Margaret moved to Hoppers Crossing 23 years ago, now the 80-year-old mother of five is one of Wyndham’s longest-serving school crossing supervisors. She speaks to Charlene Macaulay
What’s your connection to Wyndham?
I grew up in Deniliquin in New South Wales and moved to Victoria in 1966. I lived on Toorak Road in South Yarra and I worked at the Melbourne School for Enrolled Nurses as a hostel supervisor. Then Jeff Kennett sold it and they closed it, so we bought my daughter’s house in Hoppers Crossing and shifted here. I’ve lived here 23 years.
Tell me about your family.
I have five children and nine grandchildren. My son, my second youngest, passed away two years ago. I used to travel a lot when my husband Ted was alive. He died from cancer in 1995. It was a different life with him. We used to go ballroom dancing. We used to go out a lot, I miss it. It’s been a tough road without him.
You’ve been a school crossing supervisor, or lollipop lady, for 18 years. Why did you sign up for the job and what has made you stay on for so long?
I’ve always worked. I had a year off after the [nurses] school closed and then I wanted something to do. I worked at a crossing on Derrimut Road, near Hogan’s Corner, for 11 years, and I’ve been on Mossfiel Drive for seven years. I like doing it; I get along well with everybody. All the crossing people are very good; we’re reliable and go to work every day. When I first started, there were 34 school crossing supervisors. Now there are more than 100.
What do you like about living in the area?
It’s handy, I can walk to the station. It’s different now from when I first moved here. A lot of people have moved since I’ve been here.
What’s your favourite place to go for a coffee or meal?
I go to the Tigers Club because my son is a life member there and I like the Morning Melodies.
If you could change one thing about Wyndham, what would it be?
The traffic is about the only thing. I feel so sorry for anyone who has to come home at night in that traffic.
