Some of you may remember her 90th birthday celebrations held in the cafe after the regatta on 25 November 2012.
Margaret was an integral member of the long defunct West Lakes Committee who worked tirelessly in the 1970s to raise funds to actually build on the land purchased by South Australian Rowing Association. The 250 $200 Foundation Life Memberships went a long way to finance the building occupied by the cafe, office and wet areas, but the actual Boat sheds, which were about one third the number we have today needed funding. The Committee held fortnightly Pancake Breakfasts and monthly Seafood Lunches, and slowly chipped away at servicing the Baulderstone Loan. They even managed to hold a Car Raffle in the early eighties!
Margaret never rowed, but husband Philip rowed Kings Cup for SA in 1933, and long time family friend Bub Jarvis was a member of the legendary Murray Bridge Cods. In 2011 Torrens Rowing Club named a scull in her honour, and bestowed her Honorary Membership status. Prior to Phil’s passing in 1995 she never missed a regatta at West Lakes. She is the last surviving member of a group of stalwarts who sat in the club room, (prior to it becoming a cafe), watched every race, recorded every result, and congratulated every winner who came into the bar. The Bar Manager of the day stocked Coopers Sparkling Ale just for them.
When SA hosted the Nationals and Kings Cup Regattas in 1986 she undertook to make all the Boat Race Officials lunches! In 2012 her 90th birthday was celebrated at West Lakes, timed to allow Boat Race Officials to attend as soon as the Jury Meeting was concluded. She still follows the sport as much as she is able to, and rues the demise of the printed programme!
She is a huge Cricket Tragic, and is very proud of watching Donald Bradman last test innings on Adelaide Oval, and she has been a member of The Mighty Redlegs ie Norwood Football Club, since 1949.
Happy 100th Birthday Margaret.