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Valentina Rachel Ribes was born in Victoria in 1934, her family later relocating to the Innisfail area in Far North Queensland.
She married José (Joseph) Paronella in 1952, where they lived at his family home and business, Paronella Park, located at Mena Creek. They had 2 sons, José (Joe) and Kerry, who were both raised at Paronella Park as well. Valentina was widowed in 1972 when Joe died at the age of 39 years as the result of a heart attack. In 1974, she married long-time local Lesley Juhas. During her time with Les, she became involved in the Innisfail Game Fishing Club of which he was a member.
Valentina was widowed for a second time in 1976 when Les died suddenly as the result of a brain aneurysm whilst they were holidaying at Tangalooma on Moreton Island. Valentina Paronella and her sons José and Kerry continued to operate Paronella Park until its sale in 1977. 
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Valentina met John Crump in 1977 and they became romantically involved. John had also been involved with game fishing in the Innisfail area. Prior to their relationship, John had owned the "Game Doll" game fishing charter boat. Two of his clients were Bob and Dolly Dyer of "BP Pick-a-Box" fame, and we believe that the name "Game Doll" was in Dolly Dyer's honour. Lee Marvin, as well as a number of other famous movie stars, also became customers in search of the illusive Black Marlin. After the sale of Paronella Park, John and Valentina moved to Western Australia, John's place of birth, for several years. They married in Perth in 1981. John and Valentina purchased a pleasure boat named "Tarraleah" while in the west and returned to Queensland and settled on Bribie Island in the mid l990's, having Tarraleah transported to Bribie as well. Valentina and John joined the Bribie Island RSL Social Fishing club in 2008 and quickly made an impression when John introduced the wearing of “Name Tags” and the “Badge Draw” and his jokes. Valentina and John joined the committee as Fund Raisers and single handedly organised and ran the raffles at each of our meetings, BBQs and Thursday nights for over three years.
Sadly, John passed away in 2017 but Valentina has remained an active member of the Club. I would like to bestow this long overdue Honorary Membership to Valentina for her massive contribution to our Club and the laying of Wreaths at our RSL Anzac Day for the Fishing Club.
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For anyone interested in the history of Paronella Park click HERE
