Deep roots set down

Margaret Pollock – how do you capture a life of 97 years in a few minutes? Well, we’ll give it a go!!

Trish to her sister but for most of her life, she tolerated abbreviations from no-one else. She insisted on Margaret in full!! As a friend of mine said “She was a sweet gentle soul and so good to be around” – all true but boy she could be a tough nut too.

Mum’s father worked for NSW Railways – Mum was born in Tamworth, then the family moved to Newcastle when she was two and lived in Waratah initially before purchasing their family home in Merewether. Deep roots were set down. - the family became members of the St Augustine’s Parish Family; the children attend The Junction Primary School –then Mum attended Home Science High School later called Hunter Girl’s High.  Can you believe - twenty women from The Junction Year 6 class celebrated their 90^th Birthdays together!! 

The youngest of four, when her brothers fought, her sister retired to another room, but Mum’s fists went up! Her childhood was one of great freedom with the beach nearby and acres of hillsides to ride down on billy carts with her brothers. 

Margaret remembered father coming home from work when she was about 6 and saying, “Let’s go”. They walked up the hill to what is now the end of Hickson Street to watch the whales on their migration up the coast. 

Merewether was a different place in those days. Apparently, there were lots of moving sandhills at Dixon Park which sometimes covered the tram tracks. Then passengers would have to get out and traverse the sand before getting on another tram on the other side.

Mum was hospitalized with diphtheria, had her tonsils out on the kitchen table and weathered the usual childhood ups and downs. Mum’s only recollections of the depression were that Nanna would always offer men on the tramp a meal but there was no money to spare. And at Junction School there was soup kitchen for children whose fathers were out of work and Mum could remember how hard she found it on winters days to smell the hot soup but sit down to her packed sandwiches.

Faith and her St Augustine’s family were important to them all. As children, the family walked to Church in the morning and the children returned for Sunday School in the afternoon. Then the family sang hymns and negro spirituals and other songs around the piano in the evening. Mum’s Mum was Guild president and there was always lots of family involvement. When parish dinners were held, the family carried trunks of china and cutlery down to the church hall from Number 1 – a heavy load indeed! Mum took her turn as a SS teacher until she married.

When Mum was 16, NSW railways offered her a job as a shorthand typist.  Just a couple of weeks later, Mum’s father died unexpectedly then tragedy struck again just 8 months later, when their beloved Colin was shot down in the Battle of the Coral Sea!!  The Lord was their rock through all the ups and downs of life.

During the war, Mum volunteered in the Services Canteen. A group of the volunteers met monthly, in one another’s homes knitting socks for soldiers. One of the girl’s dads said “you girls remind me of Dorcas in the bible” and that was the name of their group from then on - a precious lifetime memory for us. Even right to the end when Mum and Marjorie Lowe were in the same nursing home, there was a special bond which had been forged in the wartime.

Mum’s 21^st birthday was just a couple of months after the end of the war. She had a party at home and recalled all five of the men that she worked with came to her party. Later when asked about her 21^st Mum said: “I thought Colin would be home for it.” It really revealed all the uncertainty the family lived with all throughout the war. 

After eight years working in the railways, Mum decided that she really disliked office work and was considering exploring a career in nursing. Then she met a special man from Mayfield while playing tennis and the opportunity for a home and family of her own took priority. When Mum and Dad were married they initially lived in New Lambton and for three years became members of All Saints parish. They saw a block of land advertised for sale in Merewether and Mum was both surprised and thrilled when, just a couple of days later, Dad came home and announced he had bought it.

Dad was old school and felt he was able to support his family. Mum was a wonderful homemaker, legendary cook, church, and school worker and always a sportswoman. She nurtured each of her three children – helping us to reach our full potential by loving, caring, encouraging, and challenging us. Mum was always committed to her family’s education. When Colin seemed to be a reluctant reader, Mum started getting up ½ hour earlier in the morning and they read books aloud together by alternate pages.  She helped both Evelyn and Ruth with French vocabulary, quizzing us while she ironed.  Her grandchildren recall, how ready she was to undertake research to assist with their projects using the Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

Mum and Dad demonstrated love within our family, extended family, and local community.  One of Mum’s favourite sayings is about “practical love” and she demonstrated this through acts of service in our local Church, schools and beyond, reminding us to always be aware of the needs of others.  Her skills as an excellent cook evoke rich family memories for us and were employed for school and church fetes and outreach to the community.  When Coles opened their supermarket at The Junction, Mum approached them about holding a cake stall in their car park each month – a reputation for delicious treats was soon established with the Merewether community benefiting from the proceeds. Feeling concern for folk who were lonely, Mum started a Crazy Whist group at St Augustine’s as a social outreach.  It was so successful, it spread like wildfire and various organisations began their own groups and it became a monthly event. Knitting, sewing and crotchet skills were also valued in the family and utilized in service.

