(Bebe) Elizabeth Anne Mackey: A true lady and wise mentor, devoted to family and community

Elizabeth (Bebe) Anne Mackey (nee Allen), wife of Bruce (dec), mother of Anne, Hugh, Fiona, David and Belinda, passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2024, aged 92 years, only days prior to her 93rd birthday.

Bebe was born on January 21, 1931 and spent her first four years living on a grazing property ‘Guthega’ at Merriwa with her parents Vernon (dec) sister Eileen (dec) and brother Ross (dec).

In 1935, they moved to live at ‘Rothlyn,’ Chakola, a village near Cooma. Bebe and Ross were home-schooled by their mother for their primary years through the Blackfriars Correspondence School. It was here where Bebe and her brother learnt to ride. Bebe became an accomplished rider from a very young age, and they had many horseback adventures on the Monaro Plains. Bebe looked upon these times as the happiest times of her childhood.

The family then moved to ‘Carinya’, Cooma, where Bebe spent her teenage years through to her early 20s, when tennis courts, bachelor and spinster balls, polo and polocrosse circuits, picnic races, and the Snowy Mountains ski slopes were regular haunts – these were the days of ungroomed ski slopes and no chairlifts, yet Bebe loved her skiing adventures.

Bebe helped build Cooma Hut Ski Lodge at Perisher Valley and became a foundation member of the Lodge. She maintained that membership for many years and introduced her five children to skiing whilst returning to stay at Cooma Hut Ski Lodge, which was situated at the top of Perisher Valley mountain.

While living at Carinya, the siblings attended boarding school in Sydney, Bebe attending Ascham at Edgecliff. Bebe enjoyed her time at Ascham and made some very close, long-term friends.

When Bebe’s cousins headed off for an overseas trip in 1953, she was disappointed not to be joining them. As luck would have it, this is when she met Bruce Mackey, at the Goulburn Picnic Races. Bruce and Bebe celebrated their wedding in 1954, and the couple moved to the property ‘Cooininee’ at Coolac, a beautiful sheep and grazing property on the Murrumbidgee River near Jugiong and Gundagai.

Whilst living at ‘Cooininee’, the pair welcomed their two eldest children, Anne and Hugh to their family. It was here that Bebe’s love of gardening sprang to life, and she went on to create extraordinary gardens wherever they lived.

The property was sold in 1958, then the young family moved to St Ives for a short period, and the couple’s third child, Fiona, was born. Not long afterwards, the family moved to Bordertown, SA. They lived in Bordertown from 1960-1963, and welcomed two more children into the family, twins – David and Belinda. In South Australia, Bebe and Bruce were agricultural pioneers on the edge of the desert, and as there were many young families there at the time getting a start in life, much hard work and fun was to be had.

Animals were always very important to Bebe, and in those early days she owned a dog, her horse ‘Whiskey’, a couple of pet rams and draught horses. In January 1964, Bebe, Bruce and their family left Bordertown to begin life at ‘Wire Lagoon,’ 9 miles out of Wee Waa on the Spring Plains Road. They became adventurous, hard-working pioneers again, this time in the early days of the Namoi Cotton Industry.

The move to ‘Wire Lagoon’ was the beginning of the development of the farm from a grazing property to a successful irrigated cotton enterprise. These were exciting and challenging times and Bebe and Bruce made many new friends. They were extremely grateful for the experience of the American emigrant families who shared their knowledge without hesitation.

While Bruce converted the acres from grazing to irrigation, Bebe converted the house and garden into a lovely home for the family. A gracious and fun-loving hostess, there were many memorable parties and functions held there. Bebe was a great cook and had the ability to make all guests, regardless of age, feel comfortable and welcome. This was partially achieved by the liberal use of her smile and cheeky sense of humour – assets she retained until her final days.

Bebe loved the challenge of breaking in a number of foals in the yards at ‘Wire Lagoon’. Bebe taught all her children how to ride and would take them on adventurous cross-country rides through the paddocks to visit various neighbours. The children all attended Wee Waa Pony Camp, and whilst there, Bebe was a Troop Leader which she really enjoyed.

During her years at ‘Wire Lagoon’, Bebe involved herself in the Wee Waa community, helping with the Wee Waa Show, and took on the position of Assistant Secretary for many years. She was also a Wee Waa Cotton Festival volunteer helper for the duration of its run, and she worked for a time as an assistant at the Wee Waa Newsagency.

Bebe and Bruce’s roles took a lot of grit and determination and the ability to bounce back after numerous setbacks, including floods and droughts. The pair worked very well as a team in their separate roles, and the result brought them both much pleasure, enabling them to send five children to boarding school and allowing them to indulge in their love of travel, both overseas and in Australia. They loved their cruising and bareboat charters with their friends, Rotary Club trips, as well as their birdwatching and fishing exploration trips with Harry Butler’s groups.

Bebe and Bruce retired from ‘Wire Lagoon’ in October 1994 and moved into Narrabri to Wandi Place. They slipped into retired life easily. Bebe could still indulge in garden design and maintenance with a lovely big garden, and Bruce enjoyed the big shed where he “crafted” many wonderful things for his family and friends.

She bought a couple of geese in Narrabri to try them out before long little goslings arrived. A few years later, her gaggle numbered about 44! The Golf Club became part of their home run, and as this caused much consternation to golfers, they were eventually re-homed.

Making many friends of all ages wherever she lived, Bebe was always an active community member, and she continued this in Narrabri by volunteering her time to many community committees which she thoroughly enjoyed. Bebe also kept active playing golf for many years, and she attended gym sessions until recently.

A lover of all kinds of music, from crooners to rock and roll to classical, Bebe also attended theatre, movies and live entertainment such as Opera Under the Stars. Bebe enjoyed learning and discovering new things as a member of ADFAS Narrabri for many years, and was an avid reader of most genres, particularly a good crime thriller. She loved doing the Sydney Morning Herald crosswords every week. Sharp of mind right up to the age just shy of 93, Bebe was a whiz on her mobile phone and her computer, quite an achievement for her generation.

Sadly, Bruce passed away aged 91 in 2017, and Bebe moved into a smaller home on Gibbons Street. It was the perfect house for Bebe for her latter years, with coffees and crosswords on the front verandah, and people passing by and calling in for a quick chat. In the evenings she’d have her sundowner on the back verandah overlooking a paddock, with kangaroos and a handsome horse to watch over. She enjoyed that.

During the last year of her life, the family were able to care for Bebe in her own home, cherishing this valuable time with her and the completion of a full circle, born at home and passing away at home.

Bebe will be remembered for living a good life. She was a loving wife, a caring mother, grandmother and mother-in-law, a strong woman, a good friend, an active community member and an all-round fun and cheeky person. Eternally supportive, resilient and determined, helpful and considerate. Bebe is survived by Anne and Baney, Hugh and Claire, Fiona and Charles, David and Karen and Belinda and Michael and 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.