"Daisy" Margaret Dow BOWMAN
Born 26 May 1907 in Cardenden, Fife, Scotland [28]
Daughter of colliery manager John BOWMAN and "Maggie" Margaret Swan DOW [P9]
Spent her infancy at Bowhill Colliery in Cardenden, which was managed by her father [P1]
Later resided with her parents at Rosefield House on Gardenside Avenue in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, Scotland [P1]
Departed from London, England with her parents and elder two sisters on the steamship Osterlery on 9 May 1915 [P1]
They arrived on the steamship Osterley in Fremantle, Western Australia on 11 May 1915 and a few days later shifted to Carnamah [P1]
Prior to leaving Scotland her father had made preliminary arrangements to buy a Ready Made Farm in Carnamah [P1]
Resided with her parents on Lot M950 of The Home Farm on the Carnamah-Perenjori Road in Carnamah 1915-1942 [P1]
Student at the Carnamah State School and after leaving school helped her father on the farm until 1942 [P1]
During busy times on the farm she posted mail and did other things in Carnamah town for her father's workmen [230]
Like her parents and elder sister she retained her Scottish accent which was attributed to there being so many Scots in Carnamah [P9]
Attended the Annual Show & Sports Carnival held in Carnamah on Thursday 20 September 1923 [86: 4-Oct-1923]
She exhibited poultry winning a 2nd prize for Heavy Breed Female, and also competed in the Horse Events [86]
On the horse Marramatta she came 2nd in the Ladies Hack, and after her sister Vi she came 2nd in the Ladies Flat Race [86]
Attended the Carnamah Race Club's Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Thursday 10 April 1924 in a dress of black georgette [10: 24-Apr-1924]
Attended the Grand Plain & Fancy Dress Ball held in the Carnamah Hall on 6 August 1925 dressed as a "Gipsy" [9: 21-Aug-1925]
Participated in the annual Carnamah kangaroo hunt of September 1925, riding a horse named Spy [9: 18-Sep-1925]
Won a prize for her costume at the Carnamah Girls Club's Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 21 August 1926 [39: 7-Sep-1926]
Won the Ladies Flag Race in the Sports section of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1926 [9: 15-Oct-1926]
Member of the Carnamah Tennis Club 1927-28 to 1936-37 [4: 15-Sep-1928, 16-Dec-1933] [5: 22-Mar-1935, 9-Aug-1935, 24-Jul-1936] [9: 23-Mar-1928]
Committee Member in 1928-29, and both Committee Member and Social Committee Member in 1935-36 and 1936-37 [5]
Attended Charles ROBERTSON and Winifred M. LANG's wedding dance on 27 March 1928 at the Carnamah Hall [4: 31-Mar-1928]
Came second in the Trotting Race in the Horse Events at the Carnamah Show & Sports Carnival on 4 October 1928 [4: 13-Oct-1928]
Attended the Plain and Fancy Dress Ball held at the Carnamah Town Hall on Thursday 8 August 1929 [4: 17-Aug-1929]
On occasion would challenge Carnamah pioneer Don MACPHERSON to a horse and buggy race however she always lost [P10]
Member of the Carnamah Presbyterian Ladies Guild 1929-1939 [105] [0: image 03010]
Attended the Grand Ball following the Carnamah Show and opening of Centenary Park on 19 September 1929 [4: 28-Sep-1929]
Herself, her brother and their father returned to Carnamah on the weekend of 12-13 October 1929 after a week in Perth [4: 19-Oct-1929]
Along with Glen GIBSON attended the Fancy Dress Ball in Carnamah as "Granny and Grandpa" on 28 August 1930 [4: 6-Sep-1930]
Won both the Lady's Hack and Best Lady Rider in the Ring Events at the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1930 [4: 27-Sep-1930]
Attended the Ball after the Carnamah Races on 2 October 1930 in a dress of black lace with crimson flower on shoulder [4: 18-Oct-1930]
Ran the ice-cream & drink stall at the Carnamah Presbyterian Church Ladies Guild's Sale of Work on 13 December 1930 [4: 20-Dec-1930]
Attended the Carnamah Grand Ball at the town hall on Thursday 28 July 1932 in a gown of black taffeta [5: 5-Aug-1932]
Won 2nd prize for White Hen Eggs at the Carnamah Agricultural Show on Thursday 15 September 1932 [5: 23-Sep-1932]
Attended the Show Ball following the Carnamah Show on 15 September 1932 in a gown of green georgette and lace [5: 23-Sep-1932]
Member in 1933 and Committee Member in 1935 of the Carnamah Badminton Club [5: 1-Sep-1933, 3-May-1935]
Won a cake at the Anglican Church Bazaar in Carnamah on 12 August 1933 by guessing the correct weight of 5 lbs. 2 oz. [5: 18-Aug-1933]
Steward in Charge of the Confectionary section at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1933 [13]
Received 1st prize for being the Best Lady Rider in the Ring Events at the Carnamah Show on 14 September 1933 [5: 22-Sep-1933]
She was among the 150 who attended the Carnamah Tennis Club's Dance at the Carnamah Hall on 9 December 1933 [5: 15-Dec-1933]
Member of the Carnamah Repertory Club in 1933, 1934 and 1939 [4: 29-Dec-1934] [5: 2-Jun-1933] [489]
Attended the Carnamah Church of England's New Year Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 December 1933 [5: 5-Jan-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Tennis Club's Flannel Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 3 February 1934 [5: 9-Feb-1934]
