Margaret Butler lives in Market Street, Balranald.

She is a fitting example of the strength and inspiration that can lie under the surface of a face you see every day.

Margaret grew up in the time when so many young men were being shipped off to war, and even then, she knew what a tragic thing that was.

“The tremendous loss of brain power and skill that has been lost over time, sending our young men to war. “For the longest time, I was terrified there would be a World War Three.”

Margaret said that as devastating as loss was, it happened a great deal, and everyone has their own cross to carry.

“There is no use crying, just pick up the pieces and do the best you can. Just keep on going,” she said.

“I feel so fortunate to live as long as I have, I have had a really good life. My parents were wonderful, and I have been so lucky.”

Margaret and her family lived on a property near Sydney, and did not want for anything.

“Even though our parents were well off, we were never spoiled. I got a rope doll for Christ mas, and my brother got a train set.

"This started off a lifetime love of trains for him, even when he was a grown man.”

Margaret’s father bred fat lambs, for market in Sydney.

“Our property was amazing, the country was so different to here,” she recalled.

“There were as many sheep on seven acres as the property I owned with my husband, which was on 30,000 acres.

“On my childhood property, there was a creek in the middle of the property, she said.

“We would spend much time diving, and paddling in the canoe.”

Margaret said her and her siblings were always encouraged to get up and do something.

If they were outside, when they came in, they would bring wood in with them.

“We were brought up as real bush kids, and we were fortunate.

"We were taught responsibility and how to take care of ourselves. "

When the war was on, all the vehicles were up on bricks.

There was no petrol.

Margaret’s family was allowed to have the use of their ute, as they lived on the land and would need it for farm work.

“We were able to drive to town once a month for Mass, and when that was over the men would go to the pub,” she said.

“Mum and the women would go for tea and ice cream. Then, after a time the men would come across. There were no women allowed in the pub in those days, it was deemed improper.

"When I think about it, life has evolved so much in a few short decades.

“Mum would wear corsets and stockings in the summer.

She would go to the city twice a year for clothing shopping. We would go to Anthony Hordens, and a lady dressed in black with a large bosom would greet us.

She would say, “Oh, Mrs Pritchard, so good to see you. What may I help you with?”

She would look at corsets, and the changing rooms had these big wide, round mirrors. “I was four or five at the time, and when my mother would try on suspenders, she would say Margaret avert your eyes.”

Her mother would buy two sets of good clothes for summer, and two sets for other occasions.

Margaret remembers the lady taking a book from her bosom, to record the purchases.

“She would write everything down religiously, because she was on commission.

"It was where a lot of younger workers would become unstuck, the older girls knew how to play the game better.

"We would then go and have lunch in their dining room, which was lovely. Anthony Horden’s was a huge store in Sydney, and the ladies would then dine in the dining hall after shopping.

“My grandfather had shirts made at Norton Brothers, longtail. He had his shoes made by someone else.

“Everyone had their people they preferred to make their clothing and shoes.

“The stores they frequented would keep their measurements on hand, and you could order by mail.

“There was a shop next to Anthony Hordern’s, and my father would take his watch there. A little man would come out and say, “Yes Mr Pritchard, do you need your watch attended to?”

“He would take my father’s watch, clean it, and fix whatever might be wrong.

"He had a pocket watch on a chain. He liked to wear vests, and couldn’t stand the labor party.”

One significant highlight of Margaret’s early years was seeing the Queen and Prince Philip when they toured Australia.

“Philip was so handsome, and she was beautiful,” Margaret recalled. “We swooned over him; he had a beautiful complexion.

"The queen wore a special hat, with wattle on it.” When it was time for Margaret to get a job, she came across what we would call these days, discrimination.

“I went to get a job in a men’s store on the cor ner of King and George Street in Sydney. My aunt came with me, and we went to the office to enquire. I interviewed well, and they advised me to arrive tomorrow at 8.30am for a 9am start.

