Betty Marginson AM

Betty Marginson achieved in many fields as a teacher, student and community activist, local Councillor and advocate for citizens' and women's rights.

Inducted:
2001
Category:
Honour Roll

Betty Marginson was born in Clifton Hill, Victoria, in 1923. She graduated as a primary school teacher in 1947 and held various teaching appointments. Betty completed the two year, full-time post graduate Diploma Course in Public Policy at the University of Melbourne in 1985 at the age of 62.

She was President of University College of the University of Melbourne 1986-91, and a member of its Council from 1983 to 1993. Betty was founding President of the Hawthorn Chapter of the University of the Third Age. As a Councillor, she was key to the commissioning of a report on the Needs of the Ageing in the Hawthorn area and the establishment of a Day Care Hospital serviced by Mount Royal. During this period the Hawthorn Council created, with the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation, a pilot programme for recreation for older citizens.

She was appointed Chairperson of the Consultative Council on Senior Citizens set up by the State Minister of Health. Subsequently this body was replaced in 1988 by the State Government Older Persons' Consultative Council, of which she was appointed Vice Chairperson. In February 1992 she was appointed to the newly created Adult Community and Further Education body, and as their representative on the Council for Adult Education (CAE).

Betty was also a member of the Consumer Forum for the Aged that was set up to advise the Federal Minister for Aged, Family and Health Services. Betty was for many years a voluntary worker at the Museum of Modern Art.

Her special interests included access to education by older people; adult, community and further education services; provision of a wider range of community recreation facilities; participation of women in local government and policy in the field of aged services.

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