Lorne Victoria Australia

Lorne people with family names starting with D.

  • Diviny, Kevin and Suzanne (2017)
  • Dull, Jennifer (2018)

Diviny, Kevin and Suzanne (2017)

Kevin and Suzanne Divinny, 2016

Three years ago the Divinys moved permanently to Lorne. Both had spent camping holidays here when they were young but without knowing each other. Years after when Suzanne’s parents bought an oceanfront block and built a beach house, their Lorne holidays continued. The house was lost in the ’83 fires but quickly rebuilt in time for her mother’s 60th birthday.  In their retirement, her parents lived in it until they moved into the Lorne Nursing Home. It is the house Kevin and Suzanne live in today. In fact they even first met nearby, at a neighbours New Year’s Eve party in 1977, married in 1979, had two children and now have a grand daughter.

Suzanne’s career was in sales, mainly in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.  Currently, she helps at Lorne Pharmacy when needed. She is a member of the newly formed Lorne Walkers Club, loves gardening, tennis, reading and has a library of cookbooks. “She is a brilliant cook” Kevin adds.

She is significantly involved in our community as Treasurer of the Lorne CFA and Facilitator of the Lorne Local Command Facility.

Kevin is a Polymer Scientist and has specialised in packaging. He runs a small consulting business from Lorne, part time.  Tennis has been and is his passion. When they lived in Melbourne he was President of Ormond Tennis Club and played in Lorne at weekends. Now he is not only on the committee for the Country Club but played in the winning doubles team this winter in the Geelong Tennis Competition.

Kevin has recently joined the SES, is a member of the Aquatic Club, the Bowling Club and the Book club. He is a gardener, a reader and enjoys music.

If the ecstatic disposition of their two dogs is a reflection of their owners, Suzanne and Kevin are exceptionally happy living in Lorne.

CW

Dull, Jennifer (2018)

Jennifer Dull, 2018

Yallourn born and educated, Jennifer, trained as a nurse at what is now known as The Western General Hospital. She returned home three years later to work at the local hospital – her goal, to save money to be able to travel.

She worked in the UK for two years, enjoying regular trips to Europe. During this time, a relationship developed with a fellow nurse. “Every time I would come back Alan he would be waiting for me. Alan was from Mauritius and I had a single ticket home”. They married in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne the day before she boarded the ship because regulations required Alan to remain in UK until his visa was processed. It was six months before he received the documents and able to join his new wife.

Jennifer and Alan set up home in Melbourne. She worked at Mount Royal Hospital and Alan at The Royal Park Psychiatric Centre. Three years later in 1974, they moved to Bendigo where Jennifer worked in a Vision Australia Foundation Nursing Home and Alan nursed at the Bendigo Psychiatric Centre. At the Nursing Home Jennifer developed a keen interest in dementia and learned modern techniques for nursing her patients. “It’s about honour and respect and what is called validation. I was able to make a difference”.

It was during this time that Jennifer attended a local retreat exploring the meaning of humanity. She was deeply affected. Later she enjoyed visits to Springwood in Lorne and introduced Alan to the community. On one visit in 1998, they bought an old house in need of major work. Their idea was it could eventually be part of a sea change or even retirement. While this was in the planning they renovated the property and rented it out for five years.  By now, they had three children. In 2003, after 27 happy years in Bendigo they moved to Lorne to begin their dream retirement. Sadly Alan died after just fifteen months.

For the next four years Jennifer grieved and searched for direction. She found it in books. “The written word is just so wonderful. I found solace in the poetry of Rumi and classical music. I began a new life of understanding. Every year I go on a retreat to reawaken my passion for life”.

“Lorne is a beautiful place and an embracing community. I am an active member of the Bowling Club, I help at the Opp Shop, am a member of The Church, I love volunteering at the Nursing Home and do exercises at Senior Citizens and at the pool. So far I have had an amazing life “.

CW

 

Sources

  • Lorne Historical Society Collections
  • Surf Coast Times, Committee for Lorne Page, Community Profile by Cynthia Wynhoven.