gardener. Paul married Tania Curlis in 1997. They have a son Patrick (who is here today). Paul and Tania divorced a few years later. We have fond memories of having Patrick visit us, going on outings together and taking him cross country skiing at Lake Mountain.
Anthea lived for several years in Myrtleford where she operated a squash centre and played competitively, which may explain why she developed knee problems and needed a knee replacement.
Anthea studied teaching at Melbourne Teachers College and Special Education at Melbourne University.
Her interests in arts and crafts evolved over many years. These have included making and designing her own clothes, painting, making pottery, spinning and weaving yarns and making furniture. She acquired considerable artistic and technical skills creating multi-media textile crafts and sculptures. She had her work displayed in various exhibitions, including one solo, and at one stage was professionally employed in furniture making. She also taught carpentry to a women’s group in Carlton. In recent years, Anthea has won several ribbons for knitting and crochet at the Royal Melbourne Show. (One of her pieces is on her coffin).
Anthea has used and experimented with many of Australia's natural resources producing a wide range of diverse and interesting pieces. Her works display both technical skill and elegance, as well as a sense of the outrageous.
Anthea has worked as a primary and special school teacher integrating art into the acquisition of communication and language skills.
Anthea was an avid horse rider, bushwalker, cross country skier and surfer and was vitally interested in all aspects of the environment. Her paintings reflect a deep appreciation of the Australian bush and wilderness.
Anthea and I met in 1983 at Metropolitan Community Church in South Melbourne when a close friend from College, Kym Kelly, brought Anthea to church. We had a lot in common, including both having children about the same age, but were slow getting to know each other so a dear mutual friend, Mary Bodkin, did some matchmaking. We fell in love, bought a house together in East Bentleigh in 1986, moved our families in together, and married in 1987.
Anthea loved teaching children and otherwise-abled people. Preps were her favourites. She could relate to a diverse range of people. Having suffered bullying and teasing at school, she had a keen sense of social justice. She loved her gay and lesbian relatives and friends. She was member of the inaugural Education Committee of the Victorian AIDS Council and was active in fund-raising. Anthea was also proud of her African-American heritage. She was also proud to be a friend of the Australian tenor and aboriginal activist, Harold Blair. Anthea celebrated diversity!
You’ve been listening to some of Anthea’s favourite music, with more to come. At home and at school she learned to appreciate opera and classical music and as a young adult she was into jazz and blues. In her adult life she loved musical theatre and was a fan of Queen, Il Divo, Leonard Cohen, Bryan Adams, Susan Boyle, Andrea Bocelli and Ed Sheeran.
Anthea and I both loved spending time in the great outdoors, and enormously enjoyed camping, hiking, surfing, and cross-country skiing, both with the boys and on our own. Tasmania, the Surf Coast, the Victorian Alps, and in more recent years New Zealand, were our favourite destinations.
To stay fit for bushwalking, we decided to learn to snow camp and cross-country ski. We joined Melbourne Nordic Ski Club and became active members of their skiing and social programme. Anthea competed a number of times in one of the shorter events of the Kangaroo Hoppet which is part of the World Loppet Series of cross-country ski races. In more recent times we have been members of the Winter Group Cross Country Ski Club.
Anthea loved to talk to people! On one occasion, when we were heading out in a blizzard to snow camp on the Bogong High Plains, she stopped so often to talk to people and check they were okay that she developed hypothermia herself.
To have a base closer to the Victorian Alps and fulfill our interest in nature conservation, we bought a 10-acre property with a small cabin on the edge of the state forest at Tolmie near Mansfield. For many years we were members of the Mt Stirling Alpine Advisory Group and the Victorian National Parks Association. We also enjoyed camping on,and eventually having a caravan on, Anthea's parents’ property at Aireys Inlet and were members of ANGAIR, the local conservation group.
In recent times we built a holiday home at Torquay on the Surf Coast which we enjoyed for a few years but eventually decided it was too suburban and sold it in late 2019.
Anthea and I travelled to North America and Europe on long service leave in 1996 and to Europe again in 2015 and 2020. These trips were all in the northern winter so we could Nordic ski and avoid the crowds of tourists. It also allowed us to visit our friend Guido in Italy and my cousins in England.
It was very enjoyable and fulfilling to welcome another grandson, Branan, in 2019 and watch him develop as a baby and become an inquisitive toddler.
Katrina says:
Did I tell you about Xmas circa maybe 1958 or 1959? Anthea received from Santa a Ray Conniff album Ray Conniff - Wikipedia. It sounded revolting but Anthea loved it.
Anthea and I both received Xmas watches. I wore mine for years before it gave out. Not so Anthea, bless her. She jumped into the shower, on Xmas Day, with it on, and it drowned/died. She still enjoyed Xmas lunch however!
