Obituaries Australia

Margaret McMahon, n.d.

photo supplied by Jonathan Brown

Mrs. Margaret McMahon became a member of the Committee of Janet Clarke Hall in April, 1928, and from March, 1931, until her resignation this year owing to illness was its chairman. She also represented the Committee on the Trinity College Council.

The daughter of a well-known Colac doctor, Margaret Brown was educated at the Melbourne C.E.G.G.S. and at Girton College, Cambridge, where she was placed in the History Tripos. Returning to Melbourne, she taught at the Girls’ Grammar School for two years, when she decided to train at the Children’s Hospital. During the War she was a nurse in a Military Hospital in Cairo, and later "somewhere in France."

Shortly after her return to Australia she went to the Women’s College, Sydney, as Vice-Principal under Miss S. J. Williams, and was there until her marriage to Dr. J. J. McMahon, of Kew.

Mrs. McMahon took a great interest in all educational work, and was one of the founders of the Nursery School Movement in Melbourne. As a member of the Trinity Council and the Janet Clarke Hall Committee, she did all in her power to further the interests of the College and the Hall.

Her great love of books and music, her wide experience of life, her kindliness, her humour, and her sane and unbiased judgment made her an invaluable friend and colleague. All those who knew her share the grief of her husband and children at her untimely death on 25th August, 1939.