Vale Amelia 'Millie' Beaton

The Old Girtonians’ Association was saddened by news of the passing of 2018 graduate Millie Beaton in August. The following is a reflection of the contribution that Millie made to Girton and the lives of her Girton peers, teachers, friends and Old Girtonians. The information about Millie has been provided from friends and teachers, current and past, who sent the OGA heartfelt words of love and gratitude for having known such a caring, friendly, kindhearted, cheeky, resilient and delightful young woman. 

Millie started at Girton in 2012 in Year 7 in Millward House.  She was in a vertical House Tutor group, affectionately known as the ‘Cronies’ from Year 7 to Year 12. Despite interrupted study owing to an ongoing illness, Millie completed her final year of VCE studies over two years and graduated in 2018.

Millie’s favourite subject was Art, and many of her friends credit her with helping them gain a genuine appreciation of art and culture in all its forms. Some say she was born in the wrong era because of her love for classical music, ancient history and deep appreciation for art, bringing joy that she readily shared. Her friends say that acting in recent theatre productions brought Millie great satisfaction, confirmed by enrolling in a Drama degree at Deakin University.

With Full Colours for Swimming and Millward House and Half Colours for Energy Breakthrough and Music, Millie’s commitment and talent in a broad range of activities were typical of her zest for life. She also loved Hockey and Netball, playing, umpiring and coaching teams. In her later years at Girton, when Millie was not well enough to participate on the Hockey field, she would attend games to support her team, providing assistant coaching support, helping with equipment and lending another pair of hands wherever they were needed. Although one friend teased that he was convinced she was more focused on the homemade chocolate cake, or hot chips that would be waiting on the sidelines. She was organised, patient and very caring of her young hockey students, taking pride in their growth and love for the game.

But it was to the water that Millie was most drawn, and after graduation, she assisted with swimming lessons in the Girton PE Department, where she is fondly remembered. Her swimming abilities took her to Melbourne to seek specialist coaching and facilities, and friends reflect that it was rare to have a conversation with Millie without her mentioning swimming. Her friends say that she always aimed to be the best she could be, which was never more apparent than when she was in the pool. In her final months, she and her mum travelled to northern NSW to be somewhere warm so Millie could simply float in the ocean.

From compelling storytelling and a cheerfully cheeky smile each morning on the school bus to continually forgetting an item of school uniform or a knowing grin, Millie is remembered by many people for many things. The recurring theme of being a warm and kind nurturer and caring deeply about others comes through time again in the recollections from the Girton community.

With a warm smile and optimistic outlook, Millie has lit up the lives of countless people, opening her heart so everyone could appreciate who she was. Many teachers describe her as a ray of sunshine in their class who was kind and caring to others and a young lady of incredible integrity and bravery. 

Millie’s compassion seems to have known few bounds. She worked with children with autism spectrum disorder in Girton’s Sporting Chance programme and did volunteer work with Righteous Pups. But it was the kindness, intelligence and enthusiasm of her daily interactions that the Girton community most remembers. Millie is described as wise and insightful, knowing just what to say and when to say it. She is fondly remembered as strong-minded, self-assured and dignified. 

The Girton friends, teachers, and peers who knew Millie are inspired by how she met her battle head-on at school, teaching us much about resilience and positivity. Even at her sickest, Millie’s strong will would not allow her good character to falter and fuelled with positivity; her beautiful bright smile was never far from the surface. 

Millie has taught us that life can send us challenges, that our pathways are not guaranteed and that sharing the sometimes-rocky road can help. These qualities and lessons from Millie have left an indelible imprint on her many friends, students and staff at Girton, and we are blessed for having had her in our lives. 

Per Aspera Ad Astra. 

A Reflection

I will always remember Millie coming into my office with a warm smile and positive attitude just to have a chat or to discuss her school subjects. We talked about whether she should consider completing her VCE over 2 years in order for school work not competing with her treatments.  I know she would have liked to have graduated with her peer group, although she was grateful she would have the opportunity to graduate the following year. She enjoyed her experience with her friends at the January 2017 VCE Conference in Melbourne. She looked radiant in her dress at our formal dinner on that evening. 

We sometimes shared our similar hospital treatments; funny little antidotes about nurses, doctors, and, of course, hospital food. One could see her mist up when thinking about the smaller children in the hospital and concern for their futures and well being. 

Mr Monro, the teacher in charge of Hockey at Girton, would often tell me how Millie enjoyed playing hockey, and how she particularly enjoyed coaching the younger students. She was organised, patient and very caring of her young hockey students and took great pride in their growth and love for the game. Her calm demeanor and caring attitude shown through in the way she helped with ICCES in Shepparton and on Sandhurst sport days.

In fighting her insidious disease Millie always remained brave, cheerful and optimistic. I am confident these qualities made an indelible imprint on her many friends and the students she coached and swam with in her short life. Millie was a fine human being, opening her heart so everyone could appreciate who she was.

Mr Bill Montgomery

former Head of Careers