Margot Hogarth, who died at the Gold Coast on June 17, aged 95, was born in Cootamundra on August 16 1923 to May and Harold Davidson of "Geraldra" station, near Stockinbingal.
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Early days were spent with other station children, mostly Reynolds, also Joyce McGlynn (McClintock) and Bill Newburn. They made mud pies, rode the poddy calves, collected birds eggs, played cowboys and indians, and learnt to ride horses.
These were Depression years and children grew up quickly. By 10 Margot was a handy horseman, could work a sheep dog and muster a 1000-acre paddock. Her first five years of schooling were by correspondence, followed by four years boarding at Frensham.
Margot returned to Geraldra at the end of 1939. World War II had just begun, and Harold's health was beginning to cause concern. She became his right hand man in all aspects of station life. She inherited from him a great love and understanding of horses and a great affinity with nature and the land.
A keen participant at shows and gymkhanas, she thought nothing of travelling 40 miles to compete, usually by sulky and leading two or three horses. On these trips she was often accompanied by close friend and fellow horse lover Joan (Johnnie) Forsyth of "Pine Ridge".
Harold died in September 1944, the war still raging and the state suffering the worst drought on record. Margot and her mother knuckled down to the task of saving the valuable merino flock, and won through. They were always ably assisted by dedicated staff including the late Ern McClintock and Jack Wilson.
In 1949 Margot married Queenslander Mac Hogarth, ex-RAAF pilot and POW. For the next 10 years they maintained a first-rate sheep breeding and wool producing operation. When the property was sold in 1960, the family moved to live on the Gold Coast. By now they had three daughters, Gillian born in 1950, Jocelyn in 1953 and Alexandra in 1955.
Pastoral interests were acquired again in the 1980s and 1990s with the purchase of "Kyneton " and "Clover Hills", near Barcaldine, in central western Queensland. Margot and Mac visited frequently, and took great interest in the development of both properties. The properties are now owned and managed by Jocelyn and John Chandler.
Margot maintained a lifelong affection for the Bland country and an undying love for Geraldra. She enjoyed visiting the Cootamundra district, catching up with relatives and "old mates". Mac died in June 2000.
Margot is survived by their daughters, Gillian Searles, Jocelyn Chandler and Alexandra Merrett, eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
