Margery Phair’s lifetime of community service

MARGERY Phair has lived a life dedicated to community service.

Born in 1936, she turns 90 on 23 April.

Since the age of eleven Margery has enjoyed a long association with the Guiding movement (Girl Guides and Girl Scouts).

“I even met Lady Baden-Powell (one of the founders of the Guiding movement) when she visited Parramatta Park in 1947,” recalled Margery.

“There were hundreds of Guides lined up in rows to be inspected by her.”

Margery was drawn to the movement because it developed her competence and confidence through successful completion of challenges in a sociable, supportive community.

As a teenager, she was identified as having leadership qualities and enlisted into Cadet Leadership Training.

Working through the day she attended training in Macquarie Place, Sydney in an old rat-infested office block.

“You could hear the rats scurrying around as soon as you opened the door,” Margery said.

She visited other Guide Units and helped Guides to complete their challenges.

At age 18 in 1954 she met Bill Phair, an apprentice electrician and a National Serviceman, at a dance.

They married 1957 at St Luke’s Church, Liverpool.

Margery continued working after she married as she was secretary to the CEO of an industrial perfumery company.

Had she worked for a bank or an insurance firm, she would have been required to resign.

“We would go home with our clothes perfumed with whatever perfume was produced that day,” she said.

Her daughter Carolyn was born in 1964 and son Nigel was born in 1967.

When Carolyn was seven, she joined Brownies at the North Epping Guide Unit.

Margery joined the Parent Association and became a Guide Leader.

She was then encouraged to undertake a Train the Trainer course.

The training took a year to complete, and she travelled all over the state.

“Guiding was big in those days. Country towns all over the state had Guide groups,” said Margery.

“I even travelled to Melbourne for training.

“A group of us attended the course wearing our uniforms and we were picked up in a stretch limo.”

Margery was District Commissioner for North Epping for five years and Division Commissioner for Pennant Division for another five.

One of her tasks was to liaise with Guide Leaders in the South Pacific to exchange ideas.

This was possible, prior to the internet, via a satellite connection she accessed at the University of Sydney for one hour a month.

Margery was also responsible for organising transport for State musters and the International Jamboree, ironically termed The Meeting of the Waters, held at Cataract Scout Camp in 1988.

“It became a logistical nightmare when we only had two-way radios for communication,” she said.

“It was a huge area and the rain pelted down.

“Buses became bogged but thanks to a team effort and the local Scout Leader’s help we got through.

“I couldn’t have done what I did without the support of Bill because I was often required to travel all over the state.”

Bill said the couple was fortunate to be able to afford to volunteer as they did.

“These days a two-income family is almost a necessity,” he said.

In recognition of her service to the Guide movement, Margery was awarded the prestigious Wattle Award, for “providing support for others beyond their primary role and by identifying and fulfilling needs which have a positive impact on others.”

In 1985 Margery decided to formalise her training qualifications and undertook a Diploma of Adult Education at Sydney College of Advanced Education.

“Our graduation ceremony was held at the Opera House,” Margery said.

She then expanded her activities to include the casual teaching of young deaf adults at TAFE for two years.

Margery and Bill enjoyed overseas trips and spent time researching family history from original sources both in the UK and the Mitchell Library.

They also had a hobby farm at Wootton where they bred cattle.

When Bill retired in 1997, they bought a property at Saw Pit Lane, built another house and bred cattle more intensively.

Margery then joined Gloucester CWA where she volunteered in her new community.

In the 29 years she has been a member of the CWA, Margery has held several positions including President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Ag and Environment Officer and Publicity Officer.

She also joined the Gloucester U3A where she facilitated the Third Thursday Book Club for thirteen years.

Margery still participates in U3A activities and attends weekly ukulele sessions.

By Marilyn SANDERSON