“It felt so easy. We left, and he ran after us down the road, to ask what school I had gone to.

"When he found out it was a Catholic school he told us the job was closed.

“My aunt came from New Zealand, and she was no shy flower. She said, “Well, I can just say to you none of us will be going to your place of business any longer,”.

“The very next place we approached; I was given a job. It was in the office at an engineering firm, and it was so nice, nobody cared what religion I was there.

“In those days, many places looking for employees had signs – Catholics need not apply. It was not something people got upset about, that is just the way things were then.” Margaret’s sister decided to enter the convent at the age of 18.

“My mother cried for a week, and dad offered her everything he could think of to try and change her mind. I was three when she entered the convent, there was quite a big age difference,” she recalled.

Margaret says there is so much difference in life now, stark changes occurring in a few short decades.

As soon as a couple were engaged, the woman was to stay at home, and the man was the sole provider, with the woman staying at home to raise the children and keep the household.

Margaret married her husband Greg when they were both 22.

The couple lived apart, and both with their respective parents until they were wed.

“Greg and I married and honeymooned in Bathurst.

"We did this as my sister was in the church there, and Greg wanted to get to know her, as much as I wanted him to know her.

All the nuns fussed over Greg, and I felt a little left out,” she said.

Another change Margaret cites is how innocent women were then, in a sense.

It was commonplace for women not to know much about relationships before they were married.

She recalled with a smile how her husband had to go out and buy women’s products for her, a newly married man on their honeymoon.

Greg, who was from the Balranald area, and Margaret, happily made their life together.

They lived on the land, and Margaret was a confident and capable help in every way.

Tragically, three of Margaret and Greg’s children passed in childhood, from what was discovered to be lead poisoning.

By the time medical professionals had realised what the cause of the illness was, Anthony, Eliza and Basil had tragically already passed.

Anthony was 5 and a half, Eliza was 3 and a half.

Gerard and Genevieve had a little poisoning, but were able to be cured. Margaret felt terrible, but she had done everything in her power as a mother to save her children.

They had gone to every medical professional possible, and nobody had been able to figure out what was wrong.

“After a time, and much investigation and despair, on our part and from many medical professionals, we finally came across someone who helped.

“The doctor who discovered Myxomatosis believed they knew what was happening,” Margaret recalled.

“They sent us to a scientific place in Melbourne, and gave the children three tablets a day for three days, and it removed the lead from their systems.”

Genevieve left school after completing her HSC. Gerard was 16 when he left school.

They got flooded around this time, and they did not end up seeing Greg for weeks.

All the fences nearby and the sheep had since gone, due to the flood.

Greg and a friend were crutching the stragglers.

Over time, their property burnt out, and was flooded out in separate incidents.

One time there was a storm on the property, and the water ended up reaching waist height.

“We could hear the water gurgling in,” Mar garet recalled. “It was strange, and I wasn’t sure what was happening at first. When it was clear, I held my sewing machine up over the water, and got outside.

“Gerard swam out, and a neighbour came to help.

"He was six feet, and it turned out the water reached 6.7 feet.

"This situation lasted for about 18 months.”

Margaret still has this sewing machine.

Margaret loves Chanel No 5, and has an admiration for Jackie Kennedy, and her timeless appearance.

“I have had a beautiful life, wonderful husband, and fantastic family,” she said.

“I am grateful for every day, and try to live life to the fullest.”

Margaret has always believed in treating everyone the same, and laments the existence of bigotry and hatred in the world.

“If you sweep the street, as long as you do it to the best of your ability, then that’s all you need. Dignity is important, and everyone should be allowed dignity.”

Margaret often sits in her garden and eats breakfast, and enjoys pottering around in her garden.

She is very proud of her children.

Her daughter Genevieve recently earned a Governor’s medal.

It was an immense pleasure to talk to Margaret, and record her experiences.

A delightful lady, with many varied experiences a lot would balk at going through, she handles what comes her way with grace and strength.

You are an absolute inspiration, Margaret.