– Kath Gannaway
Born: 13 July, 1939
Died: 22 March, 2006
THE smiling face of Margaret Smith will be a familiar and fond memory for many residents of Woori Yallock and of the Seville sporting community.
As post mistress at Woori Yallock for more than 20 years, Margaret was not only a respected member of the local community, but a friend to many.
Her sons’ involvement in local football and cricket became her passion too. Margaret was pretty much a permanent fixture at both the Seville football and cricket clubs where she was a member for more than 30 years.
Her sudden death of a stroke at just 66 years of age on 22 March was a sad blow to her family and friends.
Margaret Lynch was raised in Essendon, Dalyston and Belgrave. As a student she had a natural affinity with numbers and was a conscientious student whose potential was boundless. She turned her hand to craft and was brilliant at that too – knitting, crochet, cross-stitch and sewing were favourite past-times.
Margaret came to the Yarra Valley as a single, working mother. She took on the highly responsible job of running the Woori Yallock post office in 1980, at the same time as raising her family, Rodney, Linda, Denise and Phill. She had earlier lost a child, Vicki.
Linda said although life was not always easy for her mother, she loved her work and knew the names of all the kids in the area. “She always had a smile for everyone and nothing was too much trouble,” she said.
Her exemplary service was recognised with Australia Post’s National Award for Customer Service.
Margaret was Seville A Grade cricket team’s official scorer. She kept the score-book immaculately.
She was awarded Best Clubsman and was a life member at Seville Football Club and a dual winner at the cricket club also. “There was nowhere she would rather be on a Saturday,” Linda said.
Linda said her mother never burdened anyone with her troubles, even through the toughest of times, and made the most of what she had.
“She saw the best in everyone she met and her good character and dignity were an inspiration to all who knew her.”
They were qualities her good friend, Bev Locklock, also admired. The women met when they started a playgroup for their three-year-olds at Seville.
Mrs Lovelock said Margaret was a private person who was independent, honest, hard-working and generous. “She never took anything from the government. She worked in orchards and took the babies with her – never expected anyone else to look after her children.
“Every baby born at the football or cricket club had something hand-made for them by Margaret,” she said.
Margaret Smith will be remembered as a devoted mother, a cherished grandmother to Daniel, Nicole, Georgie, Grace, Caitlyn and Jay, a much loved mother-in-law to Jillian, Mick and Steve, adopted mother to Elli and adored sister of Norma and Lynette.
