Margaret’s Journey: From Humble Beginnings to Cherished Community Life

“I was born in the lively neighbourhood of Willoughby and soon moved to Balgowlah Heights at the age of five. Growing up in a bustling household with my parents and three siblings, we didn’t have much but were blessed with a lot of love and happiness.

I recall our fun younger years making Christmas paper chain decorations which hung from every corner of the house. We would make our own amateur Christmas cards, birthday cards and wrapping paper made from old paper bags. Any parcels posted were wrapped in the butcher’s brown paper bags, slit open and tied up with string. There was no sticky tape. Any ‘glue’ was made from flour and water, sometimes tasted by my brother who told us he knew when it was the right consistency…by taste!

After starting to Manly Girls High school, I went to a country town of Young in South West NSW where I spent five years on a farm with my grandmother attending latter high school there. This was not a happy time for me away from family.

Returning to Sydney in my late teens, I worked at retail stores; Grace Bros at Warringah Mall and Sydney Wide, and then a managerial position at Waltons Dee Why. This was when I met my husband to be. After marrying, we left Sydney to live in Brisbane for 11 years and purchased a Post Office, winning awards for our efforts on customer service… a great time in our lives.

After 52 years of marriage, we resided in North Curl Curl and later settled in Collaroy Plateau before making the decision to relocate to the RSL ANZAC Village. It’s been a decade and a half since we moved here, and every moment has been cherished. The RSL LifeCare team members and our neighbours have made our stay truly delightful. Residents, including us, find immense happiness in this community.

The craft group I’m part of in the village is a passion; we create all sorts of crafts, especially cards, and donate some proceeds to the Monty Fund in the village. It’s a joyous way of socializing and giving back.

I can’t express enough gratitude to the team here at RSL ANZAC Village. Their care and support have made our time here absolutely wonderful.” – Margaret Ellis, RSL LifeCare resident