|
Life After Hell
Des was repatriated to England on the SS Monowai and arrived home in late September 1945 to find that his only brother had perished when his submarine the HMS Vandal sank off Scotland while on trials, with the loss of all crew.
Des studied art in Leeds and was appointed to the South Shields School of Art in the north-east of England, eventually becoming Acting Principal, as well as teaching night classes at a local secondary school.
He had married Irene Kay in 1946, and, disillusioned by the way politics was affecting art education in England, emigrated to Australia in 1958 with Irene and his three children.
Arriving from an English winter to a very hot South Australia in February, his first art teaching post was at the technical high school in Whyalla, on the edge of the desert. After several months he was transferred to the South Australian School of Art in Adelaide, rising to the position of Assistant Principal and finally Acting Principal before retiring in 1978.
During his years as an educator he continued his passion for art, experimenting in various media in his home studio, and even after retirement continued to teach art to a local church group.
He also indulged his interest in music, forming a successful harmonica trio (the Des Bettany Trio) which appeared regularly on national television and at many live music venues, and also produced an LP record.
Dad fitted a lot into his daily life that I can remember: apart from his work he produced heaps of artwork on canvas. He played his harmonica seriously at practices and concerts sometimes three times weekly.
He also played with us boys, picture shows from left Des, myself on bass and Graham on chords.
He cared for us his family, his friends, his garden and we cared for him.
Des died in 2000 at the age of 81.
His memory lives on with his sketches and music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous Page
|
Changi PoW Artist
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
