Beryl Edith Bedggood completed her schooling at Fintona Girl's School in Balwyn, Victoria, before becoming a meteorological officer with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in 1942. After marrying Ian Francis Beaurepaire in 1946 she became involved in the community and charity work of Melbourne's society women. During the 1970s she was chairman of the Federal Women's Committee (1974-1976), and later convenor of the first National Women's Advisory Council (1978-1982) as well as being vice-president of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party from 1976 to 1986.

Beaurepaire was a member of the Australian Children's Television Foundation Board (1982-1988), the Board of Victoria's 150th Authority (1982-1987), and a member of the Australian Bi-centennial Multicultural Foundation (1989-1992). From 1985 to 1993 she was chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council and then chairman of the Australian War Memorial Fund Raising Committee (1993).

She is Patron to a number of community organisations including: Children First Foundation since 2000, Peninsula Hospice Service since 1999, Palliative Care (Vic.) since 1999, Victorian College of the Arts since 1999, Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria since 1999, Australia Against Child Abuse since 1999, Peninsula Health Care Network Foundation since 1996 and the Portsea Children's Camp since 1996.

Events

1942 - 1945

Served with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force

1945

Commissioned Assistant Section Officer

1946

Married Ian Francis Beaurepaire

1969 - 1977

Member of the National Executive, YWCA Australia

1970 - 1986

Vice-President of the Citizens Welfare Service Victoria

1973 - 1976

Chairman of the Victorian Liberal Party Women's Section

1973 - 1987

Chairman of the Board of Management of Fintona Girls School

1974 - 1976

Chairman of the Federal Liberal Party Women's Committee

14 June 1975

Appointed, Member of the British Empire (MBE)

1976 - 1986

Vice-President of the Victorian Division Liberal Party

1977

Awarded Silver Jubilee Medal

1977

Member of the Federal Women's Advisory Committee Working Party

1978 - 1982

Convenor of the National Women's Advisory Council

31 December 1980

The Order of the British Empire - Dames Commander (DBE)

1982 - 1987

Board member of the Victorian 150th Authority

1982 - 1988

Board member of the Australian Children's Television Foundation Board

1982 - 1993

Member of the Australian War Memorial Council

1985 - 1993

Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council

1988 - 1990

President of the Victorian Association of Most Excellent OBE

1989 - 1992

Member of the Australian Bi-centennial Multicultural Foundation

10 June 1991

Companion Order of Australia (AC)

1993 - 1996

Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Fund Raising Committee

1996

Patron of the Peninsula Health Care Network Foundation

1996

Patron of the Portsea Children's Camp

1999

Patron of the Australian's Against Child Abuse

1999

Patron of the Peninsula Hospice Service

1999

Patron of the Palliative Care (Vic.)

1999

Patron of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria Incorporated

1999

Patron of the Victorian College of the Arts

2000

Patron of the Children First Foundation

Sources used to compile this entry: Caine, Barbara (ed.), Australian Feminism: A Companion, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1998, 607 pp.