EMERITUS PROFESSOR BETTY WATTS OBE A lifetime of dedication to education.

The story of Betty Hazel Watts and a life committed to excellence in learning began with her birth in Proserpine on July 21 1928. After attending primary school at Proserpine State School, she completed her secondary education at Blackheath College, Charters Towers.  For eight years, commencing in 1946, aged only 17, Betty began teaching in primary schools in Brisbane and in various country centres including Proserpine. During this time, she completed Bachelor Degrees in Arts and Education through external study while teaching fulltime. She also gained letters in LTCL with honours in Art of Speech.
Between 1954 and 1974, Betty held many prominent positions in the field of education. She was appointed Senior Research Assistant at University of Queensland (1954 – 1956); Lecturer in Education (1957 -1965); Senior Lecturer in Education (1966-1971); Reader at Schonell Educational Research Centre (1972 -1974) and from 1974-1981 she was Professor and Director of the Centre.

It is not surprising, then, that in 1976 she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for service to education.  

Betty Watts was a Foundation Member of the Queensland Board of Teacher Education (now College of Teacher Registration). Serving from 1977-1988, she was one of the longest serving members having held the position for all but two years of its existence; including three terms serving as Chairman.

Further acknowledgement of her ongoing contribution was recognised in 1982, when Betty was awarded the Mackie Medal for distinguished work in the field of education.

Betty Watts was a forerunner in the movement to close the gap in educational outcomes between European and indigenous children and a foundation member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, acting as a consultant to State and Federal governments on Aboriginal Education. During her ‘spare’ time as Dean of University of Queensland Department of Education, she published nine separate reports on the education of Aboriginal children, non-English speaking migrants and children with disabilities. These reports were based on primary research which involved interviews and discussions with parents in their own homes where they could relax and voice their true concerns. She would say, “School practices need to take account of what children’s homes and parents are really like.”

From 1976 – 1981, Betty chaired the Ministerial Advisory Council on Special Education and was a member of the National Inquiry into Teacher Education (The Auchmuty Report) from 1979 - 1982.

She was also a member of the National Library Council and such was the esteem in which she was held, that she was invited to open the new library at James Cook University in 1992.

After her retirement, Betty Watts OBE was awarded Life Membership of the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) in recognition of her enormous contribution to the field of education and how important her work was viewed by her academic contemporaries.

In 2011, fifteen years after her death, a memorial award - The Professor Betty Watts Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching – was made in her name.  Betty Watts helped so many people, particularly from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. For her, education was for everyone. In the tribute to her at this award, Betty Watts was described as a “brilliant teacher” who had high expectations of her students and whose lessons sparked a “sense of excitement”.

Betty Watts died November 25 1997. She was only 69 and had dedicated over fifty years of her life to the people of Queensland as a teacher, lecturer, researcher and leader in education. Betty Watts truly earned the title “Emeritus”. This town can be immensely proud of one of its most celebrated daughters.

Story courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum. Photo courtesy of the Shannon family.

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