Mum served as secretary for the Ladies Auxiliary at Junction School, and at Saint Augustine’s for Young Wives and then Mothers’ Union and at various times secretary, treasurer and President of the Guild. She also volunteered with Red Cross.

St Augustine’s has been a huge part of Margaret’s life. She, and each of her 3 children and 1 of her great-grand-children have all been married there. She rejoiced to see Evelyn and Colin married at age 21 welcoming first Robert and then Linda into the family. However, Mum found it harder to adjust to Ruth marrying in her early 40s and it took some time for Alan and Mum to build a relationship. Happily, this did occur over the years. Alan is disappointed that he is unable to be here today to pay tribute to Mum.

Mum delighted in the birth and growth of each of her six grandchildren, then more recently eight great grandchildren. It is said that mothers are the “tree of life” and we all know that Margaret nurtured a wonderful “tree.” Her willingness to adapt to change and to accept people as they are, was inspirational.

 Linda remembers her coming to Wagga when Joshua was born, happy to sit on the lounge and nurse him while Daniel played quietly, and Linda enjoyed a little bit of time to do other things

Margaret visited Colin & Linda in Charlestown one day close to Christmas 1994, their first Christmas back in Newcastle after returning from Wagga. They were putting up a cubby house in the back yard and Mum, undoubtedly in her best ‘visiting’ clothes, picked up a paint brush and joined in.

Dad’s health was problematic over many years. Mum was his faithful supporter and carer until his death. With Mum’s ensuing 21 years, she enjoyed time with her family, grandchildren and travel. 

Family holidays were a highlight of the year. With Grandfather in a responsible role in the railways, the family had free train travel. The Blue Mountains was a favourite destination. Each day they’d take a local train to the head of a walking track and tramp to various destinations. In her final year of school, Nanna and Grandfather and Mum went to Brisbane and the Gold Coast – Mum recalled the luxury of first-class travel and special times with her dad, made extremely precious because it was their last holiday together.

Annual holidays remained important to Mum throughout her life. As a working girl, she often holidayed with her friend Nita and we were blessed as a family with regular times away, usually in August/ September. Mum also enjoyed trips overseas. She and Dad went to NZ in 1978. Then in 1983 Mum and Ruth holidayed for 9 weeks in Britain and Europe. She visited Ruth in PNG in 1985, travelled to New Zealand with Katherine in 2003 and had time with Evelyn visiting Mark and Lisa in Canada in 2005. 

Ruth remembers as a child, Mum mending fuses and fixing the iron and when asked her about this, she said “Well we were a 3 women household and someone needed to take responsibility for that, so I did”. Mum would have liked to join the transport service during the war but felt that she didn’t want to leave Nanna after her double bereavement. Years later, after we three were grown, Mum did an NRMA course on car engines because she still desired to pursue this interest.

A Passionate sportswoman – growing up so close to the beach her first sport was swimming – Mum LOVED the ocean and enjoyed swimming until her late 70’s.

Going to the beach every day during summer was our childhood ‘norm’. We weren’t allowed to go into the surf until we had swum at least one lap of the Merewether Baths.

Throughout her youth, Mum played hockey and recalled enjoying hockey camps with players from all around NSW. 

Mum also loved tennis and it was through tennis that she met Dad and they married in 1950 – they were devoted to each other till Dad passed away in 2000.

Merewether community gave rise to many friends. Throughout her life Mum nurtured special friends –neighbours, church, community, and sporting. At her 95^th birthday party, someone asked Margaret how long she had known Brenda Bailey and not missing a beat Mum said, “92 years!” Brenda was a lifelong friend – Mum’s bridesmaid, Ruth’s godmother. Brenda’s home was a Saturday afternoon tennis destination for Mum and Colin for many years. Mum & Brenda continued to enjoy lunch together regularly prior to Mum moving to Redhead. In recent months, Ilma became a dear faithful friend, calling in each day to visit Mum in her room – what a wonderful blessing – Mum was sooo grateful!!

With children off to school, Mum took up golf which gave her great pleasure.  The highlight for her was being chosen to represent the Merewether Club Team for a country competition.

When arthritis affected Mum’s knees and her walking – it was time to give up golf and search for a new sport.  Mum was invited and encouraged by friends to join Lowlands Bowling Club where Mum enjoyed regular bowls and competition. Mum not only loved playing sport – she loved following all manner of sports too – Cricket, soccer, tennis, hockey, Aussie Rules, Olympic Games – she was enthralled!!

She stayed amazingly sharp of mind throughout her life enjoying her generation’s version of ‘brain training’, in the form of Canasta, Solo Whist, Crazy Whist, Rummy-O, Penny on the Queen and other games.

No-one likes to think of someone dear passing away, but with our Mum, Margaret, there is a wealth of living memories to hold close to our hearts.