90 years for a first lady

By Bridget Cook
A FORMER first lady of Cranbourne and local resident of 40 years celebrated her 90th birthday last month.
Elizabeth Callinan, affectionately know as Betty, celebrated her milestone birthday on Wednesday 25 January with her family and friends at her daughter’s farm, where she used to reside in Tooradin.
Ms Callinan’s late husband Dudley, known by most as Ted, was a former Cranbourne shire president.
While her husband was an icon of Cranbourne, Ms Callinan has also dedicated much of her time serving the local community in other ways.
She was born in Warrnambool, where she lived with her parents and older brother until the age of six.
Her family then moved to Hawthorn where she spent the rest of her childhood.
After finished school, Ms Callinan completed secretarial and book-keeping courses and then got a job at Preslite Screenwiper in Preston.
In 1945 she married Alan Chivers, whose family owned Preslite, and together they raised their four children Peter, Colin, Robyn and Carol.
Sadly in 1971, her husband suddenly died at the age of 48.
Both Ms Callinan and Mr Chivers knew a couple named Ted and Pat Callinan through the automotive industry, who lived at the ‘Balook’ angus stud in Tooradin.
Tragedy brought Betty and Ted together when Pat was killed in a car accident in Tooradin.
In 1973, they married and moved in together at Balook, where they lived for eight years.
During that time, Mr Callinan was a councillor of the Shire of Cranbourne and in 1978 he became the shire president and officially opened the shire offices in Sladen Street – which still stand today.
An article in a local newspaper at the time, the Sun, said that Ms Callinan was a great asset to her husband, “sharing in his outside interests and assisting him in the conduct of his many and varied civic duties.
“Betty was instrumental in having the Kooweerup and District Meals on Wheels scheme extended to serve Tooradin, Warneet and adjacent areas,” the article read.
Ms Callinan’s other commitments included membership of committee of management of the Westernport Memorial Hospital and the secretary and treasurer of the Rutter Park committee of management.
In 1981, the couple retired from farming, selling the property to Ms Callinan’s daughter Robyn and her husband Garry Sidwell and moved into a home in the township of Tooradin.
They then discovered lawn bowls at Kooweerup where Ms Callinan served as treasurer for several years.
When Mr Callinan passedaway in 2006, Ms Callinan moved to Langford Grange Aged Care in Cranbourne, where she continues to live today.
Robyn said her mother cherished her large family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“She has been a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother,” she said.
“She enjoys her family get togethers.”