Anne was born on 5 May 1929, and she died peacefully in Bendigo on 20 June 2025, with family by her side.

Anne was the eldest daughter of Mabel and Walter Redfearn, born in Echuca on 5 May 1929. Anne grew up on the family property 'Ellesmere' at Moulamein NSW. She enjoyed country life, riding horses and swimming in the river (even though their parents couldn’t swim to save them). Anne’s father built a small classroom on the farm for his daughters to be educated in by a governess. When Anne was 12, she and her sister Margy were sent to boarding school in Melbourne, attending Melbourne Church of England Girls Grammar School. A few years later, Elaine followed her sisters down to Melbourne. Going from a remote rural area to living in a city was very exciting for these young girls. They made many lifelong friends. When it was the end of term, they would travel home for school holidays – back and forward on the Melbourne train, a trip that would take all day.  They would be met at the Dhuragoon Railway Siding, where their father would collect them. If he was running late, they could hear him cooing out to them, just to let them know he was on his way. A memorable event that occurred while at Boarding School was when WW2 broke out, the School evacuated to Marysville. There, they stayed for two years (1942-1943), living in a large guest house called “Marylands” until it was safe to return to Melbourne. This was a great adventure for Anne and Margy.

After completing her education, Anne chose hairdressing as a career, staying in a boarding house in South Yarra. Margy and Elaine later joined her. After a while, she changed careers to office work, being employed at Nebesco 'Kelloggs', Spry Co. doing typing and shorthand. Anne was later employed as Personal Assistant to the accountant of the printing firm Regal Cartons of Collingwood. In 1955 she met and married Peter Sanderson, becoming stepmother to his two children Roger and Susan (Suzie). In 1960, Anne and Peter were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Linda. Anne was employed by the family company Sanderson Motor Co. Pty Ltd, working in the office doing the clerical work. She operated in this capacity until the business was sold in 1974. Anne then worked for six years as an Administrative Secretary with World Christian Action (the overseas arm of the Australian Council of Churches). She retired from this position in 1980, when she and Peter moved to the outskirts of Eildon where they began to enjoy their retirement. They purchased a boat and regularly spent time cruising and fishing on Lake Eildon. They had fruit trees, grew vegetables and had a few sheep. Anne enjoyed making all sorts of jams, pickles, and had a craze at one stage of making bread.  

After Peter’s death, Anne became more active in the local community. In 1991, Anne was elected as an Alexandra Shire Councillor. During her time on Council, she served on the Boards of Murrindindi Community Health, Darlingford Nursing Home, Eildon Hospital, Kellock Lodge, Goulburn Valley Road Safety Council and was active on other community committees. Anne was a councillor of The Shire of Alexandra from 1992 to 1994, she was elected as President in 1993, a role she relished as it gave her a new sense of purpose and achievement, representing for her community. Anne was presented with the Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians, 'International Year of Older Persons 1999' recognising the significant contribution to the community of Eildon and the Shire of Murrindindi.

She enjoyed travelling and, as often as she could, would take off to visit all her family and friends. Anne had numerous trips overseas to England travelling with her mother and Linda, visiting relatives having a stopover at Singapore. She also toured Europe, Spain, Portugal, Morocco and New Zealand. In 2006, she travelled with her sister Elaine to Vietnam on a Probus tour. They thoroughly enjoyed their holiday together. Another trip was with Margy, travelling on the Ghan and catching up with relatives in Darwin. The last overseas trip Anne took was to Japan in 2010, staying with friends. Anne inherited her knitting skills from her mother and enjoyed knitting throughout her life. Her exhibits at the Bendigo Show won her awards for her beautiful needle work. She enjoyed reading and always had a book on the go. Not to be daunted, Anne learnt how to use the computer, she used this new technology to keep in contact with friends and family that lived further afield. She always embraced a challenge. Anne had strong religious faith that supported her throughout her life.  She became part of the church family, generously giving her time to volunteer and supporting others. Every Sunday after church they would go out for lunch with their friends, family or anyone who was interested was invited.

In late January 2021, Anne drove up to Moulamein to visit family. The next day Anne went into the Retirement Village to spend the day with Margy; both had a lovely time together. Knowing them, they were probably hatching a plan to break Margy out of the nursing home. The following morning Anne awoke and showed signs of having suffered a stroke. Anne was placed into care at the Bendigo Freemason Nursing Home where she resided for four years. We shall remember Anne fondly as a very capable, independent, resourceful and resilient woman who now can have a well-earned rest, reunited with her loved ones.  

