VALE MARGARET HARDMAN

One of Doncaster’s gentle, calm  and quiet members has unexpectedly died.  Margaret, Barry Hardman’s wife of 58 years passed away at their holiday home at Inverlock.

Margaret joined the bowls club in October 2000. Club photo albums show her often working in the kitchen and enjoying the company of the other ladies.

There was a strong Women’s Only Pennant and a large ladies social group back then when the Men and Ladies played separately on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Margaret rose though the ranks and became a lead in the Ladies top Tuesday Pennant  team. She was a member of the successful 2004-5 winning team.

VLBA Pennant Sectional Winners Div A1. Margaret in the back row. 

She was also part of the winning Club Ladies Triples team in 2009/10., and Runner-up twice in the Club Pairs in 2011/12 and 2012/13.

Club Triples Winners.

Club records state that Margaret was continuously a member of various  Committees from 2002-2014. These include the Social Committee, the Ladies Section Bowls Committee, the VLBA Tournament Committee, Thursday Night Meals, and Tuesday Ladies Selection Committee.

Barry met Margaret whilst she was training to be a nurse at Footscray Hospital. She completed  her training at this hospital and then was a charge nurse in operating theatres for many years. After marrying, Margaret and Barry moved to Lower Templestowe where they brought up their three children.

She was very family orientated, she loved and was so proud of her home, her children and all her grandchildren.  Three of the grandchildren, Bridgette, Annalise and Charlie each gave individual moving heart-felt eulogies  at the service.

Margaret and Barry were the most beautiful ballroom dancers, at Doncaster’s social functions they would glide around the room , we were envious. Sadly we cannot find a good photo.

She stopped playing bowls because of a shoulder injury but her daughter Jannine often brought her on Saturday to watch Barry play and  to catch up with old friends. The last time she came was on Sunday March 28th to Mount Waverley to  see Barry play in the Division Quarter Final.

Barry I know you will miss Margaret, we will too.

Vale Margaret.

Thank you to Kay Golding, Rosamond Hester, Darryl Bishop and Barry Hardman for some information and photos, also Champa Balgovind for the frontispiece…….Lyn.