Passing of former local resident Mrs Dodi Derera

Many in the Narrabri Shire community will be saddened to learn of the passing of former Narrabri resident Roza, known as Dodi, Derera.

Mrs Derera, 101, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 15.

Mrs Derera was a valued friend to many in the community, an accomplished artist in later life.

“I had spoken to her on Facetime the afternoon before she died,” her son Nick said.

“She had been down on energy, but had given me the thumbs up and a smile at the close of our conversation.

“She had a long and fulfilling life, touched many people, who will not forget her. We miss her dearly.”

Mrs Derera was born in Hungary on March 4, 1923 and married to Nick in January, 1946 in Hungary.

The Second World War and German occupation of Hungary brought great personal hardship and life threatening situations to Dodi, traumatic recollections she lived with for the rest of her life.

Following the war, the family moved to Australia after escaping the oppressive regime of Russian dominated Hungary.

Their escape was fraught with danger and uncertainty.

The family, Nick and Dodi and son Nick, arrived in Sydney in September 1957.

Dodi had five friends from high school in Hungary living in Sydney.

The family moved to Narrabri in 1958-9 where Nick took up a position at the NSW Department of Agriculture research station. Mr Derera is acknowledged today as a leading researcher in the development of the Australian cotton industry through his ground breaking work at the research station in the early 1960s and his advocacy for the industry.

He later served for many years as officer in charge at the University of Sydney Wheat Research Institute, oversighting a major expansion of the institute’s role.

In Narrabri, Dodi worked at Max Orman’s as a bookkeeper and subsequently for solicitor, the late Ian Bell.

Nick and Dodi were prominent in Narrabri, and engaged at many levels in the community. Mr Derera was a keen Rotarian.

In 1981 Nick Derera retired in his early 60s and the family moved to Winston Hills. He continued his research career, a journey characterised by innovative research in horticulture.

Mr Derera, 92, passed away in 2011.

Dodi subsequently moved to Melbourne to be closer to her son Nick and his family.

In the later phase of her life her talent as an artist brought her numerous art prizes in Melbourne and Sydney.

Mrs Derera is survived by her son Nick and his family.

The late Dodi Derera will be remembered with great affection and respect in this community and among her friends in Sydney and Melbourne.

The family will hold a private lunch to commemorate Dodi’s life. In 2023 the family celebrated her 100th birthday and now, as was her wish, she will be cremated and her ashes scattered on the ocean at Bermagui.