Dr Maryanne Balanzategui

Maryanne Lucia was born in Ingham hospital on September 14, 1966, the first girl after five boys, to Bingen and Linda Balanzategui. Mum finally got her daughter. Mum and Dad tried for another girl, but Maryanne ended up with a baby brother instead. Mum is here with us today, turning 90 in May this year. Unfortunately, Dad (Bingen) passed away in 1994.

Maryanne grew up surrounded by cousins and family. Three families lived on the cane farm at Stone River and her early years were spent playing with her 5 brothers Vince, John (deceased), Raymond, Tony and Bingen and many cousins. Many of you may not be aware that Maryanne had another brother who passed away as an infant before she was born. 

Swimming in Stone River (pre-crocodile times!) and playing dress-ups with Yvonne and Roseanne (using her little brother Bingen as a mannequin) were some of the fun early times had on the farm. Maryanne had a short, failed dancing career when she realised she had 2 left feet. Mum was determined that arts and music should be part of Maryanne's life and bundled her and Bingen off to guitar and piano lessons. As a result, a very heavy piano was lugged up the stairs by her brothers Vince and John and friends. We've never forgotten how heavy that darn piano was! You wouldn't believe it … after all the effort of getting that piano up the stairs, she headed off to boarding school shortly after!

Maryanne attended Canossa Convent in Trebonne for the 7 years of primary school. While in year five, Mum, Dad, Maryanne and Bingen travelled to Europe and America on a massive 8-month holiday. It probably sparked Maryanne's love for travel. Maryanne and Bingen attended school in Lekatio in the Basque Country for about 3 months. While there, the family had the opportunity to learn all about their Basque heritage and visit the resting places of their grandparents. Maryanne's passion for Basque culture began there.

After Canossa, Maryanne attended Gilroy Santa Maria until Grade 10. At one point during this schooling time, the nuns told Maryanne she wouldn't be able to cope with the harder maths subject and should stick to the simpler one. It was one of the many instances where Maryanne's 'can do' attitude came to the fore. This trait is incredibly reflective in her two beautiful daughters, Eliza and Molly, in what they have so far achieved. She did the harder maths and smashed it!

This is when Maryanne's dating life was also about to start. Bingen and Maryanne always laughed about the time she was getting ready for her first date. Maryanne was attempting to iron her dress and Bingen, the ever-annoying 'baby brother', refused to move out of the way. He just lay on the floor taunting her. Maryanne's fuse was short that day. Bingen still wears the scar in his eyebrow where Maryanne threw the ironing board on him resulting in a visit to the hospital and six stitches. As punishment, no date occurred!

Year ll and 12 saw Maryanne move to the big smoke of Brisbane attending the exclusive Lourdes Hill Girls' Boarding School. This would have been a massive culture shock to Maryanne, growing up in the country on a cane farm. However, Maryanne absolutely loved her time there, making lifelong friends.  

Three of these city girls came to experience farm life with Maryanne one school holiday. After a night out in the roaring metropolis of Ingham, I decided the girls needed a bit of excitement. At the time, pigs were a problem on the farm. I had managed to get a big one that afternoon while they were enjoying themselves and decided to show these 'Lourdes Hill girls' what farming life could really be like. The head, with tongue hanging out of its mouth, was placed delicately on a lovely silver serving platter and positioned to greet them inside the door to their bedroom. By the time the girls got home, the tongue had swollen and made the head appear to be smiling at everyone. I also made sure the phone was disconnected. Little brother Bingen remembers the screaming, squeals and F#*! you Vince!

School finished and Maryanne's next chapter in life began. Others are going to speak in more depth, but it is important to us, as her brothers and representing her Mum, to acknowledge how incredibly proud we are of her many achievements and what she brought to our world.

Maryanne, we thank you. You gave us the incomparable Andrew and two precious nieces in Eliza and Molly, cementing them in our lives and family.  

From becoming a Registered Nursing Sister, Dietician and ultimately fulfilling her lifelong dream of being a doctor and travelling the world - all while raising two young daughters and being a loving wife - is truly phenomenal.  

So bright, vivacious, funny, bossy, organised and busy. You fit two adventurous and full lifetimes into your short 56 years. You were the glue in our family and a hole than can never be filled.  

Maryanne, we are completely in awe. You will be forever missed and loved.

  Rest in peace.