Nancy Frances Mary Lowe
1921–2013
Born: 14 Sept 1921 · Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Died: 16 Jun 2013 · Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Married: 1943 · Balranald, New South Wales, Australia
Family
- Father
- Ronald Lowe
- Mother
- Inez Isobel Johnston
- Spouse
- Iles Bertrol Robert Rohde
- Children
- Barry Ashlen Rohde
Biography
Born 14 Sept 1921 Launceston Tasmania. Married Iles Bertrol Robert “Bob” Rohde in 1943 at Balranald NSW. Trove advertisements show Rohdes' Bakery operating in Berrigan from at least 1952 to 1958, and a community reference supplied by Luke names “Bob and Nance Rohde” in connection with the bakery. From 1960 the family owned and lived in the former Johnson’s Reef Hotel on Eaglehawk Road, where the family ran a pie shop, mixed business and later newsagency; Barbara Zysvelt recalled working in the shop with her mother from 1960 until 1981 and remembered Nancy/Nance as a popular listener for customers. Died 16 Jun 2013 Bendigo Victoria.
Sources & Records
Rohdes' Bakery, Berrigan newspaper advertisements
Trove / National Library of Australia, The Berrigan Advocate advertisements, 1952-1958
Primary evidence for business existence under Rohdes name; secondary/user-supplied evidence links Bob and Nance directly to operation/proprietorship.
- Rohdes' Bakery advertised in Berrigan in 1952, 1954, 1957 and 1958.
- The business described itself as bakers and pastrycooks.
- A community reference supplied by Luke names the bakery as operating in the time of Bob and Nance Rohde and Reg and Betty Cobb.
- No primary source has yet been found saying Robert/Bob Rohde legally owned the bakery.
Bendigo Advertiser: Memories of a gold rush icon
Wendy Williams, “Memories of a gold rush icon”, Bendigo Advertiser, 20 Dec 2013; captured 1 Jun 2026
Strong secondary newspaper/local-history source with first-person family recollections and captioned gallery images.
- The Rohde family owned the former Johnson’s Reef Hotel from 1960.
- Bob/Iles Rohde was a baker, installed an oven in the former barber shop, cooked pies, and ran a pie shop.
- The family also ran a mixed business and later a newsagency from the building.
- The mixed business stopped making money after a supermarket opened.
- The former hotel was also the Rohde family home, where Mike, Barry, Peter and Barbara grew up.
- Barbara Zysvelt worked in the shop with Nancy/Nance from 1960 until 1981; Nancy is remembered as a popular listener in the shop.
- Barry used the cellar for band practice; the cellar door had a Jimi Hendrix mural.
Photos
Documents & Records
Rohdes' Bakery advertisement, 27 Aug 1952
Advertising (1952, August 27). The Berrigan Advocate (Cobram, NSW. : 1891 - 1970), p. 6. National Library of Australia, Trove. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article271838770
Rohdes' Bakery advertisement, 4 Aug 1954
Advertising (1954, August 4). The Berrigan Advocate (Cobram, NSW. : 1891 - 1970), p. 3. National Library of Australia, Trove. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article271842887
Rohdes' Bakery advertisement, 15 Oct 1957
Advertising (1957, October 15). The Berrigan Advocate (Cobram, NSW. : 1891 - 1970), p. 2. National Library of Australia, Trove. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article270650841
Rohdes' Bakery advertisement, 21 Jan 1958
Advertising (1958, January 21). The Berrigan Advocate (Cobram, NSW. : 1891 - 1970), p. 2. National Library of Australia, Trove. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article270754903
Research Notes
Rohdes' Bakery evidence: Trove advertisements prove the business operated/advertised in Berrigan from at least 1952 to 1958. User-supplied community reference names Bob and Nance Rohde; primary legal ownership source still needed.
Bendigo phase: article identifies Barbara working in the shop with her mother from 1960 until 1981; this is treated as Nancy/Nance unless contradicted by family evidence.
User-provided rohde_store.jpeg shows the Rohde name on the shopfront/parapet and “Milk Bar” signage; exact date and people/business phase should be confirmed with family memory.