Busselton apexian foldly remembered

KIM KIRKMANBusselton Dunsborough Times The life of a dedicated Busselton volunteer and family man who died in a car accident in Sydney last week was celebrated in Busselton on Friday. Graham

John Holtfreter was killed in a collision with a petrol tanker in Mona Vale, Sydney last week. Mr Holtfreter and his wife were visiting friends they’d met in India earlier this year on

their return from a two-month holiday in New Zealand and the East Coast when the accident occurred on October 1. He is survived by his wife Maxine, daughters Christine and Leanne and son

Tim, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The 71-year-old was a life member of Busselton Apex Club and an active member of Busselton Naturalists Club and Geographe Caravan Club. He

was born in Merredin on February 23, 1942 and spent his formative years in Northam. Mr Holtfreter was an accomplished footballer, basketball player and long-distance runner during his high

school years. In later years he joined the local pistol club in Northam, a sport he continued throughout his life; he was subsequently awarded life membership of the Busselton Pistol Club.

He was also involved in Rovers Junior Football in the 1980s. Mr Holtfreter started married life in Kellerberrin working at the Water Corporation. Promotions took him to Merredin, Perth,

Bunbury, Harvey and Kalgoorlie before he settled with his young family in Busselton in 1970. He also worked as engineering district officer with the Public Works Department. His involvement

with Apex, which he first joined in Harvey in 1967, led to his election as district governor there and a life membership award for Busselton Club in 1982. Mr Holtfreter’s daughter Christine

Weston described him as a man of integrity who could be counted on for his diligence, ingenuity and enthusiasm. “He had an excellent sense of humour and was fun to be around,” she said. Mr

Holtfreter always enjoyed tinkering in his shed and, since his retirement 10 years ago, enjoyed travelling all over the world. “Closer to home, they enjoyed nothing more than to hook up the

van and head out to explore Australia,” Ms Weston said. “He has enjoyed researching our family tree and some of their travels have been to follow up leads on distant relatives. “He was a

proud and involved father and enjoyed in recent years passing on his marroning and camping skills to his grandchildren.” GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for

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