MRS. June Augustus is not a lady who is easily put in her place, told to keep cool and do exactly as she is told. That was her situation on Saturday when her 75th birthday rolled around and her five children felt she well deserved an out-of-the-ordinary celebration.

June (inset) was born on June 30, 1931. She has been having some serious medical problems in recent weeks, but she was in great shape as a wide circle of family and friends joined in paying tribute to her in music, song, dance and dialogue.

Gene Steede, Wendell (Shine) Hayward, Darlene Simons and Laverne Daniels were only some who were brought to the fore by the mistress of ceremonies Valerie Pethen.

Others included business and professional club associates such as Dame Lois Browne Evans, Dame Jennifer Smith, Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield and Sybil Robinson, as well as June's pastor, the Rev. Dr. Wilbur Lowe, and Rev. Alton Thompson.

When it was left to this writer to give a profile on June, I recalled how we grew up on the same side of the street at Sound View Road in Somerset, and how she became a much younger colleague of mine for many years on the now-defunct Bermuda Recorder newspaper.

She started her apprenticeship as a printer after an early marriage. Her enterprising spirit motivated her as a mother, wife, and career woman to embark on a variety of ambitious schemes.

Not content at having developed into a highly skilled graphic artist and writer, she took leave from the Recorder and enrolled in the famous Trap-hagen School of Fashion in New York, qualifying as a first-class milliner.

For some years she operated her own Hat and Fashion boutique in Hamilton, selling out to go into the hotel business. She operated The Plaza Hotel next to the Leopards Club on Cedar Avenue where she also opened Bermuda's first Japanese-style restaurant, The Geisha Room.

June returned to journalism in a big way in the 1960, founding Fame magazine, becoming its editor and publisher. Fame provided a launching pad for many budding journalists, including Valerie Smith Pethen, Jennifer (Dame) Smith, Al Seymour and Charles Webbe.

June is probably best known as founder of The Bermuda Museum in Bailey's Bay, commemorating in a unique way the accomplishments of many distinguished Bermudians. She has been a leading lady in many other spheres of Bermuda's business and professional life, having been president of the Bermuda Business and Professional Club for many years, vice-president of the charitable and social group Las Casadoras, proprietor of June Ann's Dress Shop, The Just Looking Shop for Ladies and Gents and co-owner of Ace-Printers.

I did not mention that June made a short foray into politics, being an unsuccessful candidate in 1968 for the Bermuda Democratic Party. She was signally honoured for her many-faceted public services just last month with the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Knowing June like I think I do, she in all probability will be making plans to go to London with her husband Alfred Augustus, for the insignia of her award.

Photos: Her children, who organised her unique birthday party at Mt. Zion AME Church Hall, are, front left, home maker Carolee Douglas, June Ann Furbert, social hostess at Grotto Bay Resort and Tammy Jones, who is in sales at Holmes Williams and Purvey. At left rear is her son Derek Pitt.