Margaret Purcell is a name most people know around town. The local solicitor speaks with Adem Saban as she reflects on life in Werribee.
How long have you lived in Werribee?
Since the day I was born, back in 1942. I was born in the old Wandene Hospital on Synnot Street. My father, Doctor Prouse, actually ran the hospital and was the only doctor there. The Spanish Mission house at Synnot Street – that’s where I grew up.
What’s changed over the past seven decades?
Werribee used to be a small town and we knew everybody. We knew all the shop owners on Watton Street, and people actually lived there. The main street is a different place. I’ve seen it be completely developed. I’ve also seen the development of Tarneit and Truganina. I remember going rabbiting and mushrooming with my brothers down there as a kid. Hoppers Crossing didn’t even exist when I was a kid.
How long have you been in legal work?
Since I graduated high school. Two of my brothers are dentists, and my other brother is a doctor. They followed in my father’s footsteps to work in the medical field. I had a blood disease and missed a lot of school in year nine, which meant I couldn’t do any maths, chemistry or physics classes that were prerequisites for medicine. I didn’t really want to be a doctor anyway. I didn’t know what I wanted to do.
Tell me a bit about your career in Werribee.
I opened the Werribee branch of Arthur Secomb and Co, which was at 128 William Street in Melbourne, here at Beasley Arcade. I married my husband Frank in 1966, and he didn’t want to travel to Melbourne. He loved Werribee and wanted to live and work here. We decided to stay in Werribee and just do our own thing. We ran Werribee’s first full-time legal practise.
So you’re still practicing as a solicitor?
Yes. I do business law, conveyancing, wills, estates, and contested estates.
What do you love most about your work?
Meeting new people, and that sense of satisfaction you get if you can resolve something for people.
How do you spend your spare time?
Taking the grandkids to sport and bringing them home, and catching up with the family. I also do a fair bit of travelling with my brother. We try to travel as much as we can. We recently went to Russia.
