Margaret arrived in San Francisco from Melbourne, Australia in 1988. It was her first time in the US and she was looking for her brother who, like many before him, appeared to have disappeared there. At that time, the City was in the midst of the AIDS crisis and the Crack epidemic was waiting in the wings and yet it was the most wonderful place she had ever seen; She fell in love with it immediately. The more Margaret discovered the people who lived there and chose to

call it home, the more she came to believe that she belonged there and San Francisco was destined to be her home too.

By the early ‘90’s she was working for Bay West Properties on Henry Adams Street, the owners of the Showplace, the Galleria and the Concourse Exhibition Center along with multiple parking lots and part ownership in adjacent buildings. She was their VP of Events & Shows for many years and during that time, she met Sarah Davis who introduced her to Mission Creek Harbor and in turn, the Bayview Boat Club. Those were very different times; the Golf Driving Range was alive and well and there wasn’t a condo in sight. The BVBC and Mission Creek Harbor personified the eclectic, diverse and downright eccentric magic of San Francisco. Over time, she got to know Jack

Davis, Michael Ohta, Mike Dingle, the Liberatore’s, Chris Kenny, Lizzie Windsor and many other equally wonderful people who welcomed her into their community and made her feel at home. It’s not possible to underestimate the profound effect that the kindness and inclusion these people had on her life.

In 2010, she bought Kevin O’Connell’s floating home at Mission Creek Harbor and got to call it her home. Finally, a place of her own and one that she cherished for all its unique eccentricity. Just about everyone said she was mad to do this, and she happily agreed with them. She spent the next 12 years of her life loving her live aboard life and being a part of the unique world of Mission Creek. She learned and grew and loved her life.

It all came to an abrupt and horrendous end in February 2023 when a Delta-based contractor, who came strongly recommended as qualified to upgrade the floatation on her home, completely destroyed it. Her home sank in 3 minutes after the contractor inexplicably dislodged a key piece of floatation, and the boat went past its point of balance and tipped over. It was a shocking and irreversible moment that left Margaret devastated and without recourse. The Mission Creek and BVBC community sprang into action and helped her salvage what little she could while protecting the Creek from the inevitable fallout of an incident like this. Because of the way the damage came about, nothing is covered by insurance and the contractor has disappeared into the woods somewhere.

Margaret has been in a state of shock ever since and now, thanks to the love and support of her Mission Creek and BVBC friends, she's going to try and rebuild or acquire a replacement home for her berth. She needs help to do this and your support will give this sad story a new and happy ending.