OBITUARY
Anna Catherina Krans
Born:9 July 1911
Died:18 December 2005
REMEMBERED as a formidable lady with a passion for life, Anna Catherina Krans, one of Monbulk’s biggest characters, was farewelled last week.
Monbulk Uniting Church was filled to capacity on Wednesday, 18 January, as friends and relatives celebrated her life.
Anna Krans was born in the Netherlands in 1911 and was one of three sisters. She trained as a teacher and graduated from university in 1930 with a major focus on arts and crafts.
In 1930, Anna married Chris Krans and decided to migrate to Australia.
The couple arrived in the country on the eve of their 16th wedding anniversary.
The Krans’ had three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Granddaughter Jennifer Kidd said Anna had her fingers in many different pies and lived life to the fullest.
She was a member of the local Country Women’s Association, Probus, the church group, the Dandenong Ranges Music Council, and the Historical Society.
Ms Kidd said at a fundraising auction in the early 1980’s, Anna brought the evening to life. Anna, who was wearing a blue garter, decided to create a stir.
“She decided she would auction off the blue garter, so she did a bit of a dance and a shimmy, and raising her skirt took the garter off. Twirling it around her finger, she said, ‘you want more’.”
Mrs Kidd added: “She just had that type of wicked humour.”
Norma Durrand, of the Dandenong Ranges Music Council, said she met Anna in the late 1970’s when she did some casual teaching at Kallista Primary School.
She said there was one memorable Christmas carols session at the Patch Hall when a goat taking part in a nativity scene began to eat the greenery, but the children of the choir sang on.
She said they dared not look and obeyed the “you must watch the conductor” rule that Anna had instilled.
Anna and Chris were foundation members of the DRMC in 1979 and had a life-long interest in all its activities.
In the memory of her husband, Anna established the Chris Krans Youth Music Awards. She was unable to attend the 2005 auditions in November, but she had an active role, with all the judges’ comments sent to her for final approval.
“In May this year, it will fall to someone else to make the Kris Krans presentations, but in our hearts and minds it will be Anna standing there,” Ms Durrand said.
Monbulk Historical Society president Jan Williams said Anna, with her experience and eye for detail, was like a human reference library for other members.
Anna joined the historical society in 1988 as a foundation member and remained an active member until her recent illness.
She said another favourite pastime of Anna’s was the Saturday morning street stalls where she could meet and greet people, and every once in a while she would recognise a former student.
