Beryl L (Bedggood) Beaurepaire AC DBE (aft. 1923 - 2018)

Born after 24 Sep 1923 in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Ian Francis Beaurepaire — married Jun 1945 in Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia

Died 24 Oct 2018 before age 95 in Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Beryl (Bedggood) Beaurepaire AC DBE is Notable.

Beryl (Bedggood) Beaurepaire AC DBE was born in Victoria, Australia

Beryl Bedggood was born in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia on 24th September 1923. She was the daughter of Victorian-born Edward Bedggood and great granddaughter of English emigrant John Bedggood.

Beryl (Bedggood) Beaurepaire AC DBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Women's Royal Australian Air Force 1942-1945
RAAF Headquarters

On 4th February 1942, with the Second World War ominously close to Australia, Beryl enlisted in the Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF). ^[1]

Beryl married Pilot Officer Ian Beaurepaire, son of Australian Olympian and founder of Bearepaires and Olympic Tyres Sir Frank Beaurepaire, in June 1945. ^[2] The couple had twin sons.

"BEDGGOOD—BEAUREPAIRE. — Assistant Section-Officer Beryl K (W.A.A.A.F.), elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Bedggood, Edward street, Kew, to Pilot-Officer Ian F. (R.A.A.F.). son of Sir Frank and Lady Beaurepaire, Fordholm road, Hawthorn." ^[3]

Having married, she was required to discharge from the WRAAF, which she did on 27th September 1945 as an Assistant Section Officer at RAAF Headquarters. ^[1]

Her husband was elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 1965–67, a position his father had held 1940–42.

Beryl was a feminist, political activist and philanthropist. She was was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1975 and created Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) six years laer. In 1991 she was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). Dame Beaurepaire (not Dame Beryl as is frequently misstitled) was also awarded both the Queens Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Centenary Medal in 2001.

Aged 95 years and having been widowed for 22 years, Beryl passed away on 24th October 2018 in Victoria.

Service to the community

• member of the YWCA Australia national executive from 1969–77
• vice-president of the Citizens Welfare Service Victoria from 1970–86
• chairperson of the Board of Management of Fintona Girls School from 1973–87
• chairperson of the Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia 1974–76 and vice-president of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party from 1976–86
• convener of the first National Women's Advisory Council from 1978–82
• chairperson of the Australian War Memorial Council 1985–93 and chairperson of the Australian War Memorial Fund Raising Committee 1993
• member of the Australian Children's Television Foundation Board 1982–88
• member of the Board of Victoria's 150th Authority 1982–87
• member of the Australian Bi-centennial Multicultural Foundation 1989–92
• member and chair of the Patrons Council of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria
• patron to the
  • from 1996 the Peninsula Health Care Network Foundation and the Portsea Children's Camp
  • from 1999 the Peninsula Hospice Service, the Palliative Care (Vic.), the Victorian College of the Arts, the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria and the Australians Against Child Abuse
  • from 2000 the Children First Foundation

Research note

Date of marriage needs to be checked as the Victorian Registry of BDMs indicates a mid-1946 wedding.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 90770 Assistant Section Officer Beryl Bedggood; accessed 11 May 2023
2. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #5336/1946
3. ↑ Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 23 June 1945, page 12