Tributes flow for Glastonbury icon and teacher Bev Betts
A Glastonbury icon, Widgee schoolteacher, nature photographer, and historian are the legacy of Bev Betts’ ‘100 miles an hour’ life.
Gympie
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gympie. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tributes have flown from the family of 84-year-old Beverly Elizabeth Betts, an iconic Gympie region teacher, historian, mother, wife, grandmother, tour guide, Anglican Church member, long-time resident and stalwart of the Glastonbury community.
Mrs Betts spent most of her life in the service of the community, as a teacher contributing to the primary school education of children in Gin Gin, Gympie, Widgee and Pie Creek.
Her funeral service will be held at 10am on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at St Peters in Gympie.
‘They can’t build them as fast as I can swim them’
Her daughter, Melinda Betts remembered her as an “amazing pioneer woman”.
“In that day, women were not encouraged to be educated past a certain standard educational level, yet my mother struck out on her own and travelled by train to teachers college where she attained her teaching degree,” Ms Betts said.
Her passion for teaching meant she braved riding on carts and trains to many of the small schools in Gympie’s outlying areas.
“Teaching was her passion which lasted her whole life,” Ms Betts said.
Comments from the community Facebook page, Widgee Information had memories posted from students and parents.
“Bev taught our children at Widgee and we have many fond memories of the wonderful teacher and lady that she was,” Di Saal wrote in a facebook comment.
It was at a community and tennis match where Miss Bothams (nee) met “her true love,” said Ms Betts.
“It was love at first sight.”
Miss Bothams married Mervyn Betts in 1962, together they had two children, and now have six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
When she retired from her last post as a teacher at Widgee State School, Mrs Betts threw herself into the community in Glastonbury.
“She worked tirelessly for the community, and was involved in every aspect of the community life and held positions on every organisation,” Ms Betts explained.
A 20-year battle with Parkinson‘s did not slow her down.
“When she got it, she rang me up and I asked, ‘So what are you going to do?’ She said, I'm going to fight it. And she did,” son Geoffrey Betts said.
“It really got a hold of her in the last couple of years, and she had to go into full-time care, but even that wouldn’t slow her down.
“She was full-on my mum; she never stopped, she never sat down, she was 100 miles an hour,” he said.
Mrs Betts contributed to the historical memory of Glastonbury, writing the book, Valley of Dreams: The Story of Glastonbury, written from her research around the accounts of the first European farmers in the region.
Her legacy and energy lives on in the region, through her teachings, her historical collections, her church membership and her family.
“Your memory will live on in your Valley of Dreams. You will never be forgotten and will always hold a special place in the hearts of your beloved Glastonbury community. May you rest in eternal peace,” wrote the Glastonbury Hall and Recreation Centre Facebook page in a tribute post.
“I know she waits for dad, in the valley of her dreams,” Ms Betts said.
Watch: ‘I had a stroke in regional Qld – this new tech saved my life’
A Qld woman says she is alive because a new system, where strokes are diagnosed and “clot-busting” drugs given within minutes, is being piloted at her regional hospital. It comes ahead of a statewide rollout.
Three people in hospital after dogs go on terrifying rampage
Gympie residents were told to stay away from certain parts of the city on Friday as authorities searched for two dangerous dogs that attacked two women and a man in different streets.