A Northern Beaches woman celebrating her 100th birthday looks at an amazing life lived to the full.
Mrs Merle Hurcomb (nee Barber), the second eldest of three brothers was born on 12 December 1922 and grew up in Petersham.
In Merle’s career days, home was divided between Earlwood and Bowral before moving to Bayview where she retired in 1986.
She was Managing Director of the Sydney City Mission (now Mission Australia) for around thirty years and made it her personal mission to help the most vulnerable and underprivileged in Sydney and surrounds.
Driven by her strong spirit and desire to assist her fellowmen in need, by offering kindness and direction, Merle lead her to work with The Mission in 1958 and became organising secretary four years later.
With her vision continuing into the 1970s and 1980s, Merle then went on to open four vocational training centres in Sydney and Wollongong.
She also established the Green Valley Community Centre – a place which assisted the community in employment training, and Campbell House – a rehabilitation centre housing alcoholics and the homeless, offering safety and support.
In 1976, after accompanying welfare officers and police on night patrol through the notorious streets of New York City, Merle’s unwavering tenacity resulted in the introduction of the Missionbeat – a 24-hour emergency street patrol around Sydney.
Missionbeat is still operating today forty years later.
With a passion to help young people who had ‘lost their way,’ Merle set up the Kings Cross Crisis Centre, which accommodated the homeless drug dependent youth and offered intensive and long-term support in collaboration with specialist services.
From there, the Wilderness Project in Tallong, NSW was one of her final projects where young people that had been before (or close to) the criminal justice system, were given positive incentives and life skills, to then go forth and lead positive meaningful lives.
Merle was a member of many advisory councils and worked with governments of the time.
During her time overseas, she studied alcoholism and drug abuse and in 1975 was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal, and in 1980 a Member of the Order of Australia. In 1986 Merle was also awarded the Advance Australia Award for Outstanding Contribution in Community Service.
Today, Merle enjoys living independently in Newport with family around her. After losing her beloved husband Frank twenty years ago, Merle has enjoyed travelling extensively in her retirement, playing Bridge and is now learning the ukulele with her neighbours and friends.
She loves a party and social gathering if it means friends and family coming together; every Friday night is jam session at Merle’s place!
With two daughters, five grandchildren, ten great grandkids and extended family, she is one very loved and adored Mum, Nan, and Grandnan, Aunt and friend to so many people.
Happy 100th Birthday to Merle.
