Member's Profile: 
Betty Caldwell

Last updated 04/10/2011

Back to the Profiles page

BETTY CALDWELL, Tutor, Wednesday Writers at U3A Melbourne. 2011

Betty worked as a stenographer at the Transport Regulation Board for 27 years that included serving as a Director of the Staff Credit Union from its inception in 1970 until retirement in 1983.  She previously spent 10 years at Clemenger Advertising.

 She is currently a member of the Victorian Society of Women Writers and the Stories on Ageing Group initiated by Melbourne University.

 On retirement, Betty was a home tutor for a couple of years with the Adult Migrant Education Service. 

 Betty featured in the 2008 Inaugural State Edition of Who’s Who and in each publication of Australian Women since 2009.

 A short story writer, Betty joined the Wednesday Writers in late 2002. The then Tutor gave no indication of withdrawing from the group but in her absence, Betty fulfilled the role, little realising she’d still be in it some seven years later

 Obviously, she’s enjoying the experience!

 First taking up the pen in 1983 to record family histories, Betty progressed into writing fiction a few years later.  Commencing with the moderately lengthy “Home is the Teacher” and its sequel “Back to Coverdale”, she finally settled for the shorter form producing 18 stories in 2000 and an astounding 25 the next year.

 There has been a dramatic decline in recent times with a mere half dozen in 2010. 

 Overall, there are in excess of 160 pieces, most reflecting an Australian background while others are set in such diverse locations as Europe, China, South America and Africa.

 Numerous short articles and personal anecdotes complete Betty’s portfolio.

 Most notable of the sort stories are:

 ·        Far Meadows

·        Full Circle

·        Rhoaddan Abbey

·        Zimmerman’s War

·        Whisky Jack

·        Juniper Hill

·        Ugly Mug

·        Zillah

·        X = South

·        Five Good Men

·        Up Silverland Way

·        Cornish Star

·        Distant Fields

·        Untold Courage

·        Alexander

·        Phyllie’s Husband

·        In Them Days

·        Isabella

·        Daisy

·        Wandering Through

·        Xian

·        Chill Wind

·        Growing Away

·        Shona

·        Drums and Guns

·        Honorable Blade

·        Quality Brown

Included in the U3A Wednesday Writers Anthologies of 2004 and 2009 were

Hell or High Water, For Alice Who Doesn’t Like Sport and Kaspar.

 Back to the top