Events
| Birth | 27 Sep 1946 | Prahran, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Education | 1950 | Waverley Presbyterian School - corner Bambra & Neerim Rd, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia |  | ||
| Education | 1963 | St Leonards College - 163 South Road, Brighton East, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Education | 1964 | Brighton High School - 120 Marriage Road, Brighton East, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Occupation | 1965 | Laboratory Assistant - Bacteriology Lab, Royal Womens Hospital, Grattan St, Carlton, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Residence | 1968 | Occupation: Clerk - 14 Holmhurst Court, Brighton East, Balaclava, Victoria, Australia | | ||
| Marriage | 21 Feb 1969 | St Leonards Church, Brighton Beach, Victoria, Australia - Living | |  | |
| Alt name | 21 Feb 1969 | Anthea Zara UNDERWOOD | |||
| Residence | 1972 | Occupation: Home duties - 24 Belinda Cres, Doncaster, Diamond Valley, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Residence | 1977 | Occupation: Home duties - 24 Belinda Cres, Doncaster, Diamond Valley, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Residence | 1977 | Occupation: Cabinet maker - 31 Lebanon Cres, Mulgrave, Bruce, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Alt name | 1980 | Anthea Zara SPLATT | |||
| Residence | 1980 | Occupation: Proprietress - 21 Halls Road, Myrtleford, Ovens, Indi, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Residence | 1983 | Occupation: Student (Teaching) - 21 Lee Street, Carlton North, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Residence | Jan 1986 | Occupation: Teacher - 21 Normdale Road, East Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Marriage | 19 Sep 1987 | Dorcas St Uniting Church, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Living | | | |
| Alt name | 19 Sep 1987 | Anthea Zara TOMKINS | |||
| Residence | 1992 | Occupation: Teacher - 129A Kellett Street, Northcote, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Death | 29 May 2021 | BSL Aged Care, Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia | | ||
| Cremation | 9 Jun 2021 | Springvale Botanical Cenetery, Springvale, Victoria, Australia | | ||
| Interment of ashes | 6 Nov 2021 | Niche 3S, Wall AC, Diosma Garden - Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria, Australia | | ||
| Divorce | Living |
Families
| Spouse | Living |
| Spouse | Living |
| Child | Jason Matthew UNDERWOOD (1971 - 1991) |
| Child | Living |
| Spouse | Living |
| Father | Gordon Vernon ALFORD J.P. (1916 - 2006) |
| Mother | Athalie Evelyn MCCULLOCH (1920 - 2013) |
| Sibling | Paul Tracy ALFORD (1944 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Living |
Notes
Education
Anthea's first school: Katrina says: Kinder was corner Bambra & Neerim Rd, now site of Presby. Church.Caulfield, VIC - Presbyterian :: Australian Christian Church Histories This church was next to kinder. I think maybe it was used weekdays for primary schoolers. I remember going into it a fair bit- rooms on 1 side of church pews. Maybe to pick Anthea up. Church also seconded as a hall for concerts.
Anthea remembered walking home from Waverley to her home at 13 Blake Street, Caulfield.
Residence
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980Name Anthea Zara Alford
Gender Female
Electoral Date 1968
Electoral Place Brighton East, Balaclava, Victoria, Australia
Marriage
Australia and New Zealand, Newspapers.com™ Marriage Index, 1800s-currentName Anthea Zara
Marriage Abt 1968
Spouse Geoffrey Alan
Father G. V. Alford
Mother A. E. Alford
Publication: The Age
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Victoria, Australia
Issue Date: Saturday, January 27, 1968
Page: 10
ALFORD UNDERWOOD. Mr. and Mrs. G. V. Alford, of 14 Holmhurst Court, East Brighton, announce the engagement of their eldest daughter, Anthea Zara, to Geoffrey Alan, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Underwood, of 3 Broad Street, West Footscray.
Marriage
In the congregation of Metropolitan Community Church of Melbourne.Death
Death approx 1515Here are some of the tributes I’ve received from Anthea’s family, friends and colleagues.
Jeanette Meighen from Northcote 5 Book Group said: Anthea contributed much to our meetings, both on the books and on life in general, and will be missed.
Becky Marshall from Winter Group wrote: We will all miss Anthea’s bright smile and zest for life.
Sue Morrison a special-school teaching friend says: I especially remember Anthea’s pure acceptance of others, without judgement. Her love and big kind heart will continue to live on.
Dana Juska said: Anthea - such a positive, happy and loving soul.
Sandra Hatzis from Pearling Around wrote: What a sparkle Anthea was at knitting group –chirpy, creative, caring and committed.
Simon Watson her dentist said: Thinking of her warms my heart.
Daniella Di Benedetto Anthea’s dietitian says: She always made me smile, and has left a lasting legacy with me.
Michelle Tate-Lovery our financial advisor said: Anthea your "way" was contagious - your generosity of spirit shone through and you were one of the most engaging people I have ever met. You and David were beautiful together and geez you had some incredible travel stories. I will always remember you.
Sue Robertson said: Anthea was generous, loving and kind. She had the most marvellous sense of humour, and she was the best creative knitter.
