The Noosa community has paid tribute to Tewantin treasure Olive Joyce Donaldson, who died on Tuesday 2 August at the age of 94.
Olive was a well-loved community figure, known for her roles as a Women’s Auxiliary life member, life subscriber to the Tewantin Noosa RSL sub branch, and former Noosa Councillor.
Olive was the daughter of William J Ross, one of the founders and a long term president of the RSL Sub Branch.
She was a patron of the Women’s Auxiliary, having been involved with the organisation for more than 40 years. Olive enlisted in the RAAF for six months in 1951 and was also a Councillor at Noosa Council for many years.
Olive’s first cousin, Trevor Clarey gave the eulogy at her funeral on Thursday 11 August at Drysdale Funeral Home, followed by her wake at the Diggers’ Bar.
“What a legend,“ Trevor said.
“What a Tewantin treasure she is. To describe Olive’s life, one has to be standing here in a coat of many colours.
“Many of us gathered would have been taught swimming by Olive… Many gathered today would have been taught dancing and ballet in the old Tewantin RSL Hall.
“Olive was a service lady, staunch monarchist and war widow. It is fair to say the magnificent Tewantin RSL Club of today would not exist but for Olive’s generosity.”
Long-time Noosa resident Dean Harlow said Olive was a very close and dear friend.
“I had known her since I was about five years old,“ Dean said.
“I used to live beside her when she was in Ross’s Butcher Shop in Tewantin. It’s only in later years that I’ve become extremely close to her.“
Gary Roper said Olive was a woman much ahead of her time.
“She was a go-getter,“ Gary said.
“When I first met her she was delivering meat out of the back of a utility. My family lived out at Sunshine Beach so they would home deliver meat to us. She was a smashing sort. When you were a young boy, you would take notice of these things and she was a very attractive and resourceful woman.“
He said Olive was a woman of the world.
“She knew all about what was going on in the world and she had an opinion,“ Gary said.
“No matter what you say, it won’t be enough. She was so vast that you can’t wrap it up in a couple of words. In all my time in the Noosa area, there’s no female that has done more than Olive. She was like a living icon. I always thought she was going to outlive me actually.
“She went to 94 years and was still intelligent in the end. I think she’ll get through the pearly gates no worries.“
Gary said Olive should be appreciated for her contributions to the area.
“There should be a statue put up in the town somewhere recognising her contribution to Noosa,“ he said.
