By Callum Ludwig
A memorial will be held next month for Beloved former Yarra Ranges councillor and mayor Di Moore after she passed away in Ballarat in December 2021.
The memorial will be held at The Memo in Healesville on Saturday 2 April from 1pm to 3pm with free tickets available on a booking system set up by Yarra Ranges Council from Friday 11 March.
Mayor of Yarra Ranges Council Jim Child said Yarra Ranges Council was saddened by her passing, and that Healesville has lost someone who was very passionate about the community.
Ms Moore lived in Ringwood prior to moving to Healesville in 1977 with her husband, quickly buying a house in what she thought was a beautiful country community.
Ms Moore’s first foray with council was as a councillor with the former Shire of Healesville, representing the Badger Creek Ward from 1988 until commissioners took over as part of council amalgamation in 1994.
She went on to represent the Ryrie Ward as a Yarra Ranges councillor from 1997 until 2005, including being elected as Mayor of Yarra Ranges in 2000, where she organised great bicentennial celebrations and played a part in welcoming the Olympic torch to Healesville during the Sydney Olympics torch relay.
Jane Judd became close friends with Ms Moore after she moved to Healesville in 1986 and said Ms Moore was an incredibly community-focused person who was loved for her enthusiasm.
“Di was incredibly compassionate and understanding. She had great energy and commitment to improving services for the community,” Ms Judd said.
“She had a long history of trying to maintain services for the community. When I first met her, she had been involved in trying to retain the railway system, which was being dismantled at the time.”
Mrs Moore was also a strong advocate for bringing in Eastern Access Community Health with the merger of Rivendale Community Support and the Healesville adult daycare centre.
She also worked to secure the 99-year lease awarded to the Living and Learning Centre site and to renovate The Memo hall, and was successful in lobbying for the Badger Creek old school building to be moved across the road and retained for the community.
In her spare time, Mrs Moore sang for Leah Marlow’s choir for over 10 years and was a passionate tennis player, playing doubles tennis for many years. She also was a regular attendee at local churches.
Anyone who would like to tribute Ms Moore at the memorial is encouraged to get in touch with Ms Judd.
RSVPs for the event can phone The Memo 1300 368 333 or in-person at the venue when open.
Online reservations can be made via the link: https://YARRARANGES.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/52170
