Betty Judge
Encyclopedia
Betty Judge-Beazley is a former Australian athletics champion at 880 yards
. She coached the Olympic champion Shirley Strickland
and is the mother of Kim Beazley, a former deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
In the national championships
, at Perth
in 1940, Judge won the 880-yd event and was placed second in the 440-yd
sprint.
In a 1941 330-yd race, her time of 39.9 sec was later considered to be a world's best time.
, who set at least two world records and won seven Olympic Games
medals. From 1948 to 1952, as Betty Beazley, she was president of the Australian Women's Amateur Athletics Union
.
on 7 February 1948.
Although the two had known each other at Perth Modern School
and the University of Western Australia
, a chance meeting at a church function sparked their whirlwind courtship and marriage.
They had three children, Kim Christian Beazley
(who became Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
), Merrilyn Wasson and David Beazley.
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. She coached the Olympic champion Shirley Strickland
Shirley Strickland
Shirley Barbara Strickland AO, MBE , later Shirley de la Hunty, was an Australian athlete. She won more Olympic medals than any other Australian in running sports.-Family:...
and is the mother of Kim Beazley, a former deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
Athletics career
Judge's athletics career spanned from 1939 to 1947. She set two national records for 880 yards. She ran the time of 2:24.7 (a world record) in 1940 and, in 1947, reduced this to 2:24.2.In the national championships
Australian Championships in Athletics
The Australian Athletics Championships or Australian Open Track and Field Championships are held annually to determine Australia's champion athletes in a range of athletics events. The championships are the primary qualification trial for athletes wishing to compete at the Olympic Games,...
, at Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1940, Judge won the 880-yd event and was placed second in the 440-yd
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
sprint.
In a 1941 330-yd race, her time of 39.9 sec was later considered to be a world's best time.
Coaching and official career
Betty Judge was the first coach of Olympic champion Shirley StricklandShirley Strickland
Shirley Barbara Strickland AO, MBE , later Shirley de la Hunty, was an Australian athlete. She won more Olympic medals than any other Australian in running sports.-Family:...
, who set at least two world records and won seven Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medals. From 1948 to 1952, as Betty Beazley, she was president of the Australian Women's Amateur Athletics Union
Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia is the National Sporting Organisation recognised by the Australian Sports Commission for the sport of athletics in Australia....
.
Personal life
Judge married Australian politician Kim Edward BeazleyKim Edward Beazley
Kim Edward Beazley, AO , known as Kim Beazley during his career, Australian politician, was Minister for Education in the government of Gough Whitlam and a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives for 32 years, from 1945 to 1977.Beazley, the youngest of seven children, was born in...
on 7 February 1948.
Although the two had known each other at Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School is an academically-selective co-educational public high school located in Subiaco, an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia.The school, established in 1911, now caters for students with high academic ability....
and the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, a chance meeting at a church function sparked their whirlwind courtship and marriage.
They had three children, Kim Christian Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
(who became Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia. The Deputy Prime Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1968, and the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime...
), Merrilyn Wasson and David Beazley.