Margaret Alice GLEN (nee Reid)

Margaret was born on 15 October 1927 in Hopetoun. Her parents were Angus Noel Reid and Lesley Doreeen Reid (nee Siddall). Margaret was a younger sister to Ivan, and elder sister to Noel, Shirley, Jennifer and Pamela.

Her grandparents were Robert Reid and Jessie Reid (nee Morrison) on the paternal side, and Mark Siddall and Margaret Siddall (nee Maguire) on the maternal side.

Margaret grew up on a Soldier Settler Block at Gama, near Lascelles, in the Victorian Mallee. Times were tough – the home had no running water or electricity.

Her parents placed a great deal of importance on education and ensured their children had careers.

Margaret attended schools in Lascelles, Gama, Birchip and Sea Lake, before boarding with her sisters Noel and Shirley at Stratherne Presbyterian Girls’ Grammar School in Hawthorn, Melbourne.

After school, Margaret trained as a librarian. Her first jobs were at Prahran Public Library and the Department of Civil Aviation at Essendon Airport. In later years after her marriage, Margaret worked as librarian at Immaculate Heart of Mary Primary School, Birchip, and as the Community Librarian at Birchip P-12 College.

Margaret met Aub, her future husband, while visiting his parents Will and Ada Glen at their home on 35 Duncan Street in Birchip. Margaret had boarded with them while attending school. Margaret and Aub were married in Hopetoun in 1949 and made the Glen family farm, Glenbower, their home. They had four children: Rod, Shelley, Debra and Leanne (Lana).

Margaret was an avid reader. She began the bi-annual Birchip Art Show and used the money raised to buy books for the library.

She was a member of the RSL Ladies Auxiliary, the primary school mothers’ club, the Birchip High School mothers’ club and the Presbyterian Church.  Margaret involved herself in the social and fundraising activities of these organisations.  

Margaret died on 11 April 2020 after a three-week stay in Wirrim Lodge, Birchip.

Aub and Margaret Glen

Margaret met Aub when she was visiting his parents Will and Ada Glen, who lived at 35 Duncan Street, Birchip. Margaret had boarded with them while attending school in Birchip.

They married in Hopetoun on 12 October 1949 and honeymooned in Tasmania. The bridesmaids were Shirley and Jennifer Reid, and the groomsmen were Ian Poyner and Max Bolden.

Aub and Margaret took over the family farm, Glenbower, located on Glen Road, Warmur, Birchip.

Aub and Margaret had four children: Rodney, Shelley, Debra and Leanne (Lana).

Glenbower had an ‘open door’ policy. Over the years, it was a respite and home for people going through hard times. Aub and Margaret were both kind and considerate to those less fortunate than themselves.

Aub died suddenly in 1982. He passed away at Glenbower aged just 63, leaving Margaret a widow for the next 40 years. 

Margaret moved into Birchip in 1984 when Rod married Joan (nee Storey). Margaret’s choice of home was 35 Duncan Street where she had boarded as a school student and first met Aub. The house was built in 1925 by Aub’s uncle, Jack Glen.

In later years, when Duncan Street became too much for Margaret to manage, she moved into a unit on Morrison Street, Birchip.

Margaret died on 11 April 2020 after a three-week stay in Wirrim Lodge, Birchip.

Aub and Margaret’s legacy lives on through their four children, 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.