Member of Bjelke-Petersen family celebrates huge milestone

A member of the famous Bjelke-Petersen clan will be surrounded by three generations of family this weekend for a momentous occasion.

Margaret Gilmour (far left), Flo Bjelke-Petersen and friends off on cruise. Source: Bjelke-Petersen family

A beloved aunty, highly awarded public servant and respected member of the Bjelke-Petersen family is celebrating a significant milestone in her long and colourful life.

Margaret Gilmour, the younger sister of Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen and sister-in-law of former Queensland premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, is celebrating her 101st birthday on Friday, February 21.

Margaret grew up in New Farm and attended the well-known private all-girls school, Brisbane Girls Grammar.

She joined the public service at just 15 with a job in the Department of Harbours and Marine.

Margaret’s niece Meg Noack, the daughter of Lady Flo and Sir Joh, said both Margaret and Flo took on extra secretarial work for the war effort.

“Aunty would often catch a tram home at 10.30pm and be up early the next morning for her regular work duties,” Meg said.

After the war ended, Margaret received a transfer to Government House in Brisbane, where she worked until she retired at the age of 60.

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Margaret Gilmour, mother Florence Gilmour and sister Flo Bjelke-Petersen. Source: Bjelke-Petersen family

She received a Member of the British Empire in 1975 and a Royal Victorian Order in 1984 in recognition of her work in the public service, and travelled to Buckingham Palace when she was awarded her MBE.

Margaret lived in the family home in New Farm until 2018, when at 95 she moved to Orana Aged Care in Kingaroy, the same facility her sister lived in during her later years.

This was one of the reasons she chose to pack up and move almost three hours north of the home she had lived her whole life, as well as to be nearer her extended family who she was very close with.

Niece Meg said her aunt was devoted to the family, and well known for her cooking and excellent gift giving.

“She never married, so we were her closest relatives and, growing up, my three siblings and I were very special to her,” she said.

“She is a devoted aunt to extended generations of the family, who would arrive at birthday parties with excellent presents and freshly made pikelets and butterfly cakes.

“Everyone agreed Aunty’s party cooking was the best!”

Margaret Gilmour with nephew John Bjelke-Petersen and family members. Source: Urbaine Communications

One of her great loves was cricket – she was a regular at the Gabba, taking a packed lunch and Thermos with a friend and turning up for every match of the Sheffield Shield season.

Margaret loved to travel, and spent many holidays taking cruises “before it became fashionable” or taking road trips around Britain and Europe.

Meg said she loved to explore “out of the way, quirky places” and described her aunt as “the epitome of an adventurer”.

Three generations of the extended Bjelke-Petersen family will gather to celebrate her birthday this Saturday, February 22, at Lutheran Services’ Orana Aged Care in Kingaroy.