Death-Defying Destiny Deciders – Part Nine: Rumtough to the Rescue!

In this ninth installment of the 'Death Defying Destiny Deciders' miniseries, Michael Adams continues his deep dive into the intertwined family histories of the Murtow and Nichols lineages across Australia and Britain. The episode centers on Nora Murto, a Sydney maid who, after heroically preventing a suicide at the Gresham Hotel, accepts a job offer to work at the Pine Trees guesthouse on the remote Lord Howe Island—a decision that reshapes her destiny. There, she meets and marries Mick Nichols, a descendant of the island’s pioneering family, and together they commit to waiting for peace before having children. Meanwhile, in Western Australia, Nora’s mother Emma Murtow—widowed and working as a housekeeper—embarks on a remarkable journey as a 'travelling housekeeper' for the Country Women’s Association during World War II, visiting 66 towns across the state and traveling over 23,000 miles. Her work provided vital relief to women during wartime, and she became a beloved figure in the 'Friendly Corner' column of the Western Mail, where she shared her adventures under the nickname 'Rumtuff.' In England, Brian Murtough, Nora’s cousin and a rising star at the Daily Mirror, emerges as a powerful voice of youth, advocating for social justice, challenging fascism, and pioneering early forms of participatory journalism. His columns, including the iconic 'Make Your Life Eventful' and 'I Confess to My Unborn Son,' resonated deeply during the war years, even as he later served in the London Irish Rifles. The episode culminates in the convergence of these lives: Emma travels to Lord Howe Island to meet her pregnant daughter Nora, and Michael Adams, the narrator, reveals his own identity as Bernard Ingram Nichols—born from the union of the two families. The episode is a poignant meditation on resilience, identity, and the quiet heroism of ordinary people during extraordinary times.