On the evening of Thursday 15 March 1934 attended the Carnamah Race Club's Annual Dance at the Carnamah Hall [5: 16-Mar-1934]
Attended the Farewell Social to Miss Doris MCLEAN at BERRIGAN's home in Carnamah on Wednesday 11 April 1934 [5: 13-Apr-1934]
Attended the Parkinson Tennis Club's Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 14 April 1934 [5: 20-Apr-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Golf Club's Opening Season Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 21 April 1934 [5: 27-Apr-1934]
On 12 May 1934 attended the Carnamah Football Club's Grand Opening Ball in a cream georgette frock black trimmings [5: 18-May-1934]
Attended the Badminton Club Party at John and Doris MCLEAN's home in Carnamah on Monday 23 July 1934 [5: 27-Jul-1934]
Attended the Repertory Social, of plays, community singing and dancing, held in Carnamah on 15 August 1934 [5: 17-Aug-1934]
Received 1st prize for the Best Lady Rider in the Ring Events at the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 6 September 1934 [5: 14-Sep-1934]
She was good friends with Elsie PARKIN and often when she went into Carnamah would talk to her for hours [P9]
Member of the Carnamah Golf Club in 1934 and 1935, and a Committee Member in 1936 [5: 24-Aug-1934, 24-May-1935, 26-Jun-1936]
Herself and Mrs Irene GELL were the winners of the Carnamah Tennis Club's Ladies Handicap Doubles in 1934-35 [5: 5-Apr-1935]
Along with Charles ROBERTSON won the Carnamah Tennis Club's Doubles Tennis Tournament held in April 1935 [5: 26-Apr-1935]
Helped run the Afternoon Tea Stall at the Presbyterian Church Fair at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 18 May 1935 [5: 24-May-1935]
On Sunday 21 July 1935 she became the first associate to score a hole in one on the golf links at Centenary Park in Carnamah [5]
The hole in one was on hole number six, and following Henry W. SMITH was the second hole in one scored on the links [5: 26-Jul-1935]
Attended the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show and Show Ball on Thursday 12 September 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Won Dr Cecil P. ROSENTHAL's Trophy for the Carnamah Golf Club's Mixed Foursomes in 1935 [5: 1-Nov-1935]
After spending several weeks in Perth she returned to Carnamah on Monday 4 November 1935 [5: 8-Nov-1935]
Member of the Carnamah Girls Club - was Treasurer in 1935 and President in 1942[5: 29-May-1936] [0: image 04074]
In November 1935 donated a China Tea Set to the Carnamah Girls Club to be raffled at sixpence a ticket [5: 8-Nov-1935]
Attended the funeral of Miss "May" Mary L. LANG of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 26 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
Attended the Wedding Social & Dance for Stuart and May FORD at Koolabba Farm in Carnamah on 25 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
Attended the Mad Hatter's Leap Year Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 29 February 1936 in a pink and white frock [5: 6-Mar-1936]
Played for the combined Carnamah-Parkinson tennis team against Winchester-Waddy-Coorow on Sunday 5 April 1936 [5: 3-Apr-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Golf Club's 1936 season Opening Day at Centenary Park in Carnamah on Sunday 26 April 1936 [5: 1-May-1936]
In thanks as their retiring treasurer the Carnamah Girls Club presented her with a writing stand on Tuesday 26 May 1936 [5: 29-May-1936]
Member of the Carnamah Social Club in 1936 and 1937 - was Runner-Up Ladies Badminton Champion in 1937 [5: 7-Aug-1936, 10-Sep-1937]
Attended the Carnamah Repertory Club's Social Evening & Play Presentation at the Carnamah Hall on 17 June 1936 [5: 19-Jun-1936]
Attended the C.W.A. Plain & Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 25 July 1936 dressed as a "Footballer" [5: 31-Jul-1936]
Played for the defeated Carnamah Social Club in badminton against the Carnamah Badminton Club on 5 August 1936 [5: 7-Aug-1936]
As part of the Carnamah Girls Club conducted the very successful "A Night in Iceland" in Carnamah on 15 August 1936 [5: 21-Aug-1936]
Attended the Ball after the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show on 3 September 1936 dressed in green floral georgette [5: 11-Sep-1936]
Attended the Show Ball after the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 10 September 1936 dressed in ivory windswept crepe [5: 18-Sep-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Catholic Church's Back to Childhood Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 17 October 1936 [5: 23-Oct-1936]
Best Couple with Nan DAVISON as "Boyfriend & Girlfriend" at the Masquerade Ball in Carnamah on 5 December 1936 [5: 11-Dec-1936]
Herself and Iris R. WYLIE won the Ladies Handicap Doubles at the Easter Tennis Tournament in Carnamah in 1937 [5: 2-Apr-1937]
Attended the very largely attended Carnamah Tennis Dance at the Carnamah Hall on 17 April 1937 in green marocain [5: 23-Apr-1937]
