Tamborine Mountain resident Betty Birch has been remembered for her devotion to family, love of cooking and, most of all, the treasured teddy bears which became such an important part of her life.
Betty passed away on August 31 at the age of 83, following several years of illness.
Born in Victoria on 14 April 1942, Betty spent part of her childhood in Colac, where her family lived and worked on a sheep farm owned by her uncle.
One of six children, Betty grew up alongside three brothers and two sisters before beginning a life which would eventually take her and husband Richard to Queensland.
During her younger years, Betty worked for the government in Victoria, including in services supporting children who had been removed from difficult home environments or required care.
Betty and Richard later moved to Queensland and spent about 20 years living at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast.
Throughout her working life, Betty held a variety of roles, including working in nursing homes at Pimpama and Mermaid and waitressing when the family was involved in a seafood restaurant at Broadbeach.
Eventually, Betty and Richard made the move to Tamborine Mountain, where they established a bed and breakfast and became part of the mountain community.
It was there that Betty found what would become one of the most treasured periods of her life, Teddies on Tamborine.
A lifelong lover of teddy bears, Betty took over the local business and surrounded herself with high-quality and collectible bears.
The shop became well known among collectors, with customers travelling considerable distances to visit and inquiries even coming from overseas.
Betty took great pride in presenting the shop, which featured teddy bear signs, displays and an extensive collection of bears, many with their own names and personalities, all thanks to Betty.
Teddies on Tamborine allowed Betty to spend her days immersed in something she loved while meeting children, families and fellow teddy bear enthusiasts.
Although changing retail habits and the growth of online shopping eventually contributed to the shop’s closure, many of Betty’s treasured bears remain with her family today.
Away from the shop, Betty was equally devoted to her family.
Betty and Richard raised three children, eldest daughters Jenifer and Karen and their late son Jeff.
She went on to become a grandmother of five and great-grandmother of 12, with family gatherings providing another opportunity for Betty to share one of her great passions – cooking.
Her roasts were particularly treasured by the family, while her sticky date pudding, pavlova and potato bake were also among the dishes regularly brought to gatherings. There was rarely an occasion when Betty did not have something ready for someone to eat.
Betty also enjoyed knitting and crocheting and became the family expert at restoring stained clothing, with children and grandchildren regularly turning to her for help.
After many years calling Tamborine Mountain home, Betty leaves behind a lasting connection to the community and many memories among those who knew her through her family, her hospitality and Teddies on Tamborine.
