.png)
VALE – Margaret Cook
- Tim Tucak
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 21
VALE – Margaret Ann Cook
13th August 2025
It is with sadness that the Club reports that Margaret (Marg) Cook passed away unexpectedly and suddenly on 13 August 2025. Marg was the wife of Life Member and Ocean Classic founder Colin Cook, who passed away last year. Marg was a longtime supporter of Swanny, especially helping out with the Ocean Classic in the past.
The funeral for Margaret (Marg) Cook will be on Monday, 1 September in the Brown Chapel, Karrakatta Cemetery at 10.30 am, with the Wake to follow at 12.30 pm at Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC Clubrooms.
If you are unable to attend the funeral in person, you can use the following Lifestream link: https://streaming.mcb.wa.gov.au/Index?ID=16240767396276701045.
Colin met Margaret Ann in 1952 at Claremont Teachers College. They met whilst doing a woodwork optional course at John Curtin High School on a Saturday morning. When a friend having a 21st birthday party insisted Colin bring a girl along, Colin invited Margaret. Margaret lived on a family farm just outside Duranillin, halfway between Collie and Wagin. Their courtship was via correspondence whilst Colin was working in Kalgoorlie.
Colin graduated from Claremont Teachers College and was posted as a swimming teacher at Kalgoorlie before teaching at Boulder. He spent many weekends riding his motorbike from Kalgoorlie to Duranillin. Margaret also graduated from Claremont Teachers College, had a brief stint teaching at North Dandalup, before moving to Kalgoorlie. Married on 11 September 1954, they returned to Perth in 1957. Colin and Margaret had two sons and six grandchildren.
Marg obviously was a tremendous support to Colin in his extensive Surf Club endeavours and involvement. Whilst women were not accepted as members, Marg was involved with the Club, unfortunately not always recorded. In the 1970/71 season Marg was Assistant Juvenile* Organiser, starting juvenile competition for girls.
Juvenile members met on Saturday mornings for points races and other activities. During the season some eighty juvenile boys took part in these competitions under the supervision of Ian Griffin and Colin Cook. This season also saw the start of a juvenile competition for girls under the direction of Margaret Cook and it proved as successful as the boys' competition. There are seventeen girl juveniles registered in the Club.
Beach Committee Report, 38th Annual Report 1971
*Juveniles were the equivalent of today’s Junior Activities Members/Nippers and the Nipper Program.
Earlier this year, Marg and members of the Cook family were proudly in attendance at the best Swanny Ocean Classic ever! On 1 February 2025 the Club celebrated 40 years of the Swanny Ocean Classics in style, fittingly honouring Colin Cook’s significant contribution to the event.
Marg and the Cook family were deeply grateful to the Club and all those who attended the Colin 'Cookie' Cook Memorial Service on Sunday 15 December 2024. Marg spoke at the Memorial Service.
