Pieter and Tryntje Zorgdrager emigrated with their children from Terschelling off the Dutch coast to Coonabarabran in the north-west of New South Wales, Australia. Their fourth child, Margaret, was born in 1956. Pieter was an artist, "a creative genius". Margaret inherited his artistic genes and her parents hard work ethic. From an early age she delighted in painting the beauty of the nearby Warrumbungle Mountains. Margaret was just twelve when she sold her first painting. As a teenager she assisted her family in the running of their highly successful tourist park "Miniland", and upon the death of her father became manager. Margaret married Steven Hadfield and had two children, Kerrie and Kevin. Kerrie was born with hydrocephalus, a severely debilitating condition which resulted in many medical issues. By 1990 Margaret had moved Kerrie to the Canberra region for better medical attention. She was divorced and her daughter's fulltime carer. Margaret was reunited with Kylie, her indigenous (Kamilaroi) daughter. Margaret returned to her art. The ensuing years were difficult as Margaret supplemented her income with the sale of hand painted Australian souvenirs at local markets, and sought commissions. Painting everything from fridge magnets to large murals she began to eke out a living. By 1996 Margaret and Kerrie had moved into a rambling industrial shed located in industrial Queanbeyan. The 2000 Olympics in Sydney was a significant Australian event. For Margaret the resulting tourist boom meant an increased demand for her hand painted souvenirs and the opportunity to become self supporting. The industrial unit soon evolved into The Artists Shed. Over the following years The Artists Shed offering gallery, classrooms, and studios has become a community cultural hub and significant regional attraction.

Margaret's reputation as an artist continued to grow. A visit to Gallipoli in 2004 and her emotional response would move her into a new dimension. Ghosts of the past, of indigenous and military history, resulted into creative exploration of the landscape. These interpretations have expanded Margaret's reputation as an artist within Australia and internationally. Major achievements include: