CARBROOK resident Betty Owen has celebrated her 90th birthday in style with family and friends.
Daughter Valerie Blomer said old time Redland locals would remember Betty for her days spent working at Owen Bros Convenience Store and the Capalaba Garage on Old Cleveland Road.
Betty was also a cleaner at Birkdale State School for 12 years.
“Now a resident of Wirunya at Carbrook, Betty is back in familiar territory,” Ms Blomer said.
“Carbrook is where she was born and where she lived until her marriage to Don Owen.
“Her parents, Fred Stern and Daisy (nee Bahr) had a small crops farm and dairy at Carbrook.
“Like both her parents, Betty attended the old Carbrook State School with her brother, Don, and sister, Joyce.
“She completed scholarship and was accepted as a student at the Beenleigh Domestic Science High School.
“Unfortunately, World War II intervened.”
Ms Blomer said Betty’ brother Don was called up to serve in Papua New Guinea which meant Betty had to work on the family farm instead of continuing her education.
Betty’s grandfather, August Stern, was one of the first pupils to attend Carbrook school.
He was chairman of Tingalpa Shire Council on four separate occasions. The council was then administered from Mount Cotton and included the Cleveland and Carbrook districts.
Ms Blomer said two of Betty’s class mates from the old Carbrook school – Merle Krause (nee Bahr) and Hazel Heinemann (nee Bahr) joined celebrations for her birthday.
They managed to recall pupils from 1933.
“Like many of the youths in Carbrook and Mount Cotton, these three ladies enjoyed dances on Saturday nights at Mount Cotton, Alberton and Loganholme,” Ms Blomer said.
“They continued to patronise the dances at Mount Cotton and Thornlands for many years. Betty also enjoyed playing tennis into her senior years.
“From this small farming community Betty retained life-long friendships. In fact, wherever she has gone in life she has made friends.
“She has had a very fullfilling life. Her mantra throughout those years has been “love all, trust a few, always paddle your own canoe.”