Beryl Beaurepaire
Encyclopedia
Dame
Beryl Beaurepaire, AC
, DBE
(born 24 September 1923) is an Australia
n activist and politician.
She was born as Beryl Edith Bedggood in Camberwell
, Victoria
and educated at Fintona Girls' School
. She served as a meteorological officer in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
from early 1942 to late 1945. She married Ian Francis Beaurepaire
in 1946, and then became involved in political and charity work. Both her husband and her father-in-law Frank Beaurepaire
have been Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
From 1974 to 1976 she served as Chairman of the Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia
. From 1985 to 1993 she was Chairman of the Australian War Memorial
Council. Dame Beryl is a member and the Chair of the Patrons Council of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria
.
Dame (title)
The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight...
Beryl Beaurepaire, AC
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 24 September 1923) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n activist and politician.
She was born as Beryl Edith Bedggood in Camberwell
Camberwell, Victoria
Camberwell is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Camberwell had a population of 19,637....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and educated at Fintona Girls' School
Fintona Girls' School
Fintona Girls' School is a small, independent, non-denominational, day school for girls, located in Balwyn, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. She served as a meteorological officer in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II...
from early 1942 to late 1945. She married Ian Francis Beaurepaire
Ian Francis Beaurepaire
Ian Francis Beaurepaire is a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne.Beaurepaire was the son of Australian Olympic smimmer and prominent businessman, Sir Frank Beaurepaire. He was Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 1965 to 1967. He married Beryl Beaurepaire in 1947 and the couple had twin sons.-References:...
in 1946, and then became involved in political and charity work. Both her husband and her father-in-law Frank Beaurepaire
Frank Beaurepaire
Sir Francis "Frank" Joseph Edmund Beaurepaire was an Australian distance freestyle swimmer from the 1900s to the 1920s, who won three silver and three bronze medals, from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London to the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, setting 15 world records.He was also a decorated...
have been Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
From 1974 to 1976 she served as Chairman of the Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia
Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia
The Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia was formed in August 1945 at the inaugural meeting of the party's Federal Council. That year the influenctial lobby group The Australian Women's National League merged with the Liberal Party, and as a result the Federal Constitution...
. From 1985 to 1993 she was Chairman of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
Council. Dame Beryl is a member and the Chair of the Patrons Council of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria
Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria
The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria is an Australian charity that was formed by a group of concerned parents in May 1964 to provide support and information to all Victorians affected by epilepsy...
.
Honours
- Beryl Beaurepaire was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1975 and made a Dame Commander of the order in 1981.
- She was appointed a Companion of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1991.
- She was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.