At the Whyalla Hospital’s foyer every weekday morning, greetings & conversation hums between customers and volunteers, at a booth located close to the entrance. The booth is run by HEARTBEAT, a community group that raises funds for cardio-pulmonary equipment for the hospital. Most items sold are made by women volunteers who knit, sew, and crochet the goods on display. Among the dedicated volunteers who staff the booth is Margaret Shambrook, who, in her 80s, still arrives on time every Thursday to take her place at the booth, brimming with energy and purpose.
“She’s at least ten years my senior,” says fellow volunteer Ranjan Abayasekara, “and when I joked that we’d almost run our race, she looked me in the eye and said, ‘I still want to keep running!’” That moment prompted Ranjan to learn more about the inspirational woman beside him.
Born in Oakey, Queensland, during the Second World War, Margaret (Fitzgerald) grew up on a share farm where every member of the family pitched in. Life was full of early mornings, milking cows before school, and walking several kilometres to a one-room schoolhouse that served multiple year levels under one teacher. The journey was communal and character-building: as children passed each farm, others would join until a “foot caravan” of rural schoolkids wound its way to the classroom—crossing creeks, often with a helping hand from a local dad on horseback.
The rural upbringing fostered Margaret’s resilience and strong work ethic, traits that stayed with her for life. After leaving school, she learned shorthand and typing and later worked in Toowoomba and Brisbane before settling in Whyalla with her husband, Peter, a Federal Police officer at the time. They raised two sons and built a life in the community.
Margaret’s contribution to Whyalla has spanned decades. She worked part-time while raising her family and volunteered with Meals on Wheels, two local Probus clubs, and HEARTBEAT. Her determination to remain active, involved, and connected is at the heart of her philosophy on ageing. “Sleeping in is no good,” she often says with a glint in her eye. Even now, she’s up before sunrise and out walking most mornings.
Her commitment has not gone unnoticed. In February 2021, Margaret was honoured as Whyalla’s Senior Citizen of the Year, and in December 2023, she was awarded Life Membership of HEARTBEAT for her longstanding service.
Margaret continues to live independently, travels to visit family in Queensland and New South Wales, and finds deep joy in volunteering. Her story is one of active ageing, lifelong purpose, and intergenerational service—a testament to the value and vitality of rural Australians at every stage of life.
At a time when the rural health system often grapples with ageing populations, Margaret reminds us what it means to age well—not just in body, but in spirit. Her words echo with clarity: “I still want to keep running.”
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