Anthea’s best friend from Teachers College, Julie Herbert, wrote a one and a halfpage tribute, but I can’t manage more than a couple of sentences without bursting into tears. Here is one sentence: Colourful, loud, outrageous and exuberant, you always stood out in a crowd. You were always ready to help with anything, and your artistic endeavours were something to be seen.
I’ve put a copy in Anthea’s coffin to go with her.
Sister-in-law Lynne, Ian & family said: Taken too soon. You were one of a kind. Never forgotten - remembered with love.
Cousins Mike& Marianne and family say: Those we love like you darling Anthea don’t go away, you will walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed and still so very dear.
Cousins Damian, Heidi and Yasmin say: David,we would like to pay tribute to Paul, his offspring, and you and your family on the loss of Anthea.
Anthea’s sister, Melissa says: Anthea was a unique and colourful individual with a great zest for life.
Anthea’s sister, Katrina remembered this: Our family went to the MCG to watch a Geelong match. I was very young, Anthea perhaps 9? She sat next to me & an unknown person beside her.
Mother had packed sandwiches etc.and distributed them. As we sat munching while watching the game, Anthea said: "Mum, can I have a sandwich for my friend?".
We turned to see Anthea's friend - he was quite a derelict hobo-type, grinning at us, without teeth. I thought it was a lovely gesture at the time.
And that was theAnthea I knew and loved! She would befriend almost anyone, and then immediately be concerned about their welfare.
Cremation
The funeral service was held at White Lady Chapel, 741 High Street, Kew East at 1.30pm.For those of you for whom Anthea’s passing was an unexpected shock, I want to briefly tell you about the last 12 months. In June last year, at the height of the Melbourne 2nd COVID wave lockdown, Anthea was hospitalised with a bowel obstruction. That was easily fixed with laparoscopic surgery, but scans showed a large cyst in Anthea’s pancreas which was potentially pre-cancerous. She decided to have a big operation to remove the head of her pancreas. The large cyst was not cancerous, but a smaller cyst revealed an aggressive blood cancer (a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma). Scans revealed no other lymphoma in her body so she opted to delay chemotherapy and concentrate on recovery from the major surgery. This involved special enzyme tablets with meals, supplements, and exercise. By December she was recovering well and looking forward to Christmas. She then had a series of urinary tract infections. Christmas with family was very happy.
In late February, a fourth UTI landed her back in hospital, feverish, weak and confused. When she didn’t respond to intravenous antibiotics, tests revealed that the lymphoma was back at multiple sites in her abdomen and chest. When she was briefly lucid enough, she decided she wanted to have chemotherapy and I agreed she had no choice. Just before and during chemo we almost lost her several times to heart fibrillation and fever. Very weak and delirious, Anthea tried to do exercises in bed and keep up her nutrition. She didn’t want anyone to visit and see her like that. After a month with no progress and too weak for me to nurse her at home, Anthea moved to a nursing home. She continued to get weaker physically and mentally but still didn’t want visitors. She eventually stopped eating and drinking and she went on to palliative care. A few close family managed to visit during those last days. She was able to tell me she loved me until the day before she died. She passed peacefully and in no pain.
Interment of ashes
Anthea's ashes interred in Niche 3S, Wall AC, Diosma Garden, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale on 6 Nov 2021.Riana said: A beautiful service for dear Anthea today. She would have been watching over it and reminiscing along with all the beautiful stories that people told. How wonderful it was to hear not only how her incredible character had such an impact on peoples lives, but how she also inspired everyone by leading by example. I am sad I feel like I didn't get a chance to know her for very long but I feel blessed to say that I was able to get to know her at all. I loved her passion for creativity as I could see how much it meant to her by the joy in her eyes when she spoke about the jumpers she decorated and what she had been knitting. It's wonderful to have had that passion in common with her. I will forever remember how we came to the holiday house and you guys made beef casserole and she said the secret ingredient was dark chocolate! My casseroles have been better for it!!! Who would have thought! She was truly one of a kind and we will forever look at all things purple and think of her 💜 p.s. I will cherish this scarf forever it is stunning. What an honour it is to own something made by Anthea xoxoxo love & cwtchs always from all of us 💜
Paul's share of Anthea's ashes scatted at The Mouth of Paincalac Creek, Aireys Inlet on 6 Jan 2022.
David's share of Anthea's ashes buried near the junction of Fork Creek and Kingside Trail, Mount Stirling on 27 Mar 2022.
Find a Grave
Anthea Zara Tomkins
BIRTH
27 Sep 1946
DEATH
29 May 2021 (aged 74)
BURIAL
Springvale Botanical Cemetery
Springvale, Greater Dandenong City, Victoria, Australia
PLOT
Diosma, Wall AC, Niche 3S
MEMORIAL ID
244611957
Gravesite Details
Religion/Culture: Anglican, Date of Service: 9 Jun 2021
Endnotes
1. Noel K McCrae, Certificate of Marriage , 9815.
2. Noel K McCrae, Certificate of Marriage, 9815.
3. The Revd Graham Alexander Gall, Certificate of Marriage, 22172.
4. The Revd Graham Alexander Gall, Certificate of Marriage, 22172.