Community & Business
22 May, 2025
Dianne Cronk farewelled
A huge crowd of family, friends, Oakey Bears supporters, and acquaintances turned out for the funeral of much loved volunteer Dianne Cronk at St. Monica’s Catholic Church last week.
Dianne was a loyal and hard-working volunteer with groups such as the Oakey Bears and St. Monica’s Catholic Parish.
At the Bears she was a fixture in the steakhouse, never missing a home game or an AGM.
She had the rare distinction of being a life member of both Junior and Senior clubs.
In 2013, Dianne was Toowoomba Rugby League’s Volunteer of the Year.
Then-President John Dolan told the Champion Mrs Cronk was the heart and soul of the club.
“No one will know the amount of time she has sacrificed to her pursuit in helping rugby league in Oakey, and Dianne would have no idea herself, as she does not think of it as a sacrifice but more as her duty to the game that her sons loved playing,” he said at the time.
Her volunteering and time was not limited to football.
As recently as last year, she was heavily involved in the preparation of the Oakey Chamber of Commerce’s Carnival float.
Dianne’s impact within the community was reflected in the large funeral turnout.
Officiating priest Fr Thomas Areekuzhy noted that the attendance was the biggest he’d seen for a requiem mass in his time with the Oakey parish.
Daughter Katrina said that Dianne “was a generous giver of her time to the Oakey community.”
Born on March 8th 1953, Dianne Cronk (nee Lucht) grew up on a farm at Mt. Darry and attended Evergreen and Haden State Schools before doing secondary school at Crows Nest.
She was athletic, excelling at running, high jump, tennis and vigoro.
Dianne was a regular attendee of dances around the Kulpi district and met husband-to-be Cyril Cronk in the area.
The pair married on March 25th 1972.
Dianne worked in a clerical role at Piggotts Department Store, as well as the Oakey Army Aviation Base, Windmill Bakery and the Oakey Abattoir.
Not afraid to try new things, she was involved in yoga and tai chi classes.
Her sister Tracey reflected on Dianne’s joy, laughter, warmth and strength.
“Dianne made everyone feel special and valued,” Tracey said.
Strength was needed during the last part of her life in a long battle with breast cancer.
In 2014, she bravely decided to speak with this masthead about her journey.
“At first I was devastated but then I thought there is more to life,” she said at the time.
“You try to imagine it but you can’t unless it happens to you.
“Even if you are healthy make sure you self check regularly and definitely have regular screening because the sooner it is detected the great the chance of survival.”
Sister-in-law Monica Lucht read the fitting poem “She is Gone” by David Harkins.
The Cronk family acknowledged Dr Paul Vacey and the staff at BlueCare and St. Andrew’s Hospital for supporting Dianne through the final stage of her life.
Dianne Cronk passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on 2nd May 2025, aged 72 years.
Beloved Wife of Cyril (dec’d), she is the Mother and Mother-in-law of Russell; Katrina and Grant; Sheree and Paul; Damien and Christine.
Dianne remains an adored Nanny of Paige, Mia, Ned, Lainey, James and Sam and loving Sister of Geoff, Wayne (Ted) (dec’d), Joy, Bruce, Tracey and Shane as well as a loved sister-in-law and auntie to her extended family.
