- Family Background:
- Betty was born on Thursday Island (Waiben) in 1956 and raised on Mer Island. Her birthname was Betty Margaret Tapim. She became Betty Mabo when she was a young girl, having been raised by the renowned native title activist, Eddie Koiki Mabo and his sister Marenda Mabo.
- Biography:
Betty left Mer Island in 1972 after completing primary school. She completed senior schooling up to Grade 10 at Thursday Island and then attended Cairns Business College. In the early 1980s, after searching for jobs on Thursday Island, Betty realized there were no cultural arts businesses existing on the island. With her parents, they formed a dance team called TI Meriam and represented the Torres Strait at the 1982 Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane.
The following year Betty relocated to Stanmore, Sydney, where she formed a dance group, encouraging Torres Strait Islander culture at educational facilities, such as universities, schools, and colleges.
In 1987, Betty returned home to participate in the first Torres Strait Cultural Festival held on Thursday Island. Together with her dance team, they built a traditional Tama (bush) hut, a Meriam stall, and presented island crafts and food. The group received the award for Best Cultural Hut.
Betty is a renown Meriam Mer cultural advocate, practitioner, advisor and self-employed traditional artist; she has travelled nationwide throughout Australia and worldwide.
Adamant to showcase the rich culture of the Torres Strait, and with the support of Australian Arts funding, Betty managed a dance team, comprising of weavers, singers, and language speakers, to tour overseas and participate in the South Pacific Festival of Arts, in Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, and Hawaii from 1988 to 1991.
Betty continued to share her traditional knowledge with the local high school on Thursday Island. The following year, Betty took a dance team of 42 students and toured the Melanesian Festival of Arts in Daru, Port Moresby, PNG, Hiri Moale Festival, Honiara, Solomon Islands, and finally in Noumea, New Caledonia.
In 1991, she toured USA and South America, ending her tour at San Francisco.
“That is what made me strong in my culture, my creative arts and crafts, teaching language, dance, and storytelling. Grass-root teaching is very important to me, to teach others everything in Meriam Mer culture.”
Betty is passionate about her culture, dance, song, music, language and creative arts industry. She is currently teaching Meriam Mer language sessions at James Cook University on Thursday Island and at home.
Betty is vision impaired and is a chronic illness kidney patient. Despite this, she is very independent and will continue to share her culture at every opportunity.