Joy was born at Henderson’s Hospital in Taree NSW on 13 February 1926, which was a small hospital for mothers and babies servicing the local area. At the time of Joy’s birth, she lived with her parents Edith Beatrice May Minett (known as Beatrice) and David Minett on the family dairy farm at Upper Lansdowne called ‘Slippery Downs’. A vivid story told to the family was of Joy only owning one pair shoes. To preserve those shoes Joy would walk barefoot to Upper Lansdowne Primary School so her shoes wouldn’t wear out. Joy would wipe her feet then put her school shoes on at the school gate. Joy only managed to complete the 7th grade at Upper Lansdowne Primary School and could not travel to complete further studies as there were no school buses travelling into Taree during the1940s.
In the 1940s there were two doctors servicing the local area: Dr Stokes and Dr Muscio. In 1942 Joy’s Great Grandmother, who was a local midwife spoke with Dr Stokes and told him of Joy’s dream of becoming a registered nurse. In these times, fraternal permission was essential for any young woman to leave home unmarried. So, Dr Stokes approached Joy’s father when Joy was aged 16 years and asked if Joy could work at Mayo Private Hospital in Taree as an assistant nurse and live in the nurses quarters. Joy’s father David agreed to this request and so began her journey into nursing. By now, Australia was at war and Joy was working at Mayo Private Hospital from 1942 to 1946 and studying for the leaving certificate by correspondence. Early in 1946, Joy sat for the leaving certificate exam at the Taree Court house, was invigilated by the local Police Senior Sargent and received an excellent pass.
After receiving an excellent passing grade, Joy asked Dr Muscio and Dr Stokes if they would be prepared to provide a reference for her application to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney to commence training as a registered nurse. Joy studied hard for the Nurses Entrance Exam which she passed in 1946, thereby enabling her to undertake a four-year training program. Joy’s love of learning and nursing combined to see her awarded the Tutor Sister’s prize in 1948 and ultimately the Matron’s Prize for Excellence in Nursing in 1950 when she completed her registered general nurse training. Joy’s awards during her nursing training encouraged her to engage in further studies and she also completed registered midwife training in 1951 at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. In the years from 1951 to 1953 Joy continued to work at Royal North Shore Hospital in the children’s ward then the operating theatres.
On 1 November 1952 Joy married Sidney Albert Davey (known as Sid) at The Upper Lansdowne Anglican Church. A reception followed at The Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall. Parents Beatrice and David helped prepare food for the wedding reception which included roast chickens that were taken from the family farm as well as homemade steamed puddings cooked in the fuel copper.
In 1953 Joy and Sid decided to move from Sydney to Taree as Sid was successful in obtaining a position with The Manning River County Council in Taree. Joy gave birth to 3 daughters. Robyn Susanne Davey in 1954, Jane Gudrid Davey in 1961 and Lyn Charmaine Davey in 1968.
During the time between 1956 to 1961 Joy worked at The Manning Base Hospital in Taree in the operating theatres and the Obstetrics section of Manning Base Hospital.
Then from 1962 to 1963 Joy worked at both the Manning River District Hospital and the Mayo Private Hospital on a part time basis in Taree.
1969 Joy continued to work at The Mayo Private Hospital, Taree as the Superintendent of Nursing. Then the position name was changed to The Director of Nursing. Joy continued in this position until she retired in 1993.
Memberships, Organisations and Awards and Voluntary work:
- Life Member Royal North Shore Graduate Nurses Association
- 1950s and 1960s gave vaccinations at Chatham Primary School, Chatham High School and Taree High School
- 1956-1971 Taree Civil Defence
- 1961 Taree Lions Ladies and supported husband Sid at the Taree Lions Club for 50 years including the save sight campaign, overseas student exchange program, cubby house raffle, cord blood awareness program.
- Tutor Wingham and Taree Voluntary Aid Detachments
- 1964-1978 Ambulance Instructor – St John’s Ambulance in Taree
- 1967 Foundation Member Taree View Club
- 1972 Joined the Taree Quota Club. 1989,1990 and 1991 was President
- 1980 Justice of the Peace
- 1991 Paul Harris Fellowship Award Rotary Club Taree
- 1991-2000 Vice President Manning and District Cancer Action Group
- 1991-2002 President Torch Bearers for Legacy. President 6 times.
- 1997 Founding member of the Probus Club on Manning. President then Public Officer.
- 1998 Citizens Award Australia Day Council Taree (Joint award with husband Sid)
- 1992-2000 Manning and District Cancer Action Group. Vice President and President.
- 2003 Awarded the Order of Australia Medal “For service to the community of the Manning Valley district through a range of organisations, particularly the Manning and District Cancer Action Group and the Taree Quota Club”
- 2006 Volunteer of the Year Quota Club Taree
- 2006 International Woman of the Year Manning and Great Lakes NSW
- 2020 The “Tree of Joy” was planted in Fotheringham Park opposite the children’s playground to honour achievements at the Quota Club of Taree
- Daffodil Day organiser for the Cancer Council of NSW; Manning Deaf and Hearing Association-learnt sign language; Baby show judge in the Manning Valley; Volunteer CANTEEN assisting children with cancer; Assisting the Look Good Feel Better program; the wig library; palliative care Taree; Volunteer driver to drive patients to Newcastle and Port Macquarie for cancer treatment; Member St John’s Church Choir Taree; Member of the Choral Society Taree; Volunteer at Taree Eisteddfod performances.