Attended the Coronation Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 12 May 1937 in "white windswept crepe with silver metal girdle" [5: 14-May-1937]
The ball and its festivities celebrated the coronation of King George VI of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth [5]
She was among the 80 who attended the Carnamah Repertory Club's Social Evening at the Carnamah Hall on 25 June 1937 [5: 2-Jul-1937]
Part of the Best Set as "Arabians" at the Carnamah Girls Club's Masquerade Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 24 July 1937 [5: 30-Jul-1937]
The others were her sister Ruth, future sister-in-law "Nan" Hannah S. DAVISON, future brother-in-law Peter W. THOMSON, [5]
"Mick" Michael R. ROWLAND, Roger F. W. CLARK and Grace W. THOMSON [5]
Won a cushion in a raffle at the North Midlands Popular Girl Competition Grand Ball in Three Springs on 31 August 1937 [5: 3-Sep-1937]
Received 2nd prize for Lady's Hack in the Ring Events at the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1937 [5: 10-Sep-1937]
A week later, at the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1937, she won 1st prize for "Best Lady Rider" in the Ring Events [5: 17-Sep-1937]
Foundation Committee Member of Carnamah's branch of the Red Cross Society in 1939 [0: image 03834]
In 1940 spent a fortnights holiday at the beach with Nan DAVISON (who two years later became her sister-in-law) [0: image 03052]
Member of the Carnamah Loyal Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows Friendly Society in 1940 [0: image 03066]
Committee Member of the Carnamah District War and Patriotic Fund in 1941 [0: image 04014]
Member of the Carnamah Ladies' Miniature Rifle Shooting Club in 1941 and 1942 - was President in 1942 [0: images 02933 & 04074]
Enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 8 March 1942 [16]
Aircraftwoman 94729 in the Royal Australian Air Force's 4th Aircraft Depot during the Second World War [16]
Discharged from the Royal Australia Air Force on 3 December 1945 [16]
Attended the Welcome Home Ball in Carnamah on 15 December 1945 and spoke on behalf of the local servicewomen [0: image 04379]
Member of the Carnamah Tennis Club in 1946 [0: image 04389]
Shortly after the war she left Carnamah and shifted to Perth [P31] where she was a storekeeper [50]
In 1949 she was living at 74 Olive Street in the Perth suburb of Subiaco and in 1954 at 321 Walcott Street in North Perth [50]
Left Perth and shifted to Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia in the late 1950s [P31]
In mid 1975 returned to Western Australia and retired to Moline House in the Perth suburb of Karrinyup with her sister Vi [P31]
Later shifted to the Midland Nursing Home at 44 John Street in the Perth suburb of Midland [P1]
Died 19 July 2000 at the Midland Nursing Home in the Perth suburb of Midland; cremated at the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA [P1]
Her ashes were placed in the Niche Wall at the Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah on 14 December 2000 [P1]
Eulogy for Margaret Dow BOWMAN, written by her niece Mrs Jean Margaret LEAHY:
"Margaret Bowman, affectionately known to her family as Daisy. Her story began with her birth on the 26th May 1907 in Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland. She spent the early part of her life in Scotland where she attended school. At eight years of age she came to Australia with her parents and sisters Nell and Vi, arriving in 1915. Her father had purchased a farm in Carnamah prior to leaving Scotland. Daisy after leaving school assisted on the farm. She was a member of sporting clubs and the repertory club and she competed on horseback at local agricultural shows. In 1942 she joined the Western Australian Air Force as a transport driver and fitter until her discharge in December 1945. Daisy then worked for several years at the Royal Aeroplane Club and whilst there she gained her pilot's licence flying Tiger Moths, and in her spare time she drove vehicles in the Red Cross. In the late 1950's she moved to Darwin where she worked in several office positions until her retirement at 65 years of age. At that time she didn't wish to retire so she took up taxi driving, and was in fact on duty on Christmas Eve 1974 when Cyclone Tracy struck. She continued on duty until all taxis were ordered home - this was close to midnight. Daisy managed to get back to her flat and spent a very harrowing six to eight hours on her own while the cyclone raged. As much as Daisy loved Darwin she decided to return to Perth in mid 1975 to retire. She drove all the way back on her own and shortly after moved into a retirement flat. Her main love was always her family. She appreciated all they did for her and knew they were there for her if she needed anything."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Margaret Dow Bowman' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/margaret-dow-bowman [reference list] |
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