Celebrating 100 Years
Melva’s life has spanned 100 years, from 1926 when there were horse drawn carriages, blocks of ice in a cabinet, dance halls with live orchestras, hand-written ledgers, and handmade clothing. To a world of change and progress including electric cars, concerts on a computer, mobile phones and zoom chats with grandees on the other side of the planet in 2026.
Melva was born in Cobram, Victoria, March 1926, to Thomas and Henrietta Harris and lived with her brothers Nick, Massey (Millet) and Irvin and sisters Marjorie and June.
She moved to Numurkah in the early 1940s to work in the CBC bank and met our father Colin McPherson, son of Alex of A. McPherson and Son, menswear outfitters shop, just up Melville St. and has lived here ever since. Her accounting skills were put to immediate use in the business and helping with its management whilst raising our family.
Golfing proved to be her passion, playing regularly here at the Golf Club, and her escape from a family life of four busy daughters, Judy, Sally, Heather, Annette and one son, Duncan. Later she also took up bowls and became a champion at both sports. Melva embraced our father’s love of gardening and shared his passion for roses.
After our father’s passing in mid-1980s, she handed the business management to our brother Duncan and took up travelling. Covering all continents, and both the Arctic and Antarctic circles often with friends, and family members.
Shortly her grandchildren arrived from the daughter and sons’ families, and time was spent often interstate, with Melva visiting and helping out with the littlies. Sometimes combined with visiting our many cousins in various Australian cities. Over all the families there are 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
More recently, she is living at Pioneer’s Lodge, under the loving care of the staff and Dr. Asad, her GP. She continues to join in the weekly family zoom catching up with us. Always in touch with family, with her mobile phone whether audio or visual. Watching the grandkids in action wherever in the world they might be.
By Annie McPherson (Annette)
