• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE0365

Beaurepaire, Beryl Edith

  • Dame, AC, DBE
  • Maiden name Bedggood, Beryl Edith
(1923 – 2018)
  • Born 24 September 1923, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia
  • Died 24 October 2018, Mt Eliza, Victoria, Australia
  • Occupation Community worker, Feminist, Patron, Women's rights activist

Summary

Following the birth of her children, Beryl Beaurepaire became involved with charity work and the women’s organisations of the Liberal Party. She summarises her liberal feminist views as follows: ‘If you’re a feminist you believe in equal opportunities and rights for women, but you also believe that women accept equal responsibilities.’ (As cited by Emma Grahame in Australian Feminism: A Companion, OUP, 1998)

Dame Beryl passed away at her home in Mt Eliza, Victoria, on 24 October 2018.

Details

Beryl Edith Bedggood completed her schooling at Fintona Girl’s School in Balwyn, Victoria, before becoming a meteorological officer with the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force in 1942. After marrying Ian Francis Beaurepaire in 1946 she became involved in the community and charity work of Melbourne’s society women. During the 1970s she was chairman of the Federal Women’s Committee (1974-1976), and later convenor of the first National Women’s Advisory Council (1978-1982) as well as being vice-president of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party from 1976 to 1986.

Beaurepaire was a member of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation Board (1982-1988), the Board of Victoria’s 150th Authority (1982-1987), and a member of the Australian Bi-centennial Multicultural Foundation (1989-1992). From 1985 to 1993 she was chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council and then chairman of the Australian War Memorial Fund Raising Committee (1993).

She is Patron to a number of community organisations including: Children First Foundation since 2000, Peninsula Hospice Service since 1999, Palliative Care (Vic.) since 1999, Victorian College of the Arts since 1999, Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria since 1999, Australia Against Child Abuse since 1999, Peninsula Health Care Network Foundation since 1996 and the Portsea Children’s Camp since 1996.

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Events

  • 1980

    The Order of the British Empire – Dames Commander (DBE)
  • 1996

    Patron of the Peninsula Health Care Network Foundation
  • 1996

    Patron of the Portsea Children’s Camp
  • 1993 - 1996

    Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Fund Raising Committee
  • 1985 - 1993

    Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council
  • 1982 - 1993

    Member of the Australian War Memorial Council
  • 1988 - 1990

    President of the Victorian Association of Most Excellent OBE
  • 1989 - 1992

    Member of the Australian Bi-centennial Multicultural Foundation
  • 1982 - 1987

    Board member of the Victorian 150th Authority
  • 1982 - 1988

    Board member of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation Board
  • 1978 - 1982

    Convenor of the National Women’s Advisory Council
  • 1977

    Member of the Federal Women’s Advisory Committee Working Party
  • 1974 - 1976

    Chairman of the Federal Liberal Party Women’s Committee
  • 1973 - 1976

    Chairman of the Victorian Liberal Party Women’s Section
  • 1973 - 1987

    Chairman of the Board of Management of Fintona Girls School
  • 1970 - 1986

    Vice-President of the Citizens Welfare Service Victoria
  • 1969 - 1977

    Member of the National Executive, YWCA Australia
  • 1945

    Commissioned Assistant Section Officer
  • 1942 - 1945

    Served with the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force
  • 1977

    Awarded Silver Jubilee Medal
  • 1946

    Married Ian Francis Beaurepaire
  • 1991

    Companion Order of Australia (AC)
  • 1975

    Appointed, Member of the British Empire (MBE)
  • 2000

    Patron of the Children First Foundation
  • 1999

    Patron of the Peninsula Hospice Service
  • 1999

    Patron of the Palliative Care (Vic.)
  • 1999

    Patron of the Victorian College of the Arts
  • 1999

    Patron of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria Incorporated
  • 1999

    Patron of the Australian’s Against Child Abuse
  • 1976 - 1986

    Vice-President of the Victorian Division Liberal Party
  • 2001

    Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women

Archival resources

  • State Library of Victoria
    • Papers, ca. 1970-ca. 1985 [manuscript].
  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
    • Heritage 200 entries, 1988 [manuscript]
  • National Archives of Australia, National Office, Canberra
    • BEAUREPAIRE BERYL EDITH : Service Number - 90770 : Date of birth - 24 Sep 1923 : Place of birth - CAMBERWELL VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - BEDGGOOD EDWARD

Published resources

Related entries


  • Chaired by
    • National Women's Advisory Council (1978 - 1984)
  • Related Organisations
    • Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) (1941 - 1947)
    • Young Women's Christian Association Victoria (Y.W.C.A. Victoria) (1999 - )
  • Presided
    • Liberal Party of Australia Federal Women's Committee (1945 - )
  • Related Women
    • Marsh, Jan
    • Beaurepaire, Lily (1892 - 1979)
  • Membership
    • Alexandra Club (1903 - )

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