Betty is 100 years old!!
She was born 23rd May 1923 at Arnliffe Rochedale
Betty was registered as Jessie Elizabeth. Named after her grandmother who died a month prior to her birth.
Her family called her Betty, because that is what her Mother had wanted to call her originally.
Betty grew up around Gladesville, her Father was a returned soldier from world war 1. He became a labourer during the depression.
It was hard times for the family raising 6 children. Betty suffered a lot with her skin when she was a child, & had severe dermatitis. She missed a lot of school due to this condition, although she still always got good grades at school.
Betty loved animals & used to bring home all the strays. She loved caring for them, & shared her food with them.
As betty grew up, her Uncle would pick up some of the older siblings & take them to Sunday school.
This was the highlight of her week as she loved singing the hymns.
Later she attended Presbyterian church & longed for her own bible for her 16th birthday. Her Uncle bought her one as a gift.
Betty worked in a wool mill in Sydney, she would catch the train early each day. She was a small skinny girl, & had to shake the big heavy wool out onto the old wooden benches.. it was hard, physical work.
Betty had some friends that arranged a night out when she was 18, & it ended in a blind date with Gordon Secomb. They got along well & had a great night at the movies. Gordon was a soldier in ww11.
Betty & Gordon were married 11th August 1940. Betty was 20 years old.
It wasn't until after the war, that they had two of their children Max & Robyn. They lived in Kempsey on a dairy farm at Willawarren They loved living there, with Gordon's family close by.
The family loved to put on spreads of sponge cakes, slices & other homemade delights.
The boys would come back from milking at around 6am & have a big, cooked breakfast & cakes afterwards. betty was at her happiest living here.
Unfortunately Gordon had to find work elsewhere as the farm started to struggle.
Gordon, Betty & baby Max moved to the Central Coast where Gordon worked for Seargent Buses.
Betty then had daughter Robyn & they were living in a old cabin., but Betty was not coping & she had bad nerves. The doctor said for the sake of her health they needed to move.
They bought a house in Long Jetty where they stayed on for another 40 years. During that time they had another daughter, Joy.
When Gordon became unwell, Betty had to get her drivers licence. She was 75! She drove until she was 85 but then got macular degeneration. At that point she moved to Gorokan to be closer to her daughter.
Betty lived a life devoted to Jesus. Before she did anything she would get on her knees & pray, believing everything would be fine.
Betty attributes getting through the hardest times of her life to her faith.
Betty has one sibling remaining from her family. She turns 92 next week! Betty the eldest, & Valery the youngest child.
Betty has 12 Grandchildren, & 15 Great grandchildren.
