Pillar of Canberra’s pro-life movement retires after 50 years in the ring

Bev and Kevin Cains

Bev Cains, a pillar of Canberra’s pro-life movement, has recently retired as president of the ACT Right to Life Association.  

Mrs Cains, alongside her husband Kevin, was honoured at an afternoon tea last Saturday for her commitment to the association and other causes over five decades.

Beyond Right to Life, she was also involved with the Women’s Action Alliance and the Australian Family Association. She has also served in politics in the ACT House of Assembly before territory self-government.

In her speech to the gathering, Mrs Cains acknowledged the complex and challenging political and social landscape for the pro-life movement and the pressures for resources and funding, especially in the early years. 

One of the best pieces of advice she had received for dealing with the challenges came from her daughter as they were driving past the Prime Minister’s Lodge. “Mum, go in there and tell the Prime Minister. He’ll fix it.” 

“I suppose that’s what we’ve been trying to do,” Mrs Cains said. 

She praised the founders of ACT Right to Life for creating a multi-denominational organisation that had attracted members from many churches.

Speaking to the Catholic Voice, she cited the imposition of exclusion zones around ACT abortion clinics as a disheartening period. There were minor victories, however, such as dropped charges against protestors.

Mrs Cains attributed her Catholic faith and Marian devotion as the engine rooms behind her commitment to the causes. She has even authored a book, “Fatima: the Play,” to educate children about the Fatima story.

Her son, Stephen, highlighted his pride in his mother’s dedication to the vulnerable, especially the unborn and the elderly.  

“You can take the lady out of the right to life, but you can’t take the right to life out of the lady!” he told the Catholic Voice.

As if to underline the point, Mrs Cains, a mother of five, grandmother of 17, and great-grandmother of two, ended her speech with a call to action.  

Quoting from the Acts of the Apostles and inspired by the words of the Angel who appeared at the Ascension, she said:

“Men and women of Canberra, why do you stand here looking into the stars? 

“We’ve got a task to complete, and I’m begging you, get on with it.”

• Saturday’s event also featured a presentation by Dr Sarah Jensen of First Steps Pregnancy Support. For more about Dr Jensen and ‘First Steps’, see https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/first-steps-pregnancy/