Myrtle Alice Burgess was born on 17th January 1913, into one of Redcliffe's early pioneering families. She was plagued by illness early in life but that did not stop her from becoming a prolific writer. Her short stories and newspaper articles written under the pen name of MAT, soon become regular features in many of Australia's popular magazines such as Women's Weekly, New Idea and The Bulletin.
She married Ernest Alfred Troyahn in November 1939 at Lake Clarendon and in 1946 they moved to Clontarf where they set up a mobile library. But due to Ernest's ill health they sold it and opened up a general store. However with Ernest's death in 1954, she sold the business and worked elsewhere.
In 1963 at the age of fifty, she became chief librarian at the Redcliffe Municipal Library, then run by volunteers.
The Redcliffe Municipal Library was built in 1952. It housed the public library until a new much larger building was opened in 1977.
Photo from the Moreton Bay Library Collection : RLPC-001\001836
Myrtle retired 15 years later and passed away at 88years in 2002.
She along with her husband Ernest are buried in the Redcliffe Cemetery. Section 2 Row D
In 2009, a book was Presented to Redcliffe Library as an acknowledgement of the contribution Mrs Myrtle Alice Troyahn, as the Librarian, made to Redcliffe Municipal Library during her many years of service, from the early sixties to 1978. This is a compilation by Beryl Mayes, of some of Myrtle Troyahn's published writings from the 1930s to 2000. Included in the book are short stories, tall tales, yarns and jokes, factual and historical articles and accounts of local (Redcliffe) history. This compilation is by her daughter Beryl and sons John and Ray.
It is available to view and loan at the Redcliffe Library.
Myrtle Troyahn is listed on the wall of the Redcliffe Wall of Fame:
A collection of portrait and information honouring the achievements of individuals who have influenced and shaped Redcliffe.
The collection is in the Jetty Arcade at 139-141 Redcliffe Parade.
For a complete list of people who appear on the wall click on the following blog post: