MUCH-LOVED Warrnambool identity Margaret Daffy was farewelled yesterday by hundreds who knew her as a loyal friend, passionate community volunteer and dedicated matriarch.
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In her 84 years she touched lives from society’s leaders to outcasts. Her nine children, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild proudly remembered “Mother” as their role model.
Outside her busy home life she mingled with people from all walks of life and was the city’s leading lady for three years when her husband Jack was Warrnambool City mayor in the mid-70s and the late Malcolm Fraser was prime minister.
“She was my memory because she knew all the names that I would forget,” Jack told The Standard. “She carried me, just as Tamie carried Malcolm.”
For 20 years she was a friendly welcomer in period costume at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, a long-time volunteer at St John of God Hospital and a backbone of the St Vincent de Paul Society welfare work.
Former Warrnambool City town clerk Vern Robson said Mrs Daffy had provided amazing service to the community “with dignity and respect”.
“Everyone really loved Margaret — it’s a sad loss,” he said. “She had very strong values and a strong faith that carried her through difficult times.”
Flagstaff Hill manager Peter Abbott said Mrs Daffy had been a great ambassador and source of knowledge for locals and tourists.
“Even in latter years when she was unwell she made an effort to call in and see how we were going,” he said.
Margaret was the middle child of the Kelly family. She was born on a farm at Sea Lake and moved with them to Bendigo before going to Warrnambool, where she worked at the former Gouge dry cleaners in Liebig Street while living with the Kermond family.
That’s where she and Jack first met before marrying in Eaglehawk on May 28, 1955.
“That was a great day for Victoria because Henry Bolte became premier of Victoria, I missed my first Coleraine Cup in six years and the only one in 38 years and I won her,” Mr Daffy quipped.
“She loved her time at Flagstaff Hill — we still have one of her outfits hanging in the wardrobe.
“We lived across the road and if a busload of visitors arrived unannounced she’d be over there in a flash,” he said.