Centenarian’s royal birthday card

Cooroora Screens and Blinds offer the highest quality products, with friendly service and competitive pricing guaranteed Brian, Sam, and the team are committed to providing their customers with the best window covering and security solutions available

In addition to over 100 models in our Double Sided, Domestic Mattress Range we also have Ensemble Bases, and Adjustable Bed Bases that include a massage feature as well.

A COOROY-born woman has turned 100, receiving a card from the King and Queen.

Mary Dingwall, nee Murphy, was born in Cooroy Hospital on 21 July 1923.

Mary’s niece Robin Purvis said Mary was the sixth of eight children and the only one to be born in Cooroy.

“Mary’s father, William Murphy, was the policeman in Tewantin at the time.

They were early days and when her mother, Agnes Murphy nee Scanlan, went into labour, my grandfather had to transport her to the Cooroy Hospital via dirt roads on a horse and dray.

“The family moved from Tewantin to Brisbane where Mary and her three sisters attended All Hallows School for their secondary schooling. Leaving school at 17, she gained employment with Queensland State Insurance.”

Robin said Mary’s brother Jim pioneered sand mining in Australia.

“His company, Murphyores, achieved notoriety in the 1970s when mining K’gari (Fraser Island). Mary joined the company in the 1950s and helped in the mine, including driving trucks.

“Years later, Mary took her driving test in England, having somehow driven until then on an international licence, and at the end of the test an alarmed examiner pointed to the rear-view mirror and asked her what it was for. ‘It’s a make-up mirror,’ she replied. She did not pass her test.”

Robin said Mary was an incurable romantic.

“She first met her husband, Munro Dingwall, when he visited Australia from London for business with Murphyores.

“The romance began and they met up in New York subsequently and married in Canada in 1953. The couple honeymooned at Niagara Falls.”

Mary lives in London and has five children: Michael, Alix, Francis, Claudia and Christian; 13 grandchildren; and to date, six great-grandchildren.

“Mary has made many return trips to Australia and resided here for a number of years in the 1980s. She is proud of her Australian heritage.

“Her 100th birthday was warmly celebrated with her family around her.

“Interestingly, my husband and I moved to Cooroy some 93 years later in 2016 and were pleased to learn of the family continuity,” Robin said.

Luxury Custom-Designed Curtains Quality Soft Furnishings