Margaret Brown Murray (née Darling)

The following information comes from Margaret’s obituary which appeared in The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton on Wednesday 4 September 1929.

Margaret Brown Murray passed away at Corinda on 22 August 1929 at the age of 77. She was the daughter of Mr James Darling and was born at Dalkeith near Edinburgh. Her father was a well-known figure in temperance and philanthropic work in Edinburgh, being the first man in Scotland to wear the blue ribbon temperance badge, and was the founder of Darling’s Regent Hotel, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.

Margaret and Alexander married in 1871 and 7 years later she arrived in Brisbane with their twin sons, her husband having gone there ahead of her. With the exception of several visits to her native land, Mrs Murray remained a resident of Brisbane up to the time of her death. She was a prominent worker in temperance and benevolent circles, and during the war devoted her best energies to Red Cross work. She was one of the founders of the Brisbane Benevolent Society, and it was in her then home at Bowen Terrace that the initial meeting was held, she being elected foundation president, a position she retained for several years. In 1921 the deceased lady, then in her 70th year, paid her last visit to her native land, returning to Brisbane (18?) months later and residing with her daughter, Mrs Pickburn, at Corinda.

The funeral moved from her late residence to the city Tabernacle, of which church the deceased lady was a member for about (50?) years, and thence to Toowong Cemetery where her remains were laid to rest alongside her husband who predeceased her 22 years ago. At the church a short memorial service was conducted by Rev R Sayce. Many friends attended and paid their last respects to the memory of one who was “not weary in well-doing”.

She was survived by:

twin sons Abi (Cairns), and James (Rockhampton); and

daughters Mrs G L Berrie (Rockhampton) and Mrs F G Pickburn (Corinda).

There are also 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

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