Betty Diamond: Former Gold Coast Deputy Mayor and trailblazer dies at age 91

The first woman to lead the Gold Coast at City Hall is being remembered as a trailblazer, pioneer and legend who changed the city forever.

THE first woman to lead the Gold Coast at City Hall is being remembered as a trailblazer, pioneer and legend who changed the city forever.

Betty Diamond, the city’s former deputy mayor and acting mayor died on Monday of natural causes at her Tugun home at age 91.

She was surrounded by family and is survived by her three daughters Joanne, Alice, Carmel, 14 grandchildren and a large number of great-grandchildren.

Family and friends have paid tribute to Mrs Diamond, who was one of the first women elected to the Gold Coast City Council.

Betty Diamond: 1931-2023. Picture Glenn Hampson

Standing for election in 1976 at age 42, she served as an Alderman on the council through its most turbulent era and rose to the post of Deputy Mayor in 1985, serving under then-mayor Denis Pie.

Close friend and Palm Beach councillor Daphne McDonald remembered Mrs Diamond as a mentor and inspiration to herself and all the women who entered local politics.

“Betty loved the Gold Coast and perhaps could have become our first lady mayor,” she said.

“She was an old school elected representative and until her passing her family and the Gold Coast were always close to her heart.

“She was always up on the goings on within the city and always had strong opinions on what was right, what was wrong and could be done better.”

Elizabeth May “Betty” Diamond was born on June 12, 1931 in Goondiwindi.

She grew up in an Salvation Army orphanage after her father abandoned the family before moving to the Gold Coast where she married her second husband, Harry Diamond.

Gold Coast councillors in 1980: Ald Betty Diamond, Mayor Keith Hunt, Chairman Denis O'Connell and Ald John Laws. supplied photo.

Even before she was elected, Mrs Diamond was a local legend for her opposition to sand mining on the southern Gold Coast.

She was famously photographed standing in front of earth moving equipment during a protest, becoming front-page news and gaining her the sobriquet “Bulldozer Betty”.

Elected to the council in 1976, she became the first woman to head a council committee when she became works chair in 1982.

Her first move upon getting the post, was to buy a pink hard hat and pink wellington boots

“There’s a feminine way of dressing even to inspect a sewerage line,’’ she said at the time.

Mrs Diamond became Deputy Mayor just three years later after defeating Sir Jack Egerton and remained in the post until she retired in 1988 to look after her husband who was in poor health.

Mrs Diamond pictured in the mid-1980s with Ald Keith Thompson, Mayor Ald Denis O'Connell, Ald Lester Hughes, Ald John Laws and Ald Trevor Coomber. Supplied photo.

She spent long periods as acting mayor between 1985 and 1988 when Ald Pie was overseas.

However she stayed involved in politics, becoming one of several women to serve as then-mayor Lex Bell’s official chaperone at events, alongside Lyn Schmidt, Ros McLaren and Bette Arkinstall

“On guard to repulse any unsuitable social marauder, they are known for their impeccable clothes sense and a penchant for parties,” News Corp reported at the time.

“They are likely to make it difficult for any matchmaking mother, who sees her daughter in the role of future mayoress.”

Mr Bell remembered Mrs Diamond with great fondness.

Mrs Diamond in 1988 upon her retirement, pictured with Lex Bell and outgoing councillors Denis Pie, Peter Webber and Chris Gibbs.

“Betty was a lady with a lot of vim and vigour and worked very enthusiastically for the causes she believed in,” he said.

“I am very sorry that she’s gone, she will be missed by a lot of people.”

Mrs Diamond remained close with her family and looked after her husband until his death in 2005.

Her granddaughter, Libbee Badger said she had many “beautiful memories” of her beloved nanna.

“I always looked up to her as a role model and loved listening to her talk about politics, something she was so passionate about, along with her loves of dancing, champagne and listening to music.

“She absolutely loved going to have fish and chips and feed the pelicans at the Tweed River.

“She always would have her nails done immaculate and would paint ours too.”

Mrs Diamond’s funeral will be held on April 12 at Tugun’s St Monica’s Catholic Church from 2pm.

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Originally published as Betty Diamond: Former Gold Coast Deputy Mayor and trailblazer dies at age 91