OBITUARY
Brenda Miller
Born: 15 June, 1928
Died: 23 May, 2011
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 Ruth Wilson was born on 15 June, 1928, in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England.
The second daughter of Alan and Olive, in 1939 Brenda, her parents and sisters, Dorothy and Ann, moved to Adelaide, and Brenda recalled how World War II broke out as the family were travelling on board the SS Ormonde.
A librarian, in 1954 she met and married mathematician John Miller, who was working at St. Peter’s College in Adelaide. They spent their early married life in Armadale NSW, then Canberra where Brenda built up two libraries from scratch Their two children, Timothy (47) and Sarah (46) were born there.
The family moved to Berwick in 1965, where they built a house in Inglis Road, and planted an extensive and fruitful garden. Brenda loved her garden, and the produce from it, and loved to cook jams, preserves and chutneys which she sold as fund-raisers for the many charities in which she was involved, and also gave away to family and friends. Their home was a warm and welcoming place and the Millers kept an open house for their many acquaintances.
The couple also loved to travel, and experience the great architecture and landscapes of the world. They would go overseas regularly, and return with John’s beautiful paintings documenting what they had seen.
Brenda was a tireless and dedicated worker in the local community, and a fierce advocate for literature and reading for children, starting another 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. 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. In the 1960s, she became a member of the Berwick Benevolent Society, as well as being heavily involved in Oxfam (formerly Community Aid Abroad) for over 30 years (14 as president), the Friends of Ermera, Friends of Doveton Library and the Arthritis Society.
She was also the founding member of BADCA (Berwick and District Community Association) and received a Casey Award for Services to Global Friendships, as well as holding the Ladies’ Guild annual morning tea as a regular event. The couple’s home was also the central point for Clean Up Australia Day for several years.
She was an enthusiastic member of Berwick Anglican Church and served on the vestry and the Anglican Synod, and was vicar’s warden for a number of years. She attended all church functions and fund-raisers and generally moved quietly in the background to achieve powerful outcomes.
The grandmother of Damien (21), Brendan (16) and Nicholas (12), Brenda will be sadly missed by her family and many friends.
– Fiona Berkholz
