Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

Maggie Moffat McCord born 12 Jun 1908 11h. 45. a.m. Greenburn, District of Fauldhouse
Daughter of Samuel McCord a coal miner and Marion McCord M.S. Knight, married 3 Nov 1906, Kilsyth
Informant Samuel Moffat McCord, father

On 11 Jan 1913 departed London on the ship 'Waimana' (mother Marion MacFarlane Knight McCord aged 26, described as housewife) with children, Agnes, Janet and Maggie. Waimana Official no. 131795, master W. B. Holmes, Steamship line Shaw Savill & Albion Co Ltd, Bound for New Zealand, 18568 square feet, registered tonnage 6734.

Margaret's (Maggie's) occupation was home duties.

Margaret's (Maggie's) occupation was home duties.

'Maggie Vickers, she's just remarkable
A wife, mother, farmer, successful storekeeper and "a remarkable woman' is how family members describe 90 year old Maggie Vickers of Bellbird.
One of the pioneer women of Mount View, Mrs Vickers has had a life of hard work, but she is quick to point out the good times as well.
Mother of eight, Mrs Vickers happily recalls those years of what many people consider hard times.
Born in Fauldhouse, Scotland, Mrs Vickers came to Australia with her family as a four year old. The home her father, a self-taught carpenter built in Neath, is still standing today.
After marrying her husband Alf, the couple settled at Mount View, where they lived in a slab hut without running water of electricity. Two of their children were born there.
Life on the farm was proved hard work in the early days before they would build a more modern homestead.
Mrs Vickers helped run the farm, which had every square inch of the 40 acres under cultivation.
She would care for her brood of youngsters while picking peas. As well as the usual domestic problems, she even had to contend with everything even snakes lurking under the pea bushes.
She also remembers "washing days" as taking all day and at the end ensuring all the clothes were starched and ironed.
By the time she was 40, the family moved into Bellbird, but she wasn't content with taking a well earned break.
She opened up a general store at West Cessnock, which she says people still refer to as "Vickers", even though she sold it more than 20 years ago.
The shop saw her work more than 12 hours a day seven days a week.
It even involved getting up at 4.30 am to travel to Newcastle to the markets.
Her first of many overseas trips began in the later years of owning the shop.
Her retirement didn't see her slow up either, as she would take more overseas trips, bringing the total to six visits to Japan, two to Great Britain, one to Aemrica and a number of Pacific cruises.
During her lifetime she also enjoyed reading, cooking and sewing and managed to find time to do all three!
While the old saying "hard work didn't hurt anyone" may be true, surprisingly Mrs Vickers believes today's lifestyle for women is better.
"It is easier for women, and its about time' she laughed.
"you need a balance, you need to have enjoyment in your life as well as work" she said.
Mrs Vickers, who has 20 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren, was guest of honour at a surprise birthday party for 60 family and friends at East Cessnock Bowling Club.
Family members praised their mother saying she had managed to put "several lifetimes into one".
She puts down her long life and good health to never smoking and having only an occasional sip of wine.
"I have cast iron nerves and a cool head. Not much rattles me, so I can cope with a lot of things", she said. I don't live by any rules and regulations, but I love having my family around me. They are most precious to me", she added.