Margaret is genuinely one of the coolest people I’ve ever talked to. Born with the spirit of adventure, Margaret was never someone to get too comfortable in one spot.
Growing up in Queenscliff, Victoria with her parents, Margaret was an only child. Because of this her father decided he didn’t want his only child to be spoilt and sent her to boarding school.
Margaret left school at 16 years old and worked in an office. At 21 years old her parents decided she was finally old enough to travel alone, so Margaret got on an Italian cargo ship with her friend to hitchhike around Europe. Hitchhiking from Italy to London, Margaret started working in the stationary section of a Harrod’s Department store.
After a year, her friend left Europe to go back to Australia and get married. Letting nothing stop her, Margaret continued to work in England until she got on another cargo boat alone to Canada. She lived in Montreal before moving to Banff to work as a ski resort waitress.
Margaret returned to Australia to marry her husband Bob before they both moved to Canada together. Margaret worked in a photography studio for a year before finding out she was pregnant. They had their first child in Canada before returning to Australia to live in Sydney where they had four more children.
After her youngest was old enough to attend primary school, Margaret made the decision to attend university. She gained her high school certificate at Hornsby Technology and then attended Macquarie University for 4 years to study history, politics and English. She described this period as being very hectic but was proud to have completed her studies.
For two years, Margaret and Bob lived on Christmas Island. Margaret recalls swimming often, feeling the heat and regularly eating delicious Asian food.
Continuing her drive for adventure, Margaret and Bob travelled with friends from university, across Asia and to other new places.
When her husband sadly passed away, Margaret moved to Wahroonga near Hornsby to live by herself. Needing more support, she moved into Aveo retirement village in Shortland for “6 happy years,” before moving to Maroba at the end of 2023.
Talking about her time at Maroba, Margaret said “I love it here, the staff are just so kind and so helpful with just everything. I’m very happy.”
Featured in the June Maroba Connect 2026.