Lauris passed away peacefully at Maldon Hospital 26th September 2025 aged 89.
Loving daughter of Dorothea (nee Grummisch) and Cornelius (Con), sister of Con, Dorothea (dec) and Jan (dec).
Much loved aunty of Megan, Sally and Penelope
and great aunty to James, Callen and Liam.
Sadly missed by all who knew her.
Remembered by so many for her love of life and sense of fun.
Very special aunty of Jai, Jon and Mandy, Caroline and Staale, Nick and Anita.
Much loved great aunty of Espen, Mats, Jess and Amalie.
Much loved aunty to Takarlya and Reilly, and loved by Jaime.
We will miss her humour, stories and walks together.
A wonderful person with an equally wonderful personality.
Rest in Peace, Aunty Lauris.
A private memorial will be held for Lauris later in the year.
Life history
Lauris was born in Rutherglen where her father, Con, worked as a research scientist on local vineyards. She spent her childhood living at Mt Rouse,
at the research farm in Werribee and in Ormond.
She was a bright curious child, and at the age of three, joined in with her older siblings’ schooling with a country teacher.
During her secondary years, Lauris boarded at Firbank Grammar School in Brighton.
She was both popular and trusted by her fellow students, and consequently asked to perform leadership roles at a relatively young age.
Lauris went on to study as a dietician, working briefly at Perth Hospital, and then chose to retrain in teaching. In the 60’s Lauris joined a social club for young people in Melbourne, that had recently been established by a friend. It was there that she met and became engaged to Kit. When Lauris was 20, Kit was killed in a tragic plane accident whilst training to become a pilot. Lauris carried this loss privately throughout her life, and never married.
Instead she became an intrepid traveller, and continued on in life as a vibrant, full of fun person, liked by all who met her. Lauris enjoyed joking that she would one day write a book entitled “The many people I have slept with”, alluding to unusual sleeping companions encountered in hostel dormitories, train carriages, tour group tents and even a deserted football pavilion once.
Lauris travelled to Papua New Guinea, working there as a teacher for several years, and became close to people in the community. This experience sparked her love of travel. Many years of travelling to different countries “on a shoe string” followed. She worked in a variety of jobs at home and abroad to support this lifestyle: tea lady, secretary, housecleaner and teacher.
As a young child, Lauris had been fascinated to hear the family’s Italian gardener speaking his language. This led to a determination to learn Italian one day. She moved to Italy, undertook a language course, and then worked as an au pair for an Italian family.
In between travels, Lauris returned to Australia and taught maths, science and cooking at Firbank and at Templestowe College; and later ran the girls’ boarding house at Ballarat Grammar School for many years.
Lauris moved to Castlemaine in 1985 with her mother Dorothea and sister Jan. They renovated a house together, established a beautiful garden, and became active participants in the local community. Lauris taught herself to become an artisan doll-maker. Her handcrafted, detailed and intricate dolls were shown at exhibitions, and sold throughout the region. This didn’t stop Lauris from adventuring far afield however. The three women travelled all over Australia on conservation style bus tours, ensuring that they visited every region, and learnt the history, flora and fauna of each.
During the mid 90’s, Lauris’ mother became unwell with dementia, and Lauris cared for her at home until her death in 1997. In 2001, Lauris’ sister was diagnosed with cancer, and Lauris nursed her at home until her death in 2003. Lauris herself survived a diagnosis and treatment for cancer in 2010. Following her recovery, she resumed her travelling adventures.
As Lauris had been speaking Italian fluently since her 20’s, she returned many times to Italy. Other countries visited which she often spoke of included Madagascar, China, Egypt, Russia, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Altogether, Lauris visited a total of 101 countries.
To say that Lauris lived a full life is an understatement. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.
A private memorial will be held for Lauris later in the year.
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We are saddened by the death of Lauris. We met her through Jan and got to love the two girls and their mum. Mum (Dorothea) always questioned my motives towards her daughters when I visited. Did I have money, was I honorable and what were my intentions. Lauris was an excellent crafts person and held a couple of exhibitions at our home. When ever she visited there was always much laughter and fun. She was comfortable in our company and home to invite a couple of her boarding house boys to meet her here. Even though we have had little contact with her for several years, we will miss her but will always be thankful for the impact she, Jan, mum Dorothea and sister Dorothea had on our lives.
Lilian and Peter Skilbeck
A wonderful neighbour for over 25 years in Castlemaine.
Full of humour and common sense and, for the absent minded, a completely reliable guide to the recycle bin timetable!
