MARGARET Ganly celebrated her 104th birthday at her Torquay home on Sunday \u2013 the 128-year-old property she inherited from her aunt in the 50s.<\/p>\n
Though Margaret\u2019s age is a milestone in its own right, it\u2019s the rich history and fascinating tale behind her postal address that continues to astonish people.<\/p>\n
Unbeknown to many, Margaret lives in the refurbished deckhouse of the Joseph H. Scammell, a Canadian-built ship that wrecked at Point Danger on May 7, 1891.<\/p>\n
Her grandfather, William Pride, purchased the Scammell soon after he heard of its location.<\/p>\n
Being the father of 12 children \u2013 including Margaret\u2019s mother \u2013 inspired William to buy the vessel and transform it into a holiday house for his growing family in the heart of the Surf Coast.<\/p>\n
Margaret\u2019s daughter, Carleen, said her mother has been visiting Torquay since she was born in 1915.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt (the house) has been central to family life since 1891 and is still my mother\u2019s home,\u201d said Carleen.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s been the custodian of that house since the 70s. Her mother was pregnant with her when she first began visiting Torquay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret\u2019s father died in World War I two years after her birth.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe died at the beginning of 1917 and was buried in France (Dernancourt). My mother had a brother, Harold, and her father never saw his son. He (Harold) was born after he went to France.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite losing her father at such a young age, Margaret enjoyed growing up by her mother\u2019s side in a busy household filled with aunts, uncles, cousins and countless trips to Torquay Front Beach.<\/p>\n
In 1973, Margaret and husband John moved into the house and made it a home, adding a modern kitchen and bathroom.<\/p>\n
Carleen paused before she found the words to accurately describe her mother\u2019s character. She landed on \u201cenergetic\u201d and \u201cfunny\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMum\u2019s as bright as a button. She\u2019s in the Australian Book of Records as the oldest golfer in Australia. She only stopped playing about four years ago,\u201d Carleen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother was also an avid writer. She wrote many stories and poems about the Scammell being wrecked and the Christmases she spent there as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n
She may be 104, but Margaret remains the jovial and sharp woman she\u2019s become affectionately known for around the 3228 community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MARGARET Ganly celebrated her 104th birthday at her Torquay home on Sunday \u2013 the 128-year-old property she inherited from her aunt in the 50s. Though Margaret\u2019s age is a milestone in its own right, it\u2019s the rich history and fascinating tale behind her postal address that continues to astonish people. Unbeknown to many, Margaret lives […]<\/p>\n