Beatrice Erwine Head
Passed away aged 90 years
The service to celebrate the life of Beatrice will be held in the Boyd Chapel,
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, 600 Princes Hwy, Springvale
on Thursday, 27th April 2023 at 9.30am
For those who cannot attend the service,
you can watch the service by clicking on the streaming link below:
10 Tributes
Henrietta Roberts
Beatrice was one of the most positive people I have ever met.
Her enjoyment of nature and music was infectious.
Her moral integrity was unparalleled.
The way she helped others unstintingly until her last days was exemplary.
She has helped many new migrants integrate into the Australian community through her volunteering activities.
I am so pleased we were able to celebrate her 90th birthday.
Charles Wang
I am one of the new migrants Beatrice helped many years ago. I boarded at her place for 6 years, and our mother-son-like relationship lasted for 32 years. During these 6 years and afterwards, Beatrice was my landlady, my friend, my English teacher, my life mentor, and a teacher of Western culture to me. She played a pivotal role in the establishment of my life in Australia.
In other areas, I totally agree with what Mrs Henrietta Roberts wrote.
I am just one of many she helped in her life. She will forever live in our hearts!
Charles Wang
Yu Hong (Helen) Wu
I was introduced to Beatrice through the Adult Migrant English Centre where I was considered to have proficient level of English that they would not be able to provide further assistance. Beatrice supported me through the English course for medical professionals as well as my first postgraduate degree in Australia. Beatrice was the driving force behind me pursuing specialist training in paediatrics once I obtained my full registration.
Beatrice has been my dearest friend for nearly 30 years. We travelled together through parts of NZ’s North Island, Mildura, Newcastle, Alice Springs and Kakadu National Park in Katherine. We have also done lots of walks in the Dandenong Mountains. Beatrice has been like a second mother to me. She loved to hear me talking about my study, work and family life. She was the one whom I could trust and share my thoughts with.
Beatrice, you will be forever loved!
Lijian Song
I had been staying with Beatrice for nine years. One day.when we walked together after rain,she fell down.I was scared,while she said to me ,”Look at the rainbow, Lijian!it’s gorgeous!” I did see the double rainbow in front of us, it was gorgeous indeed, almost forgot she was still sitting on the wet ground!Good on dear Beatrice!
Shirley (Zhiqi) Shen
I was introduced to Beatrice as a boarder by Liya when I was pursuing my PhD degree at Monash University and just separated from my ex-husband. It was Beatrice who helped and supported me in a very wise and love way. She became my Australian mother, who taught me English and a lot of more, cared me for many aspects, brought me to a wide range of new experiences, when I lived in her home, which I also call my home! Our relationship, not only better than friendship, but also better than mother-daughter relationship, have lasted more than 27 years since. I have learned a lot from her, for example, be positive particularly when things are not sorted out well; be open minded at all the time; and be trusted person to support others when they need. I have been benefiting from these learnings, probably a lot more than she could think of. Beatrice, we love you forever and you will be with us in our hearts forever!
Jill Waterhouse
The memorial service for Beatrice was just right. It was touching to see her sons light the candle and to hear so many tributes, including thoughts from her grandchildren as well as those from friends.
Beatrice taught History at the Canberra Church of England Girls Grammar School in the 1960s, before her elder son, Martin, was born. She set high standards, not only in historical knowledge, but also in grammar and spelling – remarkable for someone for whom English was not her first language. Contacting my former class mates to tell them the sad news, a few who are only occasionally in touch responded with warm acknowledgements of Mrs Head as a teacher. Another legacy may be to bring a few of her former students (now in our middle 70s) closer together.
The memorial gathering was a fitting tribute to her involvement in Amnesty International and her many talents and interests, including her love of animals, especially Scruffy who cleverly carried his own ball to the park and back.
Safe travels to those returning to the northern hemisphere.
Hamed Soodan Khoshk
This world needs more people like Beatrice, she was an angel among us. I am very happy and blessed to have known her. She taught me lots of things about human rights, hope, never giving up, and kindness to all people. There are no words to describe Beatrice. I do not like to say goodbye to her, because for me she lives in my heart always.
Julie Vengua
Thank you Beatrice for the immeasurable kindness you have shown to my Hamed.
You were a bright light for him after all the darkness he’s been through.
Rest easy knowing Hamed will try his best to pay your kindness forward.
May our Lord keep you in his eternal embrace, His good and faithful servant.
Haley Wilkinson
We were very sad to hear of Beatrice’s passing. She was a committed and knowledgeable volunteer English tutor – she supported 8 different students in the AMEP Volunteer Tutor Scheme in recent years, and many more beyond that. We visited her at home recently and she spoke fondly of students she supported, and shared with us many other stories from different parts of her life – we were impressed by her intellect, humour and commitment to social justice.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends,
Haley and Havisha (on behalf of the Melbourne AMEP Volunteer Tutor Scheme)
Peter L Hanley
I only heard of Beatrice’s passing today at the Amnesty International Australia AGM. I met Beatrice at online meetings of the National Amnesty Refugee Network (NARN). I was so impressed by her obvious commitment to the welfare of refugees and her faith in humanity. From the comments above I get a beautiful picture of a wonderful human being.