SAINT MARY IMMACULATE

BEVERLEY ROBERTS

HONOURED BY POPE BENEDICT XVI

BENEMERENTI AWARD 2011

Congratulations to Beverley Roberts on being awarded by Pope Benedict XVI with the Papal Honour, the medal Benemerenti, “for her devoted service to the Church and in particular the Liturgy over many years.”

In the letter accompanying the diploma and insignia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, the Apostolic Nuncio for New Zealand, based in Wellington, writes: “The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples has asked that its best wishes be conveyed to Beverley, and I gladly add my own congratulations.”

Born in Auckland, Beverley Mary Scott shifted to Wellington with her parents and loved brother, in time for her to begin her entire schooling at St Mary’s College, where she remained until her secondary education concluded.  Beverley was able to leave school at 16yrs having completed her 5^th and 6^th forms in one year, as part of an Education Board experiment.

During her education she showed considerable promise in singing and was tutored for a decade as a solo performer by Sister Mary Winifride.  During that time, Beverley was a recipient of two-year scholarship in drama and stagecraft from Wellington Repertory, which led on to stage experience, including one season which saw her ‘married’ on stage to Selwyn Toogood’s younger brother.  When she left school Beverley worked for nine years as a civilian in the Navy Office at New Zealand Admiralty.  As well as Naval personnel, Beverley’s job involved contact with the Prime Minister’s Department and the Defence

In 1951 Beverley met and married Desmond Roberts, who had been a spitfire pilot in England.  His was the first allied plane to land on French soil on D-day!  In civilian life, he had a position with Government Life Insurance.   They moved with their two young children to Tauranga in 1960, and became involved in both parish and school activities: Desmond coached rugby at the school, and Beverley continued her long association with church music.

Desmond’s premature death when their youngest child was only nine years of age brought further challenges for Beverley and her young family.  Father Ted Ryan, already her parish priest and family friend, assumed an even more trusted position by becoming a legal guardian along with Beverley to her three children. Beverley always held Father Ryan in the greatest respect and his guidance and support to her and her family throughout those years will always be remembered with love and affection by the Roberts and Scott families.

In 1971, Beverley went to work as the first secretary of St. Mary’s primary school in Tauranga, where she remained for four years.  A further period at Tauranga Boys College in the library as a textbook librarian and as trouble-shooter with the Deputy Principal this enabled her to gain insights into the state education system.  Beverley later took up a position as a trainee legal executive with Ray Dillon, Solicitor.  She then obtained employment at Cooney, Lees and Morgan where for twenty-one years she assisted many people with their legal and personal concerns.  She was respected for the professional manner in which she conducted herself, for her discretion and diplomacy, and for her reliability in maintaining confidentiality.  Beverley retired from this position in 1998.

In 1970 Peter Trapski and Beverley were elected parish representatives in Cardinal Delargey’s Commission of the Laity.  Beverley assisted in the implementation of many of the Second Vatican Council’s initiatives in the Parish, particularly those that were to do with Liturgy, music, and the introduction of lay participation in parts of the Mass, and the Commission of the Laity that led to the formation of Parish Councils.  This involved many trips to our Parish Councils in Hamilton and throughout the Bay of Plenty.  One of these trips was nearly fatal when Beverley’s car was forced into a wild skid on a rogue and large fuel dumping on the road.  Beverley had a short time in Waikato Hospital.  The poor victim of an identical incident at the same spot one week previously was killed instantly.

Beverley has maintained her involvement in church music, and still leads a St. Mary’s choir, which sings nearly every Sunday at Mass.  She also participates as a soprano in Schola Mariae.

Music has also provided Beverley with recreational and social highlights.  She has been involved in Tauranga Operatic Society shows, performing in some and training the chorus in others.  She recalls with delight, special visitors and their participation at Mass at St Marys, including Kiri Te Kanawa singing at Midnight Mass in the 1960s, and the VonTrap family before that.  The lovely American Inkspots joined the congregation one Sunday and Beverley recalls unforgettable memories of them singing ‘He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother’ and ‘We’ll meet again.’

Beverley’s three adult children are all based in England, but regularly make visits to her here in Tauranga.  She is proud of their achievements in journalism, psychology and making a difference in the lives of children suffering from Spina Bifida.  Throughout the years, Beverley has also enjoyed the company and pleasure from canine friends and her current companion is ‘Monty’ her delightful 14 mth old English Terrier.

Beverley Roberts has been a respected and consistent member of the Parish of Saint Mary Immaculate, Tauranga for 50 years. Her leadership in this Parish has extended from the days of the Second Vatican Council to the present, and had already been exercised in other parishes, namely Sacred Heart Basilica, Wellington, and St. Theresa’s parish in Karori before her arrival here in Tauranga.  It means that she has served the Church and particularly the Liturgy for over 50 years continuously. Beverley remains on the Liturgy Committee today and was once chairwoman on the Parish Council.

Beverley Roberts has been an outstanding laywoman in the Church of the immediate post Vatican II era.  With the encouragement of her example, energy and fidelity succeeding generations of Tauranga Catholics will surely be able to work towards bringing to fruition the vision of the Church that came with the Second Vatican Council, and which succeeding Popes and Synods of Bishops have continued to articulate.

Saint Mary Immaculate has been blessed to have Beverley as a loyal and supportive parishioner.  As well as her church music interest she has always encouraged others to contribute to the life and vitality of the parish.  Her grace, gentle wit and dedication continue to be an inspiration to us all.

Beverley wanted particular mention “of the huge gift of love and affection from the dear Sisters of Cluny”.  Over the years Beverley and all of her family have had cause to be deeply touched by the holiness, kindness, generosity and good humour of these dear ladies, who are so modest and such huge fun to be with.

“Thank God for the Clunies.”

The material in this testimonial includes interviews with Beverley herself and is based on the information that was gathered to support the application for the awarding of this medal.  It is a condition of applying for the award that the recipient is completely without any knowledge that this is being done.  Hence, only the bare minimum number of people knew that this award was being bestowed at Mass tonight.