Bernard Slattery
As a child, my aunty Lauris seemed a mysterious figure when she was off travelling in places with faraway names. When she was back home in the extended household of my grandparents, she was a lively character, who related to each of us grandkids as individuals in our own right.
As a teenager, Lauris visited our house weekly, whipping up exotic meals we had never tasted before. It was then that I realized how discerning she was of each or our personalities. You just knew that she understood things about you. There was an intrinsic strength to her, a principled way of relating, that lay alongside her ever-present jolliness and playful banter.
I saw Lauris less during my early adult years, as I blossomed into adventurous ways myself. Looking back, I now attribute my pathway as an independent woman drawn to novel exciting pursuits, as reflective of Lauris’ legacy.
Over the last 20 years we have grown close. She has been both friend and travelling companion. We’ve been on many adventures, locally and further afield. I was present for Lauris’ iconic trip to her hundredth country. It was Costa Rica that she chose, for its prefacing of the natural environment. At 83, she rode a zipline over a cloud forest, and then in Galapagos she rode a zodiac to pay homage to giant tortoises, boobies and iguanas.
Her passionate love of nature and love of all its creatures, and her kind enjoyment of people with all their foibles: these things touch me deeply, as they are themes running deeply through my own life.
As you can all attest to yourselves, Lauris’ company was of the finest ilk. Full of fun, quick witted intelligence and an unquenchable zest for life, Lauris also quietly personified a philosophy of sanguine adaptability to whatever life brought.
In recent years, both of us independent types who didn’t rely on others, began to say “I love you” to each other. An especially big shift for each of us, I think. It meant a lot.
Dear Lauris, may you live on, in the way that you’ve touched each of our lives……
Jai
So sad news. Lauris was a beautiful perosn with the kindest soul. She was such a wonderful person who will be very much missed. When we lived in Ballarat, I remember that she made the best fried rice I have ever tasted, never found any better. I also remember the family story for us kids that if she was upset with you, you would see her “Purple Eye”. I thought she was a witch or had mystical powers. She was so cool.
Lauris was always in for a chat. She loved having guests downstairs though often complained she wouldn’t have missed them. Loved her garden.
Was taken aback at first when two guys arrived late at night with their moving truck, but got over it. And got used to two blokes next door.
Very proud of Castlemaine and it’s culture.
Lauris was a loving beautiful person, my daughter Danni and myself will miss her dearly. Lauris loved going for a trip into the countryside seeing
different trees and flowers, even beautiful birds, we love you very much Lauris.
Rest peacefully Lauris. I enjoyed our lovely chats about your life and the wonderful adventures and travels you enjoyed.
Carina xx
Maine Shoes
I feel privileged to have met Lauris and gotten to know her during the last chapter of her life, but boy, did I miss out on the rest of those chapters. I’m grateful she trusted me. She would regale me with stories of her amazing life of worldwide travel and adventure. Her stories often had a self-deprecating edge – one of her many gifts was her ability to laugh at herself. She had a wicked wit, a sharp intellect and a generous and compassionate heart and gaze, born from understanding life sometimes hurts.
Sending sympathy to those closest to her as they miss and mourn her.
Danni from Maldon Hospital
I wish I’d seen Lauris more often. She was so creative and loved to travel – I think we would’ve had so much to talk about now. I find myself wishing I could share the things I’m doing with her and hear her stories in return.
It was always special when we saw her or when she came to visit, even though living far apart made it hard. One of my favourite memories is when she stayed the night with me and spent time bathing, blow drying, and looking after my favourite toy, Monkey. It might seem small now, but it meant the world to me – a memory I’ll hold in my heart forever.
Although Lauris and I shared many acquaintances, I didn’t really know her until she moved to Castlemaine and became a neighbour. Over the years we became firm friends – she was such good company, always with a keen intellect and a wicked sense of humour. She and my late husband George shared a great interest in scientific matters and enjoyed their discussions very much, as they also did their interest and ability in the Italian language. She was not only interested in intellectual pursuits though – she turned her hand to joining many others from here in participating in the Christmas decor of the beautiful art museum The Johnson Collection, by hand stitching a superb piece based on one of the artworks in the collection (as required). Her world travels were a great love, and I know as she aged she enjoyed the fact that Jai was ready to travel with her and take some of the responsibility of organising their touring itinerary, which she no longer wanted to do. Their relationship was a great comfort to her, and even more so as she became less able in her final months. A feisty, interesting woman, who loved a good discussion, good food and good company.