Obituary

It is with sadness that I advise the death of Dr Meg Duncan at Maryborough, Queensland, on 5 May 2011, at the age of 94 years. Born on 10 August 1916, Meg was the second daughter of Richard William Leftwich IV (1885-1956) and Ada Gertrude Birt (1892-1976). She served as a teacher in her early years and enlisted as a VAD with the AIF. She later served as a Secretary/Librarian in Perth. She met her husband, Captain Eric Duncan, during the war.

After the war, Meg joined him at Lae, New Guinea in 1950 and she taught at various schools in PNG for 20 years. On her return to Australia, she completed a B.Ed Hons and Master of Education and resumed teaching at Hervey Bay and Maryborough High Schools, later becoming Senior Mistress at Hervey Bay High School.

In 1965, Meg retired from teaching and also gained her PhD, also at The University of Queensland. In her 80s, Meg was committed to writing up the history of the Leftwich Family in Australia including their origins in the UK. She travelled extensively to research the family’s background and the resulting three books are a testament to her determination and they are a significant legacy to the Leftwich descendants in Australia.