Dianne Biederberg, born in Melbourne, Australia, in December 1949, was a prominent figure in fostering Australian and New Zealand communities in the Netherlands. Her parents, Emanuel and Berta Biederberg, emigrated from Poland to Australia in 1938, settling in Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne. Dianne pursued her education at Elwood High and Brighton High before completing a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education at Monash University in 1972. She began a Master’s in Special Education but paused her studies to travel to Europe in 1972. During this trip, she visited Amsterdam, where she met her future partner. After subsequent visits, she decided to relocate permanently to the Netherlands in 1974.
In the Netherlands, Dianne held various positions, including roles at Polaroid and Ballast Nedam. She later spent a decade working at the Free University in Amsterdam. In 1990, she established her own company, CE Media. Her commitment to the Australian expatriate community was evident through her involvement with Australian Business in Europe – Netherlands (ABIE-NL), where she was a dedicated member.
Dianne’s passion for connecting Australians and New Zealanders led her to join the Australian and New Zealand Club (ANZC) in the Netherlands in 2016. She served as the club’s President, organizing numerous events and initiatives to support expatriates. Under her leadership, the ANZC celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking the milestone with a publication she co-edited, detailing the club’s history and impact.
Tragically, Dianne passed away on May 24, 2024. Her passing was a significant loss to the community she had nurtured for decades. The ANZC and its members continue to honour her legacy by fostering the connections and support networks she was so passionate about.
View image in webpage: https://migrant.huygens.knaw.nl/banner-biederberg/
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