Biography

Margaret (Peggy) Morrah (1899 - 1976) was one of six children of James and Kate Chalmers. She was born 11th Jan. 1899 at Alloa, Scotland. Her parents were James Cathro Chalmers, and Katherine Duff Chalmers (nee Evans). 
Their children were Robert, Katherine, Emily and Ina. There was a further brother who died at an early age. Robert was killed in World War I.

Margaret, always known to her friends as Peggy, had a normal education and, having left school, she sought employment. Eventually she found a position in the woollen industry at Patons & Baldwins mill in Alloa. As she grew older she obtained skills and came to be considered an expert knitter by Patons & Baldwins, and became a demonstrator, who travelled extensively, demonstrating knitting and rug making.
She emigrated to Australia after World War I and married John (Jack) Morrah who she had met during the war. They were married in Melbourne about 1920. They had four children; Max, Margaret, Dorothy and John.

Katherine, and another daughter, Ina, came to Australia after James died, and lived in Melbourne. Ina moved to Launceston and worked for Patons & Baldwins.

After her husband John's health failed - he was gassed while on active service in France during WWI - the family moved to Launceston. John died in August 1936.
Margaret did not work for Patons and Baldwins in Launceston. At first, they lived at 15 Merivale St, but also in Hollingsworth Street and then in Eardley Street. The family attended St. John’s Church. 

One of her daughters recalled that she was asked to make curtains for the large reception room at the rectory. She would also go to the rectory to answer the phone and the door when the Suttons were out. Archdeacon and Mrs. Sutton were very grateful to her.

She suffered a long illness over a period of nine years later in life, and was unable to attend St. John's, so very few people remembered her at the time of her death. To her family and friends, she was a much loved and respected mother and friend. 

Peggy died on 17^th June 1976 aged 77. In her memory a beautiful stained-glass window featuring 'The Call of Paul' was erected in St. John's Church. The inscription reads:
A.M.D.G.
IN MEMORY OF MARGARET DUFF MORRAH

Source

Extract from 'Engraved in Memory' by J.S.Gill. 1988 Additional notes supplied by one of her daughters in the 1980s, when Jenny Gill was gathering information for her book.