By Kath Gannaway
First impression of the lives of Healesville’s Annie Luscombe and Wandin’s Don Strachan is that they wouldn’t have had much in common.
In fact, what they did share was a lifelong bond to the Yarra Valley, their own tight knit families, and their equally tight knit communities.
Don was immortalised long before his passing on 1 November, 2017, with the naming of the highest grade in Yarra Valley Cricket in his honour – the D J Strachan Shield.
In 2008, when the Mail interviewed Don about his cricket career, he was, typically, a little bemused and humble that he had inspired such a lofty honour.
Wandin was his home from the age of two, and throughout his life it was the home-base for family, including four children, education, work, sport and community.
As the local grocer, and a Justice of the Peace, he was part of day-to-day life for many Wandin families, and, of course, was an integral contributor to local sport.
Don dedicated a great part of his life to cricket as a player and official. He played football, badminton and tennis, and later in life took a shine to bowls, but cricket was his forte and his ‘best loved’.
Healesville was the centre of Anne Luscombe’s world. ‘Lady Healesville’ and ‘Wonder Woman’ were just two tags that although seemingly at odds, fitted very well with the indomitable ‘Annie’ Luscombe who died at 75 on 18 November, 2017, having fought a courageous and typically ‘no fuss’ 18-month battle with cancer.
She worked for many years at the local telephone exchange, with husband Brian at the picture theatre and for many years and was the public face of McKenzies Tourist Services at the booking office on Green Street and on the phone.
Annie was ‘second mum’ to hordes of kids who would fill the family home, and was adored by her own close family, work colleagues and many friends.
Read more of the lives of these two remarkable local identities in the Mail’s online tributes to Don Strachan and Anne Luscombe at mailcommunity.com.au .
