Betty Gemmell has always been fiercely independent. She was born on her grandparent’s property near Berrigan, in the Riverina, in 1917, and inherited a knack for numbers from her accountant father. When World War II broke out she became one of Australia’s first female bank tellers. Like many young women at the time, she considered going into nursing, but the local bank manager convinced her that the best way she could contribute to the war effort would be using her skill with numbers.
“They said to her, We need you. This would be your war effort because all the men have gone off for war’,” Betty’s niece, Vicki, recalls.
“She tells a story about having to take the cash from the bank. She had to carry a pistol. There was one time in Deniliquin when the bank manager couldn’t get in, so she had to sleep in the bank with a revolver under her pillow.”
Now 105, Betty still cherishes her independence. The Mosman local loves going to Balmoral Beach and has a penchant for politics and crosswords. She sets aside time each week to knit woollen bears, which she donates to children in hospital. The task keeps her mind sharp, and ensures she’s engaged with the community.
Betty understands that it is important to keep herself active, so that she can continue to live independently, in her own home.
“I 'm a very, very lucky person to still have my memory active and I think I give that to my weekly crosswords,” Betty says.
Denne historien er fra XMAS 2022-utgaven av The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra XMAS 2022-utgaven av The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Maggie's kitchen
Maggie Beer's delicious veg patties - perfect for lunch, dinner or a snack - plus a simple nostalgic pudding with fresh passionfruit.
Reclaim your brain
Attention span short? Thoughts foggy? Memory full of gaps? Brigid Moss investigates the latest ways to sharpen your thinking.
The girls from Oz
Melbourne music teacher Judith Curphey challenged the patriarchy when she started Australia's first all-girls choir. Forty years later that bold vision has 6500 members, life-changing programs and a new branch of the sisterhood in Singapore.
One kid can change the world
In 2018, 10-year-old Jack Berne started A Fiver for a Farmer to raise funds for drought relief. He and mum Prue share what happened next.
AFTER THE WAVE
Twenty years ago, the Boxing Day tsunami tore across the Indian Ocean, shredding towns, villages and holiday resorts, and killing hundreds of thousands of people from Indonesia to Africa. Three Australians share their memories of terror, loss and survival with The Weekly.
PATRICIA KARVELAS How childhood tragedy shaped me
Patricia Karvelas hustled hard to chase her dreams, but it wasn't easy. In a deeply personal interview, the ABC host talks about family loss, finding love, battles fought and motherhood.
Ripe for the picking
Buy a kilo or two of fresh Australian apricots because they're at their peak sweetness now and take inspiration from our lush recipe ideas that showcase this divine stone fruit.
Your stars for 2025
The Weekly’s astrologer, Lilith Rocha, reveals what’s in store for your astrological sign in 2025. For your monthly horoscope, turn to page 192.
MEL SCHILLING Cancer made me look at myself differently'
One year on from going public with her bowel cancer diagnosis, Mel Schilling reveals where she's at with her health journey and how it's changed her irrevocably.
Nothing like this Dame Judi
A few weeks before her 90th birthday, the acting legend jumped on a phone call with The Weekly to talk about her extraordinary life – and what’s still to come.
