She grew up in Wyuna as part of the Lyle family and initially worked in a general store in Wyuna.
In 1944 she began working at the Knights Store, which was owned by the Borough of Kyabram’s first mayor and major force behind the town’s development, Henry Wood.
Bess met Henry’s son Maurie Wood after he returned from serving in the Australian Air Force during World War II in Europe and they married in 1947.
The couple had three children, Jenny, Haydn and Gillian.
After the sudden death of his father in 1955, Maurie became responsible for managing the large and complex Knights business. Knights was Kyabram’s largest retail enterprise for roughly a 50-year span between the 1930s and 1980s.
Under the leadership of Maurie and other outstanding managers committed to the business, Knights grew to occupy the land now used by Woolworths and K Hub along with the properties now occupied by Knights Homemakers and Sleepzone and Knights Building Supplies. Maurie also made a wide range of voluntary contributions to the community, including a term as mayor.
Maurie always strongly acknowledged that his achievements would not have been possible without the huge support he gained from Bess. He insisted that she identify herself as a company director rather than a housewife when she needed to nominate her occupation, which was a legal reality but much more importantly reflected the substance of her contribution.
In addition to managing their home and family during Maurie’s long days and nights working at Knights or for the community, Bess contributed to the business in ways ranging from working as a sales assistant during gift day sales to sage advice about people’s likely reactions to potential major changes.
Bess has also had a large and wide-ranging involvement in Kyabram sport and community organisations. She was a strong competition tennis player before switching to golf and lawn bowls.
Bess made many contributions to the Valley View Golf Club as a player and position holder, and was recognised with a life membership in 1994.
She still has involvement with the club, sponsoring a golf day at Valley View.
Other notable involvements included the Kyabram Historical Society, Music Club, Garden Club, the Uniting Church, Probus and donations to community initiatives.
Following the sad death of Maurie from motor neurone disease in 1988, her support for the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria was recognised by the award of a life governorship in 2000.
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