BRIAN AND MARGARET MCBRIDE’S FAMILY
Brian Leonard McBride was born 9 July 1933, and married Margaret Alice Rawnsley, born 8 October 1936, on 16 June 1956. Their family:
Julie-Anne born 27 June 1957, Susan Margaret born 16 October 1958, Karen Maree born 24 February 1962
Brian worked with his father Len in the soft drink factory, inheriting this business when Len passed away in 1978. The McBride’s also owned a general store in Sturt street, next to the house owned by Len and Dorrie McBride. Brian also worked in the grape season carting grapes for various growers around the district, taking them to the Berri Winery. Brian attended National Service in the early 1950s as did every man once they turned 18 years and it would be fair to say, the army way of life was his calling. Unfortunately, other factors got in the way and after completing the required time, Brian returned to Barmera.
Brian did not have a great deal of formal education but was extremely clever and intelligent and very good at everything he attempted - as a young man he excelled at rifle shooting, representing the Barmera Rifle Club several times at the Queen’s Shoot, a National competition run annually usually at Deans Rifle Range at Port Adelaide. In the 1970s he gave up shooting and took up golf, where once again he excelled and in his retirement years, took to growing orchids. Again he was very successful, often winning prizes in local and state shows. Margaret was a trained hairdresser, and in 1968 picked up her trade again, working for Mrs Phyll Hatch. Margaret started her hairdressing aged 15 - as she went to school in Berri, transport was an issue. Mrs Lorna Heinicke used to give her a lift to Berri each day, as she had a business there. After several months she offered Margaret an apprencticeship and a job in Barmera. Margaret jumped at this chance and left school and started working for Mrs Heinicke. She stopped once she was married, as was the custom, but picked up about 10 years later and never looked back, going on to own her own business in Loxton.
Margaret Rawnsley and her family had known the McBride’s her entire life, her mother Ellen Kitschke, being bridesmaid for Brian’s mother, Dorrie McBride at her wedding. Their marriage began in a blaze of hope, but unfortunately ended in 1971 when Margaret and the girls went to Loxton to live with the Rawnsley family.
Margaret Rawnsley and Brian McBride June 16,1956
Left to right, Doris McBride, Len McBride, Vin McBride, Bill Johns, Brian McBride, Margaret McBride (nee Rawnsley), Mary Kitschke, Betty Beech (nee Feder) Nell Rawnsley, Bert Rawnsley holding Anne Rawnsley Bill Wauchope is the 2nd priest, to the left of Bert Rawnsley
Brian 6 months, with his mother Doris and Joan Dowling. 1933
Brian 3 months old, October 1933
Brian and his father, Len 1936
Brian, 7 years old, with his bike and his cat
Brian and his lifelong friend, Bill Johns, off to do National Service
Brian with Tim the Border Collie and Sally the bitser. 1945
Brian and Bill Johns 1950
Brian’s friend, Stan Tonkin, at the factory 1948
Brian carting grapes for Henry Danvers 1965
Brian 1955
Brian, late 1950s at the Barmera Hotel
Sue 4 yrs and Julie 5.5. Yrs outside the shop on STurt street in barmera
Margaret with sUE around 6 months old
Netball team with Beth Dowling the coach. Julie McBride, Jan Green, Aileen Richards, Debbie Wright, Vondi Sander ? and Carol WRight.
February 1960, Sue McBride 15 months, Julie McBride 3 years, with Margaret on the verandah at Len and Doris McBride’s house in Sturt St Barmera
JULIE 9 years with Cindy the dog.
sPORTsDAY, 1967
Margaret in the shop around 1962
Susan, Karen and Julie McBride circa 1965 on Bevan Sander’s bike. That’s Craig Sander standing on the back.
Karen McBride fourth in on the left in the middle row. Brian Danvers top row, second in on the left.
Sue around 13 years and Karen around 10
Margaret 30, Julie 9, Sue 71/2, Karen 5
Julie 7, Sue 5. 1/2 In the yard of the shop house, the factory in the background
Julie 9, Sue 7.5, Karen 5 years
sue first communion circa 1966