Iconic Lismore twin, dedicated Westpac rescue chopper volunteer Mary Betteridge dies aged 91
A much-loved Lismore twin has died after decades of dedicated volunteer work for her community. Here’s the touching story of the two community heroes.
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A beloved Lismore woman has died after decades of dedicated volunteer work for her community.
Mary Betteridge, 91, died peacefully at St Joseph’s Nursing Home Lismore on August 1.
One of the iconic Lismore “twins”, Mary and her sister Emily were stalwarts of Lismore.
The South Lismore twins were born on September 13, 1932 in Brisbane.
The pair were fierce St George Illawarra Dragons fans and it was likely the first thing they would ask while meeting someone new was: “Who do you follow in rugby league?”
The twins close relationship was well known – they would often say the same thing at the same time, finish each others' sentences, and sing the same tunes while one was in the house and the other in the garden.
The Betteridges moved to Lismore when they were three and lived together in their beautiful South Lismore home for more than 80 years.
Avid gardeners, the sisters were part of the Lismore Garden Club for more than 55 years – winning first prize for their well manicured garden in 2010.
However, the Lismore personalities were perhaps best known in the community for their work fundraising for the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.
They held their first raffle for the rescue helicopter in 1982 – the prize was a rug their friend crocheted – raising $56.
For more than 35 years, the sisters set up a stall in the CBD, becoming Lismore icons known as “the twins” – raising well over $100,000 over the decades.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said she remembered buying raffle tickets from the duo for years.
“It’s hard to talk about Mary without reference to the late Emily – they were inseparable,” she said.
“They would sit in Molesworth Street in downtown Lismore at their little table and chairs and we would chat.
“I also visited them a few times in their rather elegant and special South Lismore home.
“They were true locals.”
In 1989, both Emily and Mary received Lismore Citizen Of The Year awards for their contributions.
The rescue helicopter needs to raise about $3 million each year to stay operational.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service donations manager Zeke Huish said the sisters’ volunteer work was “absolutely pivotal” and “vital to helping us (the service) to save lives”.
But it wasn’t just the money they raised that the team valued.
“They would even make hampers every Christmas Day and bring them down to the base,” Mr Huish said.
“They knew there were pilots and crew who were working 24/7 operations and they knew they would be away from their family.
“The twins wanted to make sure those guys had a special Christmas.
“The crew absolutely loved it.”
The twins referred to the helicopter as their “baby” whenever it flew overhead and on their 80th birthday the chopper crew took the twins on a joy flight to celebrate.
Emily died in October 2018 and many Northern Rivers residents attended her funeral at St Andrew‘s Anglican Church in Lismore.
Following Emily’s death, the amazing work of the sisters was formally acknowledged at the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter HQ in Lismore, with the opening of the Betteridge Gardens.
The sisters’ many good deeds have been immortalised in a plaque set in a boulder next to gardens featuring red and white shrubs and flowers – the colours of the sisters’ beloved St George NRL team.
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