Vale Antonio Rafael Bruhe - October 10, 1959 – November 8, 2025
Antonio passed away unexpectedly on November 8, 2025, at the age of 66. His friends and neighbours Janet and Andrew von Berky confirmed his passing and, with great sadness, managed to track down his former wife Regine, his son David, his half-sister Irene and his half-brother Marco, and informed his work colleagues and other local friends.
Antonio was born in Munich, Germany, to his German mother Hanna and his Spanish father Antonio, a touring musician, who returned to live in Spain when Antonio was three. His father’s family later moved to Sydney, where Antonio visited at the age of 21, driving a taxi and living with his Spanish family for six months. Having fallen in love with Australia, he went back to Germany to apply for his permanent Australian residency and met his son David’s mother.
Soon after, he met Regine through their shared enthusiasm for health foods, and they began their relationship. Meanwhile, his son David was born. Regine and Antonio married four years after they met, and they moved to Australia.
They first arrived in Sydney, where they stayed with Irene and her family for three months, bought and did up a Toyota FJ55 Landcruiser to travel around Australia’s wild places, covering central Australia, the Tanami Desert, the Kimberley, the Top End and the East Coast. They returned to Sydney but, with Antonio being offered work in his friend Leo’s backyard printing business, decided to move to Adelaide for four years.
Their shared passions for travel, nature and a simple life took them on a second journey to find their permanent home and led them to Maleny, where Regine found work and where they lived until the Bellthorpe West Road property was found, the land cleared and the house built to lock-up stage by a local builder, with Antonio’s assistance, to be completed as owner-builders.
An orchard and market garden were established, and produce sold to the local co-op. Bellthorpe social life was enjoyed – friendships were soon made, with dinners, dancing and bush dances. Clay sculpting became a passion. Antonio’s son David visited from Germany several times, as did Antonio’s mum. Among other things, Antonio worked at Jim and Maureen Johnson’s dairy and was involved in the local Bush Fire Brigade.
Sadly, Antonio and Regine’s marriage dissolved after 14 years together, to his regret in later years. Antonio went on to become a long-term employee at the Clock Shop in Montville, where he was an excellent salesman and a trusted friend to all the staff. He also worked at the local computer shop and was an integral team member in creating the third edition of the educational resource The Blackall Range Landholders Guide. He volunteered for many years at the Barung Landcare information kiosk on Maple Street in Maleny, selling local native plants and environmental books, spreading good cheer and providing conservation advice to the local community (so much so that quite often there was a small queue of people wanting to chat with him).
He made strong connections and friendships within his spiritual community and began phone counselling, guided by his desire to help others, and was in regular phone and written communication with his family. Close friendships developed, notably with his direct neighbours Andrew and Janet, and their Maleny friends Jim and Julie Wecker, who shared weekly dinners with Antonio and hosted him for significant events like birthdays, Christmas and Easter. He also joined in with the local Bellthorpe church community.
On October 10 this year, on what would have been his 67th birthday, many friends gathered at the von Berkys’ place for Antonio’s memorial celebration. We shared many stories and memories in the round, against a backdrop of a photo slideshow and mementos, followed by a typically wonderful Bellthorpe potluck lunch in his honour.
He is fondly remembered for his unassuming social giftedness (he could seem quiet and yet always be the life of the party), his gregarious and mischievous sense of humour, his big smile, his love of nature and hiking, his knowledge of flora and fauna, his artistic interests including clay sculpture, pastels and photography, and his musicality.
Most of all, Antonio would want to be remembered for his strong spirituality and faith. He always knew he was living in God’s universe, and he always saw beyond the everyday appearance of things. He wanted to love people, and he wanted people to love and care for each other. We will miss him until we meet again.
– Regine Deubner, Andrew and Janet von Berky
Regine and Antonio with son David in 1995.
Antonio’s 62nd birthday with the von Berkys & the Weckers.