Deanne Florence Robertson “De” McLennan 12 September, 1950 – 3 June, 2025

Denise White

I was blessed to meet De when I was around 25 years old. Pretty much a country bumpkin, (I still called lunch dinner and dinner tea!!) I had moved to Melbourne to work and found De on Flatmates. I still recall our first meeting. She lived in a charming apartment in Washington St Toorak. I entered another world when she opened the door. This sophisticated woman, blond bob, gold earnings, thick rimmed glasses. I was in awe. I still remember her purple knitted skirt and jumper outfit, and interesting shoes. Always interesting shoes. And a whif of what was her signature perfume - Paris by Yves Saint Laurant. The living room was cosy, and eclectic. Furnished with antiques, quirky momentos and captivating posters and prints. Her love of travel, Europe and history, very evident. I adored her. We went on to have a lot of fun, adventures and outings. Sking trips, country drives, horseriding adventures, weekends away, houseboat holidays at Metung. We had a few ups and downs along the way, but nothing a good belly laugh didn't resolve. For all her sophistication, De was down to earth. She loved good conversation, preferred the outer at the footy, a champion for justice and human rights. It didn't matter if you were a prince or a pauper. To be highly regarded by De, you just needed to be real. She devoted herself to what was important to her. Her work, her family, her friends, her passion for Europe and more importantly than all of that, Andrew and Gabriella, as they are devoted to her. I'm so grateful for the way De influenced my character and opened my eyes to so much. We spent her 40th birthday in Paris together. I'll never forget changing hotels and travelling on the underground, amongst the crowded carriages, De clutching a birthday bunch of long stemmed red roses someone had sent to her from Australia. ❤️ My dear friend. Thankyou. Vale Denise