A life well lived — historian Heather remembered

Died: Echuca-Moama December 29, 2025

The history of Echuca-Moama and the Murray River is all the richer for Heather Rendle.

This remarkable woman was a driving force behind the local story for decades, and when she died on December 29, 2025, it marked the end of an era for the twin towns.

Heather didn’t just work recording and researching Echuca-Moama, she was a history maker.

When she was born in Tongala – the daughter of newsagents Doris and Reg Buchanan – no-one could have guessed at the impact she would have on many people and industries for so many years.

That a little girl from a country town would become the ‘go-to’ for academics, environmentalists, authors and filmmakers would have seemed the most incredible of outcomes had anyone suggested anything even like that.

But that is precisely what she delivered.

Heather was born into a family that was an integral part of the community, with her father recognised as a talented photographer.

She also spent a lot of time with her grandparents on their Bamawm/Pine Grove farm.

Like all the other kids in town, Heather eventually boarded the train to high school in Echuca.

Loving every part of every community in which she lived and socialised, Heather initially used that grounding to help communities conserve history, such as the laying of stones in historical places at Diggora and Milloo.

And through it all, Heather was also creating her own story, married to Lawrence, raising three children and working in several Echuca retail businesses.

Close friend and life member of Echuca Historical Society Dot Hammond recalled Heather enjoying joining Lawrence on the river in her spare time.

“She also kept working hard at her dressmaking skills, keeping up with family and was active on so many committees,” she said.

Heather was a volunteer with Echuca Cemetery Trust for more than 25 years, including 20 years as secretary — and at the same time also ran the cemetery office.

Long-time cemetery trustee Anita Bartlett said Heather was ‘’always offering people compassion and kindness at what is always a difficult time’’.

The role also meant Heather often had contact with the Chinese community, and she developed a good relationship with several of its leaders, assisting with updating some of their memorials.

“Of course, together with her cemetery interest, she was also instrumental in organising a headstone for Moama founder James Maiden’s grave in Bendigo,’’ Anita said.

In 1992, Heather became a member of Echuca Historical Society.

Heather immediately took on the role of secretary, a position she held for the next nine years, before switching to EHS head of research as well as squeezing in three years as treasurer.

In 2014, she was made a life member.

“Shortly after she joined EHS we purchased our first computer, and Heather grabbed this opportunity to digitise records (including the massive project of digitising all issues of the Riverine Herald) and access important online archives to mine information for her main focus — research and archiving,” Dot said.

“Throughout these early years with EHS, Heather found a mentor and good friend in local legend Helen Coulson.

“When I joined EHS in 2001 I was so lucky to be able to work with Heather on many important projects, especially as Heather was always looking to advance the society and was very strong in the ‘ideas’ department.’’

These ideas led to many great and varied exhibitions being produced for the public, including Echuca East Football Club, exhibition ‘Rathbone — the raw edge’, a collection of primitive art by Geo Rathbone, ‘Escape from Antarctica’ — a travelling exhibition with the Australian Maritime Museum and Indigenous soldiers at war.

Heather’s final exhibition, ‘Two men in a boat’, was five years in the making, hamstrung by COVID-19 closures at the museum and the South Australian Art Gallery, from where the photos were sourced.

“The eventual success of that exhibition was a fitting testament to Heather’s determination,” Dot said.

“Her extensive knowledge and connections also meant she was instrumental in having more than a dozen historical publications printed through the historical society.’’

As head of research, her skills researching family and local history led her to many other interesting and diverse projects.

Academics wanting information to complete PhDs, environmentalists wanting access to accurate data for new research projects, authors wanting to flesh out their tomes and filmmakers wanting facts for screens big and small.

Not a week went by without the society receiving a phone call asking for Heather, seeking her expertise and knowledge.

There was even a call from New York trying to reunite a former Echuca resident with his Bamawm classmates across a 69-year chasm — and of course Heather was able to track them all down and put them in touch.

Heather also had a rich relationship with regional Indigenous leaders, contacting them whenever there was a query needing their input.

True Tales of the Trout Cod author Will Truman said Heather was tireless in her endeavours on his behalf, while Midwives and Paddle Steamers author Mavis Gaff-Smith credited Heather’s research in her book.

Filmmakers producing Who Do You Think You Are? turned to Heather twice for their popular show — using her expertise to enrich programs featuring John Butler and Denise Drysdale.

Heather was also involved with the National Library Oral History Project, which currently has more than 50 oral histories in EHS archives.

Heather also helped train generations of museum members, while always keeping her own knowledge at the cutting edge.

One of Heather’s last ‘junkets’ was joining Wreckspotters, a training course run by Dr Brad Duncan, senior maritime archaeologist with Heritage NSW — yet another expert who relied on her expertise many times across the years.

Heather had the rare quality of always leaving people feeling positive and uplifted. She will be so very hard to replace and will always be missed.