Obituary of Sally Patricia McRae (née Anderson)

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Sally McRae on January 26, 2024, in a tragic accident on her farm in Brooke Valley. Sally is survived by her husband, Don, children Nathan (Lorra Thompson), Stephen (Val Dyer) and Clare (Matias Meier), and grandchildren Cole, Jack, Santiago and Lucia. She will also be greatly missed in New Zealand, by her sisters Rosemary, Pam and Margot and her sister-in-law Jane.
 
Sally was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and moved to Canada with her family in 1970 living in London, Ontario, and then Vancouver. In 1983 the family came to Ottawa where Sally taught prenatal classes and worked as a labour coach (doula) with midwives at a time when childbirth was predominantly the realm of doctors. She worked as a physiotherapist for many years at Riverside Hospital in Ottawa and then at the General. In 1996 Sally gave up physiotherapy and spent her time at the property the family had bought in Brooke Valley where Stephen had started sheep farming. This became the highlight of her life. Sally loved working with sheep, particularly lambs, and at lambing time she was tireless. She ran the farm alone for three years while Stephen was away, demonstrating her independence, strength and resilience. When Stephen returned, she worked alongside him to build the working farm that it is today.

Sally will be missed for her gentle manner, her quiet, determined nature, her love for her family and for the Brooke Valley land she lived on, and her complete dedication to the welfare of the lambs she had helped bring into the world.

 
There will be a private memorial with family followed by a celebration of life in the summer. Arrangements are in the care of Blair & Son Funeral Directors, Perth.