Betty was the eldest child of Bill and Eva Bates. Betty was brought up in the Anglican Church and her faith continued to be a central influence on her life.

In 1935 the family moved to a property near Cairns, North Queensland. Batty and her brother Bob had school lessons by correspondence for two years, supervised by their mother.

In 1938 the family moved to Newcastle in which Betty became a 'commercial artist' at a women's apparel store.

In 1944 Betty's parents returned to North Queensland to manage Oombunghi, an outstation of Yarrabah Aboriginal Mission. Betty joined them for the year and taught the local children.