The club wishes to express its deepest condolences to sons Darren and Dean Edwards and their families on the passing of their mum Betty. Many people new to the club would not know Betty but she was a tireless volunteer from the early 1980’s when sons Darren and Dean commenced their playing careers at the Mentone Junior Football Club. Betty’s involvement started when junior football commenced from Under 9 level. Dean was our first player to play through the grades to reach senior level and was a member of our 1993 Premiership Team.
Betty took on the Assistant Secretary role for years when communication was all done via the mail with typewriter at the ready and forms processed in triplicate. Betty also operated the canteen and afternoon teas for junior Sundays and then senior Saturdays plus a myriad of other jobs including Team Manager and jumper washing. Betty was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2004 and below is our dedication from the booklet. Betty Edwards: During the 1980s and 1990s Betty was a key administrator in both the Mentone junior and senior clubs. She was instrumental in consolidating the Mentone junior club, as well as being assistant secretary, canteen manager and team manager of several teams. Betty was a winner of the Best Club Person award for both clubs and her devotion to the Tiger cause was recognised by her receiving Life Membership awards from both the junior and senior Mentone Football Clubs. She is the only person in both clubs to achieve this feat. Over the past several years Betty would venture up to the club once or twice each season from her home in Rosebud and was in absolute awe of the club’s continued growth and the standard of footy. She was always full of praise for ‘today’s’ volunteers due to the pressures on our hectic style of life compared to the 1980’s when people just seemed to have more time to help our kids enjoy learning and playing the game we all love. Betty was one extremely proud mum when Dean kicked that final goal in the 1993 Premiership victory over Old Geelong but was even more happier when grandson Harrison commenced AusKick with the Tigers this season. Betty’s celebration of her life will be at Tobin Brothers Chapel 39A Boneo Rd, Rosebud, commencing at 2.00pm Friday 9 September. Rest in Peace Betty and thank you.