Poetry of Reflections by Betty May

At a time in their life when many people are giving up on reading, an inspirational Invercargill woman has taken up publishing.

The Poetry of Reflection by Betty May is the work of decades that she prepared earlier, which will be launched at this event.

A collection of poems, many written during the 1990s when visiting her family home on the West Coast, others inspired by her international travels and still more by her faith.

“My sister Jean Crooks gave me a cut out from the paper about a poetry reading at Hokitika – so I went.

“People seemed to enjoy them and were very encouraging so I kept writing. They all said I should publish them one day and finally now I have.”

The 83-year-old was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2017, forcing her retirement to a smaller home and it was during the move that the bulk of her work was uncovered by family.

Cataracts had, by then, robbed her of much of her sight, but successful surgery last year meant she was able to read again and contribute to the editing process.

“I was pleased I had already written them.”

“I was born a Bromley, and spent most of my life as a Watson, but I’ve been Betty May my whole life so that seemed most appropriate,” she said.

Betty May moved to Invercargill the year of the 1984 floods, and joined Waverly Presbyterian Church where she was also a stalwart in the choir, and a founding member of Church Women United. She walked the Milford and Routeburn tracks and was a regular on the City to Surf fun run.

“When you get old it seems there is so much you can’t do. I can no longer drive, I can’t sit for long periods of time, and I can’t walk any great distance but this is a whole new something that I have been able to do,” said Betty May.

Light refreshments will be served.