Anecdotes from the Archives

The daughters of Margaret Nicol

Just prior the arrival of COVID-19, Rowena Miller, daughter of the late Margaret Nicol, arranged to visit Fermoy Cottage to find out as much as possible about her mother, who died when her children were quite young. After her marriage, Margaret and her husband moved to London, where their three children were born. As Margaret was both Dux and Head Prefect of St Mary’s College in 1952, and as there had been, by great good luck, Santa Maria yearbooks produced during her time at the school, we were able to present Rowena with a number of stories about and photographs of her mother. Rowena was very thrilled and deeply touched to read so much about her mother, and to view the Honour Board which holds her name. We sent her home loaded up with various school publications and with the promise to meet again. Rowena discovered in Burnie that her mother’s grave there required much attention, so on her return to the UK, she and her siblings set about organising this matter. This November it was Margaret’s other daughter, Fiona's turn to visit the College and follow up on her mother’s life here. Travelling from the UK, Fiona visited St Mary's and we hosted a lunch for her and her husband, Steve, as well as Sister Majella Kelly, Marg Morse, Cynthia Goodluck and Mary Smith, all of whom were Margaret’s fellow pupils. The group had personal and previously untold stories about Margaret to share. Needless to say, Fiona and Steve were delighted to meet Margaret’s classmates and to learn so much more about Margaret. A few days later they went to lunch with Pat Edwards, another friend of Margaret, sharing many more warm memories.

Fiona also visited the refurbished burial site of her mother during her short visit to Tasmania. Margaret Rootes Heritage Officer and Alumni Association President

Pictured left to the right: Steve Killinger, Fiona Killinger (daughter of Margaret Nichol), Marg Morse, Cynthia Goodluck, Sister Majella Kelly and Mary Smith.