In a heartwarming celebration recently, family, friends and community members gathered to honour Margaret Kleinitz’s remarkable milestone birthday.
Born 100 years ago in Kew, Margaret’s life story is a vivid tapestry of resilience, devotion to family and a love for the land.
One of Margaret’s children opened the celebrations, sharing memories of their mother’s early days in the bushlands of Emerald.
Growing up as the eldest of five, Margaret was no stranger to hard work, walking four miles to school after milking cows and completing morning chores.
She and her siblings faced their share of struggles, including bullying due to their Scottish accents, a heritage passed down from their spirited Scottish mother.
School days eventually took her to Upwey, but it was at an agricultural college that Margaret’s future took a detour; teachers were urgently needed, and she stepped into the role with her characteristic pragmatism.
Margaret’s teaching career brought her to the small school at Corringle, where she’d cycle each day from her home in which she boarded with the McLaughlin family in Newmerella through bush trails.
Fate brought her husband, Robbie, into her life along one of those tracks and when they married, her teaching career gave way to life on a share farm.
The young couple faced the challenges of raising four children without modern conveniences, in a basic home without electricity until 1966.
Through it all, Margaret’s unflinching response was simply, “You just got on with it.”
Margaret’s passion for the land blossomed in her garden, which she enriched with bags of leaves from her old hometown in Emerald, transforming her gravel-filled yard into fertile ground.
Her love for gardening has continued through the years, evidenced by her ongoing participation in the Orbost Garden Club and her astounding contribution through the much loved ‘Margie’s notes’ and also her longstanding support for the Orbost Agricultural Show.
Even this year, Margaret took home a blue ribbon for her blackberry jam, much to her family’s pride.
Today, Margaret’s health remains sound, though her eyesight and hearing have dimmed, and she can no longer smell her cherished roses.
Despite these changes, she still eagerly follows the lives of her four children, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, whose visits bring joy and updates on their latest endeavours.
A special moment during the celebration came when Margaret’s great-granddaughter, Naeve Hulme, took the stage to share a few heartfelt words, charming the audience and adding a touch of youthful warmth to the day’s celebrations.
As the festivities wound down, the love and admiration for Margaret were palpable.
“Thank you for being the best Mum,” the speech concluded, capturing the sentiment felt by everyone in attendance. Margaret’s story, spanning a century of family, farming and community, is a true testament to her strength, wisdom and unwavering spirit.
