Betty Colbung's father fought in World War II and was a prisoner of war at Changi Prison. During those years, Colbung's mother moved the family to Sydney where they settled at Redfern. After completing high school, Colbung became a seamstress. When Colbung moved back to Perth in 1970, she noticed the difference in education standards between Perth and Sydney and become dedicated to improving educational opportunities for Indigenous children in Western Australia. When the Nyoongah community established Gnangara forty kilometres north of Perth in 1975, on 162 acres of land bought through the Aboriginal Land Fund Commission, Colbung was inspired to help establish an idenpendent school there. In 1979, Colbung became the founding Principal of Gnangara Aboriginal Community College.
