Betty Norene Wright

Betty Wright's Eulogy Betty Noreen Colby was born on the 31st of December 1935. She was the fifth and youngest child of Alfred & Martha Colby. Her brothers and sisters are Cyril, Vera, Alf & Kass. She had a happy childhood on the farm at Mt. Charlton. She swam in Dalrymple Creek but only after throwing a stone into the water to chase away the bunyip. She often chased the curlew chicks through the bush but could never catch them. Primary school was across the creek from home and up the hill to Mt. Charlton State School with Mr. Scanlan as the sole teacher. Stories abounded of other pupils but never the angelic Betty, hopping out the window , running around the rain water tank and getting back to their desk while Mr. Scanlan's back was turned. She developed her love of reading at a very early age helped no doubt by the School Readers. Tragedy struck the family with the early death of their mother in 1947. After selling the farm, Pop, Kass and Betty moved to Grendon Street in North Mackay. Mum finished her schooling at St. Joseph's before starting work at Hansen's Store. A few years later, she started going out with a dashing young man, Arnold Wright. Unbeknownst to Mum, Dad kept some of the love letters that Mum wrote to him while he was working away from Mackay. Our family had a lot of laughs reading those old letters last New Years Day. Sport especially vigoro and ladies basketball, now called netball was a big part of her young adult life. Many times we children were told about the local paper mis-reporting the vigoro games and crediting Kass with Betty's score. During this time life-long friendships were formed with Francey and Bev. Arnold and Betty were married on Easter Sunday 1958 and moved in to their house at Martin Street North Mackay. They commenced turning the house into a home for their family of three, Michael, Greg and Jennifer. Mum helped out at their schools; working in the tuckshop was her favourite. Friends and family were always very important to her. Mum made friends easily and always kept in touch by writing letters and Christmas cards. She had a well used address book. Her religious faith was always very strong and she was heavily involved in many aspects of the Church including the CDA, (the Catholic Daughters of Australia), Vinnies and being a Special Minister of the Eucharist. She appeared in numerous skits on the stage in the old St. Joeys hall. Those who were there can not forget her black face and white lips makeup for the Black and White Minstrel show. A young Greg got very upset when spoken to by this stranger with the black face. Tennis was a very big part of her life and she loved playing tennis at Harrup Park on a Thursday with the ladies from Easts Tennis Club. She was thrilled when she was awarded life membership. Woe betide anyone silly enough to offer Mum an appointment on a Thursday. We were even told that her funeral was not to be held on a Thursday because that was tennis day. Sorry Mum and ladies. With her trusty camera in tow, Betty and her tennis ladies went on several trips. Destinations included Nancy's at Hervey Bay, Floriaide at Canberra and the Carnival of Flowers at Toowoomba. With three delightful children to clothe and feed, Betty worked part time throughout most of her married life. Some workplaces were the Dairy Queen, the Big Bear Butcher Shop and the Busy Bee Cafe. At home, Betty helped Arnold with the renovations to their house while also helping with school homework. A pretty good hand in the kitchen, cakes and slices were her specialties. Betty's family increased with the marriages of Greg to Jean, Michael to Susan and Jennifer to Scott. Five grandchildren, Rebecca, Drew, Steven, Josh and Amy completed the family. This eulogy would be incomplete without mention of playing the pokies. Mum certainly enjoyed the pokies and as late as February made her final visit to Jupiters Casino in Townsville, her famous Sunday School purse in hand. Sister of four, Wife of one, Mother of three, Grandmother of five, Loved member of a large extended family and friend of hundreds. God's newest angel is at peace and no doubt has already had a cuppa with quite a few others and called Arnold up from the shed for smoko.