Born

22 August 1922
Manly, New South Wales, Australia

Occupation

Servicewoman and Community worker

Alternative Names

• Newlyn, Betty Elva (maiden name)

Summary

Betty Ball, the daughter of Frederick (Australian Infantry Force World War 1) and Emily Newlyn, was educated at Manly West Public and Manly Domestic Science Schools. She joined the Brownies and later became a member of the Girl Guides. Ball was employed as a clerk with H V Leckie & Wilkinson, Insurance Supervisors until she joined the services.

In 1938 Ball joined the Australian Women's Flying Club and had her first flight in a Gypsy Moth with pilot Gwen Stark, who later became Wing Officer with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). At the beginning of World War II the clubs lectures were centred on air raid precautions, first aid, morse code etc. In the early 1940s the club amalgamated with the Women's Australian National Service.

On the 16 January 1942, Ball enlisted in the WAAAF and served as a stores clerk. After completing a photographic course at Fairbairn Canberra, in 1943, she was promoted to the rank of Corporal. She was stationed at Bankstown, Waterloo, Mildura, Canberra, East Sale and Brisbane before being discharged from the Central Photo School at Bradfield Park on 29 November 1945. Betty Ball served a total of 3 years 11 months.

In 1947 she married ex-serviceman Reginald Arthur Ball and they had two sons (one deceased) and two daughters. The family moved from Sydney to Perth (1950), to Brisbane (1963) and back to Sydney in 1967. While in Brisbane Betty Ball became a member of the local branch of the WAAAF Branch of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Association.

Betty Ball joined the New South Wales Division of the WAAAF of the RAAF Association in 1982. Since then she has been editor of the WAAAF Chat magazine for 9 years. Ball has been a delegate on numerous occasions to RAAF Association Assemblies, has held the position of vice-president of the WAAAF Branch and been a member of the State Council of RAAF Association. Also Ball is on the committee for the Seniors Club of St Johns Church, Sutherland.

In November 2002 Betty Ball became a participant in the Australian Women in War Project working group, representing the RAAF Association (NSW Division) - WAAAF Branch.