On Thursday, October 5, my wife Margaret Paviour, a resident of Goulburn for over 40 years, died at the age of 87 years.
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Born in London in 1930, she grew up in the West London suburb of Wimbledon. After primary school she was evacuated at the start of WWII to North Wales.
Later Margaret rejoined her family in the County Town of Bedford where the industrial firm, for whom her father was chief designer, had been relocated.
Their house in London was bombed by a German V1 Flying bomb in 1944, killing her grandmother, and as a result of this the family decided to settle in the historic town of Bedford.
Upon leaving school she became a technical worker in a drawing office of a large industrial concern.
After marriage in 1954, Margaret and I raised a family of three boys. She also pursued her hobbies of watching tennis and choral singing, being a valued member of some of the most prestigious choirs in Britain.
In 1970, I was offered a position in Bathurst, Australia, which became our home for the next five years. It was there that Margaret became interested in music therapy for children with severe disabilities.
In 1975 I was invited to join the staff of Goulburn Teachers College. The family moved to Goulburn, our home for the next four decades.
Margaret continued her interest in music therapy by working at the Crescent School, being a valued member of staff there for over a quarter of a century.
She was a keen supporter of the Goulburn Eisteddfod, being President for several years and eventually a life member.
She was also a very keen member of St Saviour’s Cathedral, singing in the choir, developing the tourism and outreach of the Cathedral and instituting Cathedral Week, which was a central part of the parish for many years.
Margaret also was involved with the U3A organisation and other senior citizen activities, conducting one of their choirs for several years.
She was very proud of the fact that she had, though her musical and other social activities, met a Pope (John Paul II), two Governors General, three Governors, three Premiers, the Queen and Prince Phillip, among other notables.
Her contribution to educational, social and church activities has been considerable and her personality will be sorely missed by many.
She leaves behind myself and three married sons and five grandchildren. Her funeral is at 11am on October 18 in St Saviour’s Cathedral.
No flowers by request; donations in lieu to Anglicare.
