Century of memories for Joyce Thompson

GUNNEDAH’S Joyce Thompson has achieved an amazing milestone, celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends at Alkira.

An inspiration to everyone, Joyce had lived independently at her home in Warrena Street until six weeks after her 98th birthday but today enjoys having people around her.

Many older residents would remember Joyce as the smiling face at McDonagh’s Department Store where she worked beside her husband Claude until 1973 when the store was taken over by the Curlewis Farmers’ Co-operative, where Claude worked until his retirement.

Joyce pictured with grandsons Jamie, Dean and Shane Thompson, Marco and Xavier Stocca.

Claude had been busy installing curtains and blinds in homes around Gunnedah and the McDonagh workshop had been a hive of activity, so when a vacancy became available it was an opening for Joyce.

Joyce had also been a familiar face behind the counter at Coles Variety Store and Macadams Department Store in the material department.

Here she made lifelong friends and a special guest at the celebration was Julie McAdam (82), who travelled from Sydney for the occasion.

Joyce defied the grim predictions of doctors when she was a little girl, growing from “a sickly child” into an amazingly strong woman who later married and raised a family of two sons and one daughter – Gary, Ken and Julie.

That family has grown to include six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with only one granddaughter unable to attend the celebration.

Joyce was thrilled to receive a congratulatory card from King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Joyce Elizabeth Moore came into the world on 6 June 1926, the second child of three girls and two boys born to Emily Smith and Claude Moore.

Born at the Vegetable Creek Hospital, Emmaville, Joyce spent her early years on the Ashford Tobacco Lands, Frasers Creek, where her father was working.

Her education began at a one-teacher subsidised school on the property. When the family moved to the other side of the river the children often had to walk through the water to gain access.

Among Joyce’s treasured possessions is a story book, Alice In Wonderland, presented to her in 1934 for “best dictation average”.

A second book by Mary Grant Bruce, Circus Ring, was awarded to the young student by headmaster AR Kearns when she was named dux of Class 7A.

Like many other girls at the time, education was not considered a priority and although she was extremely academic, Joyce left Inverell High School at the age of 14 years and six months to work as a telephonist on the Ashford Telephone Exchange.

As her experience grew, she started serving on the counter in the post office and became a postal clerk at Ashford Post Office.

During her school years, another Claude came into her life – Claude James Thompson, who was three years older than Joyce but also an Ashford lad who attended Inverell High.

As the threat of invasion grew from the Japanese forces in the Pacific, Claude enlisted in the AIF in Sydney on 10 November 1942, and was “claimed” by his older brother Cyril who had signed up on 4 August at Greta.

Claude and Joyce Thompson on their wedding day in 1949.

Claude was attached to the 2/1 Casualty Clearing Station when he was discharged on 18 September 1946.

During these years of uncertainty, the couple kept in touch by writing letters.

After the war, their friendship turned into romance and their lives together began with a ceremony at the Presbyterian Church manse in Ashford on 6 September 1949, in front of the minister Mr Wilson and Joyce’s parents Emily and Claude, and Norman Thompson.

Claude had been working in a general store in Ashford and with a job lined up in Gunnedah, there was no time for a celebration – the minister drove the newlyweds to Inverell in the pouring rain and they spent their first night as a married couple at the Australian Hotel.

The following day they caught the train to Gunnedah where Claude started work in the menswear department at Macadams Department Store, on the corner of Conadilly and Marquis streets.

Saving for their own home was a priority and their married life began at Slattery’s Boarding House until 1951, when their very own home was completed in Warrena Street.

Here they stayed, raising their little family with Gary born in 1958, followed by their second son Ken in 1961 and daughter Julie in 1963.

Joyce’s life was busy caring for her little family; she also loved sewing and knitting but it was not until the little ones were at school that she returned to the workforce.

After retirement, Joyce and Claude enjoyed travel by car and organised coach trips to Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Joyce is on the right with brother Eric and Kevin is the little one holding his dad’s hand.

Claude was especially keen to return to the Atherton Tablelands where he had been based before sailing for Borneo in the war years.

Claude was always keen on bowls, and he played pennant on more than one occasion. He was also prominent in the Returned Services League (RSL).

In September 2000, Joyce’s life was turned upside down when she lost her life partner but, true to the mateship forged in the war, she received great support from Legacy Widows and her RSL legatee Les Darcey.

She was recently awarded a War Widows life membership.

Commenting on her longevity during celebrations for her 95th birthday, Joyce said it is “in her genes” as her grandfather, William Smith, lived to 98 and her sister Joan was 96 when she died. Her brother Eric died at the age of 79.

Joyce’s younger sister Patricia lived into her 90s while her youngest sibling Kevin (89) attended the celebration with his wife Yvonne, travelling from their home at Pheasants Nest.

Reaching the grand old age of 100, Joyce was especially thrilled to receive a card with greetings from King Charles and Queen Camilla and also the Australian prime minister.