LIELA Dohle leaves behind an extraordinary, 106-year legacy of dedication as a much-loved member of her family and a widely known and respected member of the community she served.

Mrs Dohle was born on 15 May, 1916, in Jeparit in the Wimmera – which she was always fond to tell people was also the birthplace of Australia’s longest-serving prime minister, Robert Menzies.

She first lived in Rainbow, where her parents were share-farming for around three years before they separated, leaving her with her mother who decided to look after her alone.

While Liela did not have an easy start to life, she fondly remembered the positives, such as the “magical day” once a year when she would take a train to Portland with other school kids and their parents.

When she was 12, after having lived in Cavendish and Ballarat, her mother remarried and they moved to a farm near Digby, where her companions were the farm animals and school was a long bike ride away.

Of the interests she developed in her early years – which would become central themes in her life and which she was later determined to pass on to her children – three of the highest on her list were driving, music and education.

Liela learned to drive on the farm and took great pride in her skills, at a time when few women were drivers.

Her skills came in handy during the Second World War, when she was employed to drive the Ansett bus between Hamilton and Digby.

She was proud of her achievement, but disappointed to give it away at the end of the war, as was the expectation of women at the time.

Her children would later benefit from learning from an experienced and accomplished driver and remembered her leaning across from the passenger seat to check their grip on the wheel was loose and relaxed.

Even after she was declared legally blind, she saw no reason to stop her driving guidance.

Liela was an accomplished musician, her experience including singing, the zither, piano, reed and electronic organs and the electronic keyboard.

She eventually acquired a pianola which led to endless hours of family and social evening singalongs – it is now close to 100 years old and still going strong.

Community musical evenings were frequent throughout her life and whatever the occasion, evenings would often end up with musical entertainments and singalongs.

Liela also placed importance on a good education and often expressed regret at not having the opportunity to complete further studies.

She left school at the end of Year 8 – despite being keen to continue learning – and she felt she could have helped with innovation on the farm if she had the opportunity.

She married Lyall Burgess at 27 years of age and they spent 27 years together, living in Digby, having three children and running the post office and general store.

After Lyall passed away in 1971, Liela was lucky to find love a second time and married Philip Dohle in 1973.

She also outlived Philip, who passed away in 1987.

Liela was known and remembered as an energetic contributor to her community, involved in many clubs and associations, not only as a member but often as an organiser or active office bearer.

She was involved with Probus, Friendship Force, Friends and Neighbours, Garden Club and Anglican Guild and gave 80 years of service to the Red Cross, which led to her invitation to Government House for a service award.

As a reflection of her standing in the community, Liela was nominated to take over Lyall’s role as the town’s Justice of the Peace.

At her induction in Melbourne’s Supreme Court, she was the only woman in the group of 12 inductees and was undeterred, leading the way through the ceremony.

She was always a competitor and excelled at tennis, golf, bowls, bridge and ballroom dancing, her motto being “be fair but play to win”.

She also enjoyed exercising and walking right up to the end – even after reaching 100, she insisted on completing laps of her driveway.

Her family and friends gave thanks for her contributions and guidance throughout her long life.

Liela is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, her step-granddaughter and 13 great-grandchildren.