Community worker mourned

– Fiona Berkholz
BERWICK is mourning the passing of local volunteer and community stalwart, Brenda Miller, the much-loved wife of John Miller and mother of Timothy and Sarah.
Brenda was a tireless worker in the community, and a fierce advocate for literacy, starting two libraries in Cranbourne, and undertaking a further two projects while teaching at schools in Hallam and Cranbourne. She also took over the Doveton Library after it had been burned down twice.
A dedicated teacher, she compiled the Children’s Book Index and wrote a history of the Berwick Anglican Church Flower Show, which was published for the 100th anniversary.
Dedicated to the preservation of historic buildings and gardens in Berwick, in 1988 Brenda ran for local council, and was nominated for local Senior Citizen of the Year three times. She was a longtime member of the Berwick Benevolent Society, and was heavily involved in Oxfam (spending 14 years as president) the Friends of Ermera, Friends of Doveton Library and the Arthritis Society.
She was also the founding member of the Berwick and District Community Association, and received a Casey Award for Services to Global Friendship. She held a Ladies’ Guild annual morning tea and the couple’s home was also the central point for Clean Up Australia Day for several years. An enthusiastic member of Berwick Anglican Church she served on the vestry and the Anglican Synod, and was vicar’s warden for a number of years.
She was born Brenda Ruth Wilson in England on 15 June, 1928. The second daughter of Alan and Olive, in 1939 Brenda, her parents and sisters, Dorothy and Ann, moved to Adelaide.
In 1954 she met and married mathematician John Miller,and they spent their early married life in Armadale NSW, then Canberra where Brenda built up two libraries. Their two children, Timothy (47) and Sarah (46) were born there.
The family moved to Berwick in 1965, and built a house in Inglis Road. Their home was a warm and welcoming place for their many friends, and a hub of the community.
The grandmother of Damien (21), Brendan (16) and Nicholas (12) Brenda will be sadly missed by her family and many friends.