THORNTON, Betty Anne (1927-2023)

THORNTON, Betty Ann(e) (1927-2023)

Morongo Presbyterian Girls’ College, Geelong 1941-1945

Betty was a country farm girl at heart; growing up on the family farm “Roseneath” at Bunbartha, near Shepparton. In the early 1940’s, she went to Morongo in Geelong for her final years of schooling where she developed lifelong friendships. Betty’s father Tom, mother Tilly, brother Warren and Betty were all involved in the day to day running of the

farm. Betty’s employment was listed as home duties from 1949 on the Victorian electoral roll, however, this was a common employment for women in the 1940’s, who were unmarried. In later years she was described as a “retired farmer”, which really suited what she had achieved in life. It was a family business with everyone involved in all aspects of farm life and the farms development.

In their early years Betty and Warren attended the Bunbartha State School, which was close to their home. Betty went to Morongo in 1941, during war time to complete her schooling, she was a boarder at the school and it must have been a huge change and challenge for Betty being so far from home. She excelled at Morongo, especially in Piano Examinations each year and with credits received in 1942 and 1943. Her examination results in 1944 were passes in English, Literature and Music. Betty became a keen member and leader of the Camera Club during her time at Morongo; she wrote the Camera Club report in the Lucernian in her final year of 1945. She was also a member of the House Committee in the same year. Her results for her intermediate year 1945 were passes in English and Literature. Betty started her long association with the Old Collegians of Morongo as a Life Member in 1946.

After finishing at Morongo, Betty spent a year at Invergowrie Homecrafts Hostel in Hawthorn doing a domestic science course. The family property Roseneath was situated on the Goulburn River at Bunbartha near Shepparton. Betty settled back in to home and farm life at Roseneath in 1947, her main chore included milking the cows and she would regulary accompany her father to stock sales, buying and selling; cattle and sheep. Betty’s father passed away in 1968 and her mother Tilly died in 1972. Betty and Warren stayed on at the family farm, working together. They established a Ryeland Sheep Stud, which won many awards at the district shows.

Betty played an active part in her local community from her involvement early on in local sport, the Agricultural Society and politics. She was actively involved in many of the local Bunbartha clubs, notably the basketball club, she was elected to the vice-president position of the Basketball MVWBBA league in 1948 having already been a delegate for Bunbartha; Young People’s Club Secretary 1948 and the Country Women’s Association. Betty was also a member of the Shepparton Agricultural Ladies Committee, of the Agricultural Show Society. Her speciality was as a needlework steward. She was still involved in her 90’s and was awarded Life Membership for her dedication. Betty was known to host Girl Guide and Scout Camps on Roseneath.

Through her interest in politics Betty got to know many key political figures. Originally, she joined the Bunbartha Women’s Section Branch of the Country Party in 1949 as secretary, (later became the National Party). Her membership of the party extended for more than 70 years. She was awarded a Life Membership of the National Party for her consistent service with the Bunbartha Ladies Committee and the Tallygaroopna Branch.

Betty was elected in 1950 to the Mooroopna hospital board of management, representing Tallygaroopna, Congupna Road and Bunbartha districts.

In 1964, Betty travelled to Alice Springs to volunteer at St. Phillips College, where accommodation was provided for children of the outback, enabling them to have schooling. Betty later travelled to the UK and Europe, New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Betty also had an interest in bird watching, and joined a bird observers club and travelled extensively throughout in Victoria.

The farm was sold In 2007 by Betty and she moved to Shepparton. Betty continued her interests in travel, birds and community charities during her time in Shepparton she was noted for her kindness and generosity.

Being the last of the Roseneath Thornton’s Betty decided her assets should assist agricultural development in the particular areas of Agriculture, animal studies, food science and veterinary science, she established a Memorial Scholarship in memory of her brother Warren Thornton; her preference was for it to be awarded to a help a student from the Goulburn Valley who had an interest in Dairy Farming. No doubt in 2016, Betty would have been pleased to read in the “Weekly Times” of the recipient of the scholarship Miles Rowlands and his gratitude for the honour. He was noted to have said “I thought it was a bit of a long shot but I’m extremely, extremely grateful that I was lucky enough to get it.”*

Betty was involved in the Morongo Old Collegians from the Goulburn Valley area and after she moved into Banksia Aged Care Home in 2022, she received many visitors from group members such as Gwen Jensen (1956) (Bradshaw), Jan Vibert (1955) (Agnew) and Heather Lloyd (1954) (Laird). Betty enjoyed many outings with the group, including the annual Morongo Goulburn Valley Luncheon.

Gwen summed up Betty; “her three key interests were her farm, politics and Morongo.”

THORNTON, Betty Ann(e) (1927-2023)

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