Life of child caring

By Kath Gannaway
BETTY Chalmers celebrated her 90th birthday in Yarra Glen earlier this month.
More than 80 people, family and friends, attended the party for the former infant welfare sister who was, and still is to many, affectionately known as Sister Sadlier.
As infant welfare sister at the Yarra Glen Maternal and Child Health Centre from 1957 to 1981 Sister Sadlier saw thousands of mothers and children through their first few years.
During that time she drove countless miles for home visits often arriving home very late after calling in to check up on a sick baby.
At the 50th anniversary of the centre two years ago Mrs Chalmers said there were times she would see up to 50 mothers in a day.
“I would see them all in turn, weighing and measuring the babies, answering the mothers’ questions and cuddling the babies,” she said.
She rated being a good listener as one of the most important skills of the job.
On 2 May, Mrs Chalmers and her husband, Roy, travelled from their home at Cohuna for the special celebration at the Uniting Church Hall.
Her nephew Steve Sadlier said the birthday celebrations included lots of story-telling and sharing memories of good times.
“Aunty Betty was also known for a wacky sense of humour that has helped her and so many others over the years,” he said.
To add to the occasion Mrs Chalmer’s 95-year-old sister Elinor Scott of Leongatha and brother Fred Sadlier, 93, from Yarra Glen were together for the day.
“A very special memory, particularly for the families of all three, was that they were able to be together and be in such good health on such a marvellous occasion,” Mr Sadlier said, adding “three cheers for Aunty Betty”.