Lee-Anne Olsen remembered for helping animals, troubled youth

From befriending rock legends in the Sydney music scene to creating a sanctuary for wounded animals and lost souls in rural Queensland, Lee-Anne Olsen never lived a conventional life, and that’s exactly how she wanted it.

Lee-Anne Olsen’s youngest brother, David Olsen, remembered her as “very clever, really smart” as well as a young woman with a rebellious spirit. Photo: Olsen family

From befriending rock legends in the Sydney music scene to creating a sanctuary for wounded animals and lost souls in rural Queensland, Lee-Anne Olsen never lived a conventional life, and that’s exactly how she wanted it.

Lee-Anne Olsen died on June 17, 2025, at the age of 64.

Born in Sydney, Lee was the oldest of four children.

The family moved to the United States when she was a toddler and lived in California until 1976, when they returned to Australia and settled back in Sydney.

Her youngest brother, David Olsen, remembered her as “very clever, really smart” and a young woman with a rebellious spirit.

As a teenager, Lee left school early and immersed herself in the Sydney music scene, befriending figures like Aussie icon, Jimmy Barnes, and TV personality, Richard Wilkins.

Lee-Anne Olsen, from Blackbutt, passed away on June 17, 2025, aged 64. Photo: Olsen family

“Lee wasn’t cut out for the 9 to 5,” David said.

“She was always going to run her own race.”

He fondly remembered how sometimes instead of walking her “precious younger brother” to school, like she was supposed to, she would “kidnap” him and take him to Luna Park.

“We’d just go off and have adventures,” David said.

“You know, I was probably 12 and she was 17. And we’d just go into Sydney, into Parramatta, off to Luna Park.

“She was very good at kidnapping me and helping me play hookie, which was great fun.”

As she got older, Lee sought a quieter life, and moved to Queensland where she met her late partner, Steven “Rocky” Harrison in the 1980s.

They formed a “wonderful couple,” described by David as two “ratbags” who found happiness together.

Against her little brother’s advice, Lee and Rocky bought a house next to a shopping centre in Acacia Ridge.

However, David, who works in real estate, recalled “she turned out to be the genius” as they ended up selling the property to the shopping centre just a couple of years later for five times what they paid for it.

They used the money to buy their long-term residence in Blackbutt, a 2ha property they lived on from the early 90s until the end of their lives.

This was where Lee truly found her calling, and began to take in animals who needed help, from native wildlife to cats and dogs.

Although she liked animals from a young age, “that was when Lee sort of figured out what she wanted,” David explained.

Their home became a haven, with locals knowing “that if an animal was injured, take it to Lee and Rocky”.

The couple weren’t only committed to taking in and caring for animals, their boundless generosity extended to young people who needed a safe place to stay.

David revealed that Lee “collected stray kids as well,” taking troubled youth “under her wing” alongside Rocky, who would teach them practical skills like mechanics.

This was never an official arrangement, instead it was a sanctuary “where kids knew they could go if they needed somewhere where they could feel good about themselves”.

Though she had no children of her own, Lee was undeniably a mother figure to many.

In her final days in palliative care, David remembered her phone filling up with beautiful messages, and many calling her “mum”.

She was active on social media and a regular contributor to community notice boards, often posting about animals in her care.

The news of her death prompted dozens of messages from people sharing their condolences and passing on their love.

Margie Maguire remembered Lee as someone who had a good heart and fondly reminisced about how many cats she would see at her property when she passed by, saying “they were everywhere”.

Lee-Anne Olsen lived an interesting and inspirational life by her own rules with fierce independence, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and an open heart that provided comfort and support to countless animals and individuals alike.

Originally published as Lee-Anne Olsen remembered for helping animals, troubled youth