Elizabeth Maria Van Zinnen, 8/11/49 –16/1/2015
Eldest daughter of Marta and Jan Van Zinnen
Elizabeth was a kind and considerate older sister to Veronica, Marianne and Frances.
Niece and very close friend to Marijke
Aunt to Rachel and Charlotte Askew and godmother to Rachel
Born in Rotterdam – early life, leaving Holland, arr. Scheyville,
Fluent in Dutch and English – like many migrant children, attended school in Australia with no English
Attended Farmborough road public school, then St Annes College, Dapto.
Quiet defiant streak when she thought something was unfair – expulsion from St Annes because she was asked to clean the toilets, talking back to nuns etc ??
Early social life in Wollongong, Columbus Club, Fraternity Club dances.
Stint of missionary work at Port Keats, NT
She loved swimming, such as at the Wollongong rock pool and nature walks. She moved from Wollongong to Canberra, and to keep fit, would walk up Mt Roger (near her home in Spence).
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| Marta and Elizabeth in 1982 |
Eldest daughter of Marta and Jan Van Zinnen
Elizabeth was a kind and considerate older sister to Veronica, Marianne and Frances.
Niece and very close friend to Marijke
Aunt to Rachel and Charlotte Askew and godmother to Rachel
Born in Rotterdam – early life, leaving Holland, arr. Scheyville,
Fluent in Dutch and English – like many migrant children, attended school in Australia with no English
Attended Farmborough road public school, then St Annes College, Dapto.
Quiet defiant streak when she thought something was unfair – expulsion from St Annes because she was asked to clean the toilets, talking back to nuns etc ??
Early social life in Wollongong, Columbus Club, Fraternity Club dances.
Stint of missionary work at Port Keats, NT
She loved swimming, such as at the Wollongong rock pool and nature walks. She moved from Wollongong to Canberra, and to keep fit, would walk up Mt Roger (near her home in Spence).
Travelled – visited China shortly after it ‘opened up’ to the West.
Despite leaving school early she managed to get work, mastering Pittmans Shorthand and eventually studied at uni in Canberra majoring in library studies. Following uni she secured a job at the National Library
Elizabeth loved reading and was reading until she could no longer. Goodbye Piccadilly was her last book.
Elizabeth had friends in Wollongong and Canberra where she met and married Michael, and they spend many happy years together. She supported her mum, Marta in her later years.
After retirement, she spent her time in enjoying cultural activities, film and theatre.