FAMILY and friends admire Marion Dolan are “very much a feminist before feminism really happened”. They were on hand to celebrate what is a remarkable life for the new centenarian, who turned 100 years old on Friday.
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But then, Marion always had a sense she would reach the significant life milestone.
“When I was on holidays overseas in Asia once, a man stopped me on a bridge and said I would live to be 100,” Marion told The Courier.
“He completely ignored my husband and walked on. That’s always been a thought in the back of my mind since then.”
Marion and her sister Shirley were the first day pupils at Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount school. The family had moved to Ballarat from Colac and their father had wanted to find the best school for his daughters in town.
Loreto is where Marion developed a passion for art, setting her on a career path – via Ballarat School of Mines’ fine arts – to work as a draughtswoman.
Starting in an architect’s office in Ballarat, Marion went on to work in the drawing offices of three government departments: defence, munitions and civil aviation.
Marion’s cousin Julie Baker described this as an industry in which Marion made her feminist stance.
“Being a woman, they would tell her to make them a cup of tea and she never would. She was there to work,” Ms Baker said.
“Marion’s always been very interested in reading and hearing about all strong women, who succeed.”
Marion met her husband Don McLeod at a boarding house in St Kilda Road where they were both living after WWII. They were married in 1951.
The couple moved around for Don’s work before resettling near Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, where Marion has always considered home.
A keen artist, Marion continued learning different arts, like leather work and pottery but continued painting until her eyesight deteriorated. In later life, Marion has enjoyed visiting Ballarat Art Gallery’s Sunday afternoon music sessions, keenly following the progress of young Ballarat musicians.
Marion has lived independently after Don’s death in 2010. She only moved into aged care a few months ago, just she of her 100th birthday.
Marion celebrated the milestone in Royal Freemasons aged care with her family and friends.
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