Mackay born woman Betty Mylonas turns 100
A born and bred Mackay lady, who used to run the town’s largest wedding venue and has always been “out and about” in the community turns 100. Read what kept her happy all these years.
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A born and bred Mackay lady, who used to run the town’s largest wedding venue and has always been “out and about” in the community turns 100.
Betty Mylonas, nee Daly, was born from parents Edward (Ted) Sylvester Daly and Ethel Susanna Daly (nee Perschel) on May 25 1924.
She grew up at a farm in Ilbilbie, inside the house her father had built himself in the 1930s, which still stands today.
Her earliest memory of childhood is the freedom she had to explore the 80 hectares of cane and cattle property on her bike.
Ms Mylonas has always been surrounded by a big community of people, starting early on in her life when their family house was used as a venue for community social events such as school dances and the annual Ambulance Ball.
And later on, after she got married into a family of Greek descent, her own family would keep the tradition of being at the core of community events alive, when they started running the Bona Vista Homestead they bought in 1964.
Mackay was a very different place at the time she lived there, as you could see people in the streets doing horse riding, bike riding, ballroom dancing three times a week or “whatever was on the go”.
“It’s all changed now,” Ms Mylonas recalls.
“I don’t know anybody, it’s all new and different people, all of different nationalities to what it used to be.”
The Mylonas had also bought the Capitol Cafe in 1962, which was the place where Betty had her first ever job, and the family ran both the cafe and the reception venue at the same time for many years.
Bona Vista was the largest function venue in Mackay at the time they operated it, and they planned many weddings that were as large as 350 guests.
Ms Mylonas said her working life has always been a family affair, with their six children all involved in their bustling businesses.
Planning weddings was something she has had a continued love for as she “just liked to see people happy”.
The family moved down to Brisbane in 1974, when their grown up children all started to attend universities.
Ms Mylonas said what keeps her happy today even after 100 years of life is how close her family has remained over the years, although turning to the three digit milestone is a “scary” thing to her.
“Family is everything, we see each other all the time,” she said.
“Every week we get together, play cards and whatever.
“And once every three months we all get together.”
When asked about what her biggest dream was, Ms Mylonas responded: “Just to be happy, I don’t know, what else?”
At her birthday reception which will be held this Saturday, 90 family guests are expected, which is not surprising when considering she has 16 great grandchildren.
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