Marjorie Pearsall was the middle child in a family of three girls. She grew up in Tasmania during the Depression years, selling her knitting and sewing to neighbours in the area. Her childhood was shaped by the death of her father when she was three years old.
After finishing school, she took up employment at an estate in Riccarton, where she met Cliff Blackwell, whom she would marry in 1938, in the church minister's private home. The couple had two children. Bligh has been a meticulous diary keeper, and her journals are kept in the Archives Office of Tasmania.
According to the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women website, 'Through her writing and demonstrations, Marjorie [Bligh] has promoted a strong and proud tradition of home handicrafts including cooking, gardening, knitting, sewing and crochet. She has a strong interest in recycling, and finding alternate uses for common household "waste" materials. For many years, Marjorie has shared her knowledge and experience through her 'Home Hints' column in the Advocate newspaper.'
Source: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/cdd/women/ (Sighted 03/02/2009)