If you had told my eight-year-old self in 1973 that one day I would not only admire but love Miss Roberts (Mrs Duzer) I would have laughed. Back then, at only 28 years of age, she was strict. I, along with my equally mischievous friends Emma McLean and Kate Savage, was always in trouble. We tested boundaries, giggled at the wrong moments, and thought we could get away with anything. But Miss Roberts had eyes everywhere. There was no slipping past her. At the time, I didn’t appreciate her discipline. But now, as a teacher myself, looking back across nearly five decades, I see what she was really doing. She was giving us structure, holding us to high standards and showing us what it meant to be accountable. Many of her students went on to have highly successful careers, and I have no doubt that Elizabeth had a great deal to do with that. What felt like strictness to us children, was in fact the deepest form of care.

When I returned to Melbourne Girls Grammar as a teacher 12 years ago, it felt surreal to find myself working alongside the very woman who had once stood at the front of the classroom. As we shared morning teas, staffroom conversations, and the daily rhythms of teaching, I came to know her in a new light. As a colleague, Elizabeth has been endlessly supportive. She has shared her wisdom freely, offered guidance to younger staff and been a constant source of encouragement. She has been, quite simply, the teacher’s teacher. Beyond our professional lives, Elizabeth has become one of my dear friends. We have shared laughter, tears, and countless stories, not only about school but about life.  

Elizabeth’s teaching career began in the early 1970s. She spent time at Christ Church Grammar and Ivanhoe Grammar, but it was at Morris Hall that she built her legacy. Miss Mountain was the Headmistress at the time and interviewed Elizabeth. Suddenly, Miss Mountain had to leave to deal with a bomb scare prank. She left her dog with Elizabeth, who ended up playing catch and winning him over. Miss Mountain saw that her dog approved of Elizabeth, so she was offered the position! In 1978, the School Council decided to introduce a Prep Class in Walsh Street. Elizabeth was asked to set it up, which was indeed a privilege. Many parents were also involved in helping Elizabeth with this and it was a wonderful time in her life. For fifty years, Elizabeth taught generation after generation with unwavering commitment.  

“Mrs Duzer helped me make friends when I was new in Prep. She also taught my mum and aunt.” — Ivy

“Mrs Duzer taught me how to spell my name by using an acrostic poem. I will never forget that as it worked.” — Charlotte

She was an incredible learner and undertook so many different courses to enhance her knowledge of teaching. These courses covered reading recovery, EAL, autism, philosophy, reluctant reading and much more. In later years, she also became a Teaching Fellow at the University of Melbourne within the Master of Teaching Program. She is a woman of many interests – including the arts, music, travel, fundraising, cooking, gardening, horse riding, camping and many more, not to mention her impeccable sense of style. Elizabeth has travelled the world, the five Imperial Capitals and Anzac Cove, and attending the evening service at the Menin Gate in Ypres remain highlights.  

Elizabeth married a Frenchman in 1976 and had an incredible life with him, including travel and working and living in Airlie Beach where she became Directress of the Whitsundays Kindergarten. Together, they bred German Shepards for the police and army and climbed Mount Kosciuszko in record time. Very sadly, he passed away in 2002. Elizabeth has now been with a wonderful partner for many years with whom she has a very happy life and continues to share amazing travel adventures.

This year, not long after celebrating her 80th birthday last December, Elizabeth announced her retirement. This was an incredibly difficult decision for her as Morris Hall was a massive part of her life. She has served under six Junior Years heads and five School Principals. She is admired not just for her longevity, but for the way she carried herself every single day – with precision, fairness and remarkable presence. Even in her eightieth year, Elizabeth continued to stride into the classroom with the same poise and determination that marked her first day.

Elizabeth’s strictness, which once seemed overwhelming to a cheeky eight-year-old, became the foundation of her reputation as one of the most effective, respected, and admired teachers of her generation. She never compromised her standards, but she always paired them with fairness and a genuine belief in her students’ potential. Her retirement marks the conclusion of a teaching career that has shaped thousands of lives. And while classrooms may now echo without her voice, her influence lives on in every girl she taught, in every colleague she supported and in every friendship she nurtured.  

Elizabeth, you will be missed by so many people, but we are all incredibly grateful for everything you have contributed and for how many young lives you have changed for the better.  

Elizabeth would like to acknowledge the late Nina Crone for her utmost support, as well as Diane Bourke and Kelly Morgan for their care of all staff, and for allowing her to pursue her interests and creativity. She has made so many lifelong friends. It is the end of an era – not just for Morris Hall, but for Melbourne Girls Grammar as a whole.

— Written by Alison Heyes