Margaret Louise Hook
1916-
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Margaret Louise Hook by
Vivian Hill
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Copyright
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Peg Hook commenced work as a telephonist at the legal firm of Harwood
and Pincott on 12th March 1935. In 1951 when the telephone switchboard
was moved from the rear of the office to the front she took on the additional
duties of a receptionist. She remained with the firm in those roles
until 12th March 1982. Over those 47 years her voice was known to
clients and all who worked in local legal offices. She gave a friendly
welcome to those who rang on the telephone or called at her front desk.
Although the first telephone exchange was established in Geelong in 1886
it was not a facility in all private homes in 1935. At the time she
was appointed she did not know how to use one.
Miss Hook's account of life in a solicitor's office over those years
is one of mutual respect between employer and employee and friendly relations
between staff members in neighbouring offices.
Outside her employment she took on the duty of Sunday kindergarten teacher.
It is to be hoped that the two present Justices of the Supreme Court who
were her pupils remember some of the principles she taught.
Arrangement of material
The list below describes material held in the Margaret Louise Hook
archive box, which is located at 340.099452 Hook Hil/Mlh on the shelves in
the Geelong Lawyers' Collection within the Special Collection at the Waterfront
campus. The material has been arranged in date order.
| Date |
Title |
Item no. |
| 1945 |
Photograph of female staff of Harwood & Pincott
[Click on image to enlarge it.] |
MH1 |
| 1995 |
Biography by V. Hill describing her life as receptionist
and telephonist at Harwood & Pincott |
MH2 |
| 20/2/1997 |
Letter giving names of staff in photograph (MH1) |
MH3 |
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