WYLIE, Ann Philippa Daplyn - Died peacefully at Yvette Williams Retirement Village, on December 27, 2024; aged 102 years. Beloved Aunt of Fiona McAlpine, Cathy, Damalaya Agnijanma, Barby, and their families. Deep thanks to all the staff at Yvette Williams. - A funeral service will be held at St John's Anglican Church, Highgate, Roslyn at 11.00 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025, followed by a private interment. Messages may be left on Ann's page below.
Messages
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I first met Ann in 1991 when she popped her head into my office and asked if I needed any help. She had retired and was studying in the music department at Otago. I was a part-time clerical assistant employed to celebrate Mozart’s birthday, and yes, I needed help. She became a fixture during those months of Mozart-ness, and we got used to working late at night when I always gave her a ride home. She later recommended that I apply for the Chamber Music Dunedin Concert Manager position, and I got that job. We worked well together on many projects. I have always appreciated Ann’s support and her wise counsel. It was an honour to invite Ann to my retirement function in 2013 – as I said that day, it was time to prove there is such a thing as a free lunch, albeit long overdue. Thank you, Ann.
Dear Ann You were a wonderful teacher through my four undergraduate years in Botany over 50 years ago. I can still remember, as if yesterday, the many seminar sessions that you lead our 4th year honours class through on the ancient origins of life on earth from the time of the primeaval soup - through to your explaining the complexities of genetics and the wonders of meiosis. As students, we were so fortunate to have you as such a wise, kind and knowledgeable professor. Thank you Conway Powell
Ann introduced me to Botany in my first year at university in 1975. As a lecturer Ann conveyed the necessary, but one on one when you asked Ann for assistance she was just excellent - patient, supportive and keen to help. In later years once I had established my nature tourism business, Ann came on a botanical trip as a participant. I recall being so nervous having my ex Professor on a trip. But I relaxed a great deal once Ann had mixed up a young rimu and a Lycopodium club moss ! I thought if someone as knowledgeable as Ann could make a plant ID mistake, then the world wouldn’t end if I did. And I did of course ! Ann and others in the Botany department laid the foundations to enable me to spend my career with plants and conservation, and to work with Forest and Bird for several decades. Than you Ann.