Following the birth of her children, Beryl Beaurepaire became involved with charity work and the women's organisations of the Liberal Party. She summarises her liberal feminist views as follows: 'If you're a feminist you believe in equal opportunities and rights for women, but you also believe that women accept equal responsibilities.' (As cited by Emma Grahame in Australian Feminism: A Companion, OUP, 1998)
Beryl Edith Bedggood completed her schooling at Fintona Girl's School in Balwyn, Victoria, before becoming a meteorological officer with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in 1942. After marrying Ian Francis Beaurepaire in 1946 she became involved in the community and charity work of Melbourne's society women. During the 1970s she was chairman of the Federal Women's Committee (1974-1976), and later convenor of the first National Women's Advisory Council (1978-1982) as well as being vice-president of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party from 1976 to 1986.
Beaurepaire was a member of the Australian Children's Television Foundation Board (1982-1988), the Board of Victoria's 150th Authority (1982-1987), and a member of the Australian Bi-centennial Multicultural Foundation (1989-1992). From 1985 to 1993 she was chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council and then chairman of the Australian War Memorial Fund Raising Committee (1993).
She is Patron to a number of community organisations including: Children First Foundation since 2000, Peninsula Hospice Service since 1999, Palliative Care (Vic.) since 1999, Victorian College of the Arts since 1999, Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria since 1999, Australia Against Child Abuse since 1999, Peninsula Health Care Network Foundation since 1996 and the Portsea Children's Camp since 1996.
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1942 - 1945
Served with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
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1945
Commissioned Assistant Section Officer
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1946
Married Ian Francis Beaurepaire
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1969 - 1977
Member of the National Executive, YWCA Australia
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1970 - 1986
Vice-President of the Citizens Welfare Service Victoria
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1973 - 1976
Chairman of the Victorian Liberal Party Women's Section
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1973 - 1987
Chairman of the Board of Management of Fintona Girls School
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1974 - 1976
Chairman of the Federal Liberal Party Women's Committee
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14 June 1975
Appointed, Member of the British Empire (MBE)
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1976 - 1986
Vice-President of the Victorian Division Liberal Party
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1977
Member of the Federal Women's Advisory Committee Working Party
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1977
Awarded Silver Jubilee Medal
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1978 - 1982
Convenor of the National Women's Advisory Council
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31 December 1980
The Order of the British Empire - Dames Commander (DBE)
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1982 - 1987
Board member of the Victorian 150th Authority
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1982 - 1988
Board member of the Australian Children's Television Foundation Board
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1982 - 1993
Member of the Australian War Memorial Council
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1985 - 1993
Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council
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1988 - 1990
President of the Victorian Association of Most Excellent OBE
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1989 - 1992
Member of the Australian Bi-centennial Multicultural Foundation
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10 June 1991
Companion Order of Australia (AC)
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1993 - 1996
Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Fund Raising Committee
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1996
Patron of the Peninsula Health Care Network Foundation
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1996
Patron of the Portsea Children's Camp
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1999
Patron of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria Incorporated
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1999
Patron of the Peninsula Hospice Service
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1999
Patron of the Victorian College of the Arts
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1999
Patron of the Australian's Against Child Abuse
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1999
Patron of the Palliative Care (Vic.)
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2000
Patron of the Children First Foundation
View the full record at
Australian Women's Register
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