Memories ... February 4

Anniversary of two Birthdays :   

(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page)

Today is the anniversary of the birth dates of two very special people in my family ... my paternal Grandmother, Grave Olive Connors nee Brown, and my paternal Aunt, Betty Patricia Hodgins nee Connors ... mother and daughter.

I have written about my paternal grandmother before and for anyone interested here's the link to her story:  The Story of Grace Olive Brown 

I have not yet written about my aunt, so today seems a fitting moment in time to tell some of her story.

• Betty Patricia Connors was born in 1929 in the town of Beaudesert in Queensland.

• She was the youngest of eleven children born to George Thomas Connors and Grace Olive Brown, although by the time she came into the world two of her siblings had sadly passed away.

• At the time of her birth, her father George was 48 years old and her mother Grace was 44.  Of course, Grace would have been celebrating her own birthday on the day she was giving birth to her youngest daughter. 

Betty (centre front row) holding the hands of her twin brothers Reggie and Bede
while her older brother Tommy and oldest sister Beryl look on.
Photo likely taken around 1933 when Betty was aged 4.
(Photo shared by my cousin Keith Connors) 

• Betty attended the Gympie Convent School until she was in Year 8.  She then left school and started working for a tailor.  She would have been around 14 or 15 years old at this time.  This was however not a career path she would go on to follow.

Betty at her Debutante Ball 1947, aged 18
(Photos shared by my cousin Keith Connors)

• At the age of 18, Betty made her 'debut' and attended her Debutante Ball.  This was a very important social event in the life of a young lady.  Attending a deb ball was regarded as the moment you were officially launched into society and could start your social life.  From then on, a young lady could attend various dances, balls, dinners and other social events with eligible young men!

Betty standing in the middle of the photo, dressed in her nurses' uniform.
Her nieces Pat and Ann are standing to the left, and her parents, Grace and George to the right.
Photo likely taken in 1948 when Betty was 19 years old.
(Photo from my father's collection) 

• Betty began her nursing training around the age of 17 or 18 at the Glandore Hospital in Gympie.  Nursing turned out to be a passion of hers during her lifetime.

Photos taken around 1946-1947
 

John Frederick Hodgins
known as Bunny

• When she was 20 years old, Betty married John Frederick Hodgins, known as 'Bunny' Hodgins.  He was a working musician, a music teacher and an absolute "wizard with the banjo".   Bunny and Betty shared a great love of music throughout their married life.

• They were married for 45 years, until the passing of Bunny in 1994.  They had one daughter together.

• Betty passed away in 2022 at the age of 93.  She was laid to rest with her dear husband Bunny at the cemetery in Gympie.

• Often when the cousins start reminiscing about our Aunty Betty, the first thing that comes to mind was her great love of singing and music.  She also had a fantastic sense of humour, a great love of family and a rather quiet, dignified and graceful presence.

Sharing some other photos of our beloved Betty:

My Aunt Betty holding me ... on the front steps of my grandmother's house in Gympie
1960 ... Betty  would have been 31 years old

My Aunt Betty, far left, standing with her daughter while her mother Grace (my grandmother) holds me
1960

Aunty Betty with some of her siblings and her beloved husband
L-R: Betty, her brother Bede, her husband Bunny, her sister Olga, her sister Chris, and her sister Beryl.
Photo taken in 1986 when Betty was 57 years old
(photo from my own collection)

Betty with some of her siblings in 1999, when she was aged 70.
L-R:  her sister Chris, her brother Reggie, her sister Olga, her sister Beryl and Betty

Betty celebrating her 90th birthday in 2019
(photo shared by my cousin Carmel)

My Aunt Betty at her 90th birthday celebration
surrounded by her daughter, her son-in-law, her grandchildren and partners, and her great grandchildren
(photo shared by my cousin Carmel)