Joy continued to be involved in charity work until the age of 94 when she handed in her driving licence. Joy continued to live independently at home and looked forward to frequent visits of family members.
During the day Joy’s favourite activities were feeding the magpies and lorikeets that arrived in the morning and afternoon. Then there was the walk outside to inspect the garden and pull out a weed here and there before cutting fresh flowers in bloom which Joy thoughtfully placed on the kitchen bench. Roses and violets being the favourites.
Of Joy’s three daughter’s two followed Joy into a nursing career.
Daughter Robyn
1972 Completed Higher School Certificate at Chatham High School
1975 Completed General Nurse training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney
1976 Completed Midwifery Nurse training King George V Hospital Sydney
1979 Completed Coronary Care Certificate at The College of Nursing Sydney
1997 Completed Master of Nursing Management University of Technology
Work places were: Mayo Private Hospital Taree, The Sutherland Hospital Sydney, St George Private Hospital Sydney, Woolooware Family Practice Sydney.
Daughter Jane
1979 Completed Higher School Certificate at Chatham High School
1983 Completed General Nurse Training at The Sutherland Hospital Sydney
1985 Completed Midwifery training at St George Hospital Sydney
1995 Completed Batchelor of Applied Science the University of Sydney
1995 Completed Master of Nursing Education the University of Sydney
2002 Completed Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Adult Education, the University of Technology Sydney
Other work places were: Mayo Private Hospital Taree, Manning River District Hospital Taree, King George V Hospital Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, Prince of Wales Private Hospital Sydney. Also, Teaching positions were at University of Sydney, University of Sydney Campus, University of Technology Sydney, University of Western Sydney, Notra Dame University Sydney.
Daughter Lyn
1986 Completed Higher School Certificate at Chatham High School
1987 Attended The Metropolitan Business College Sydney then later studied and completed Batchelor of Business at the University of Technology Sydney. Work Places were: Royal North Shore Hospital Genetic Service Sydney, The Sydney Fish Markets, Oracle Computers, then Lyn set up her own consulting business.
Joy’s favourite poem
“Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift
That’s why we call it
The present”
Author unknown
Granddaughter Rebecca kept the above poem in mind when writing her own poem called “The gift.”
Rebecca presented the poem at Joy’s funeral on 20 June 2023.
The Gift
“Today is a gift”, you used to say
That’s why they call it the present”.
You’d add that the “most precious gift of all
Was good family and friends”.
So here we all are in the present
Celebrating the gift that was you
Celebrating a truly inspiring, amazing women.
From the beautiful country of Upper Lansdowne.
You.
You were a gift of determination
“I don’t like this Man power”, you’d say. “We need more woman power”.
You cut through the toughest of times
With grace, kindness and humility.
That’s you.
You were a gift of courage
That would overcome the hardest things
You would say “get off the fence and move on”
Against all odds, you’d conquer. Your way.
That’s you.
You were a gift of leadership
When you were nursing you’d say a prayer
“please God allow me to do the best I can, for as many as I can, for as long as I can”.
You led Mayo and helped so many.
You led charities and organisations to get things done.
That’s you.
You were a gift that made a difference
“stand up, speak up, and shut up” you’d say.
You saved and educated countless people
Your drive and integrity was contagious
That’s you.
You were a gift that was so grateful
You’d say “the love and gratitude of people are the best rewards you can ever have”
In fact the best reward we all could ever have is you in our lives and your friendship.
That’s you
You were a gift of colour
Your garden was a rainbow of blooms
Your rugs your mum made were multicoloured
Your bathroom was lavender.
You’d love it when people dressed in colour.
That’s you.
You were a gift of nature
Just ask the Taree birds who used to visit grandma every day.
The “Tree of Joy” embodies you.
You’d say “Everything comes from the earth. And the sun the moon and stars. Not this stupid daylight saving”.
You’d say “you were closer to God in the garden”
That’s you.
You were a gift of endless love.
I was a “treasure” you used to say
You’d say I would brighten up your day or your week with a phone call or visit.
You were the “treasure” I’d say.
You’d get joy from the smallest of moments.
That’s you.
You were a gift that we will never forget
A gift that has made us better people
A gift so precious and so generous.
A gift I can only strive to emulate and be.
A recipient of the Order of the Medal of Australia.
A gift that was my best friend.
That’s you.
You were a gift that cared.
“There needs to be more people in the world like you”, you’d say.
I would respond by saying “there needs to be more people in the world like you”.
The world is a lesser place without you.
You are the gift that is forever in our hearts
And we pay respects to you as the elder of our family.
Grandma, rest in peace.
I hope you get to see grandad again who I know you missed terribly.
Know you are missed terribly by all of us.
Rebecca
Granddaughter
Mrs Joyce Wilks Davey passed away aged 97 years on the 8 June 2023.
Compiled by Robyn (daughter)