General News
31 July, 2024
Obituary: Margaret Williamson
MARGARET WILLIAMSON 1941-2024 MARGARET Williamson has been remembered as a proud worker and advocate for the Pyramid Hill community. The former nurse and husband Murray were caretakers of the town’s swimming pool in the early 1970s and she later...
MARGARET WILLIAMSON
1941-2024
MARGARET Williamson has been remembered as a proud worker and advocate for the Pyramid Hill community.
The former nurse and husband Murray were caretakers of the town’s swimming pool in the early 1970s and she later organised water aerobics and swimming lessons for Mums and Bubs.
Margaret and Murray were married in 1961 and lived in Wycheproof working on a farm for the Todd family, before moving to Yarrawalla where home was a bus that May and Jack Williamson provided for six months, before moving into Watson’s Cottage.
Daughter Judy Flood said they moved to Pyramid hill in 1964 and initially lived at Durham Ox Road. “After our Durham Ox Road house burnt down in 1973, the McCahon family took us in and, and later that year Mum and Dad bought our home on Gladfield Road,” she said.
Margaret played tennis for Yarrawalla and later took up golf, winning many trophies and having a handicap of 16.
Judy said: “Mum was a local advocate, and some of her important town contributions included successfully lobbying for funding and getting a footpath from Mitchell Park to the Catholic school, an aged care crossing sign on Gladfield Road, a pram and Scooter crossing on all streets in the town, a ground-level kitchen and disability ramp at memorial hall.
“She organised tourism activities, op-shop tours, and local town tours of Pyramid Hill. She dedicated nine years to Cubs and Scouts with the whole family in uniform. She held district and regional positions as well, and was always on camps and jamborees. ‘
“Mum was very involved in her local community- she was on the pre-school committee, president of Presbyterian church and president of the Ladies Guild. Museum duties started when Mum’s tennis dress no longer fit- she didn’t like to wear skirts and tops so she gave it up. She spent almost 30 years working with Meals on Wheels, other community contributions included hostel sleepovers as a volunteer and being editor of the senior citizens magazine.”
Margaret was the Lion’s Club citizen of the year in 1999 and a recipient of the Centenary of Federation Medal in 2001.
“Some of her many hobbies included acting in plays, cooking for the show, and sponge cakes were her speciality. I’m sure everyone here remembers that she made the best jelly cakes and lamingtons,” Judy said.
“Dad moved to Wagga in 2013 to go into care, and Mum wasn’t quite ready to make the move away from Pyramid Hill. Dad later passed away in 2015- Mum was very stoic (read, stubborn) and stayed in Pyramid Hill until she moved to Melbourne in August 2019.
Margaret waqs born in Melbourne and started nursing at the Eye and Ear Hospital. in 1958. She met Murray at a dance Melbourne and two were regulars at dances across the area when living in Pyramid Hill. She was the Pyramid Hill correspondent for the former Northern Times newspaper for 28 years.
Historical society secretary Cheryl McKinnon said: “Margaret worked tirelessly for the Historical Society and the community. She was largely responsible for many of the vast array of publications for sale at the Museum, having spent years researching and collating information that enables people from all over the world to trace their roots back to our district. Margaret has left a lasting legacy and her contribution, dedication, generosity and friendship will long be remembered.