Well Joan you’re just out of Newstead, at Strangways I know. How long have you lived there?
I’ve lived there for 59 years, ever since I got married. I grew up in Clydesdale which is the next little village up the road.
So you must know the area pretty well?
Yes I do. Well, I thought I did until I helped write the book -The history of Strangways – and then I realised that there was a lot more to learn.
Ah. Well history is something you’re pretty passionate about. In fact you’re very involved with the local historical society. Can you tell me a bit about that?
It’s the Newstead and District Historical Society and that covers the whole area that the old Newstead Shire covered before we amalgamated with Castlemaine.
What’s your role there?
I’m the secretary.
So that keeps you pretty busy?
Yes, it does.
What does that role involve?
Well as secretary I get most of the enquiries for research and I’m the research officer as well.
You obviously love your research.
I do… All the knowledge that there is there and if we don’t do something about it, when my generation goes it will be gone. Lost.
I bet there are some fascinating personal stories tucked away in the area’s past.
Yes. There are.
Beyond that, Joan, do you have any other particular involvements in the community?
I’m the secretary of the fire brigade auxiliary as well. I’m one of the founding members. I’ve been there 41 years (laughs).
It’s good because we can help the community. It’s giving back to the community. We raise money. We now cater. The main thing we probably do is cater for funerals.
But you could also cater for parties as a fundraiser?
Yes. We do. And we used to run bi-monthly dances for about twenty years. We raised a lot of money. We’re just about to hand over $50,000 to the CFA for the new tanker. Next month. There’s a lot of other money that we’ve raised that we’ve handed on for equipment… and just all the things That’s pretty impressive, Joan. Any other aspects of the community keeping you busy?
I’m on the Clydesdale Hall Committee of Management. I have been compiling a history of Clydesdale as well. COVID interrupted but it’s almost finished.
Well Joan, can you tell me a bit about your working life?
I was a nurse. I left school when I was 16 and then started work at Maldon hospital in 1957. To start off with it was as a nurse aid but then I eventually qualified as a state enrolled nurse. I was there until 1965 and I was married by then and I left to have my children. I had three kids and when the kids were old enough to go to school I went back part time and I use to work night duty. All up I was there for 35 years. I got breast cancer and I had to leave then because I had to have chemo.
But you’ve obviously smashed that?
Yeh. But it was really sad because I did really love the patients. It was a good time. Made lots of friends. Good friends.
OK, change of direction now Joan. What are you reading at the moment?
I’m just about finished reading Nurse Blake’s War. It’s a story about an Australian girl who went to the First World War. Her story is written from her diaries. Apparently she was the only Australian nurse killed in that first war.
And music, Joan. What is your preferred musical genre of choice?
I like most music. But I don’t like heavy metal.
Do you have any philosophies by which you like to lead life?
Yes. My grandmother always told me that if something was worth doing at all it’s worth doing well. And – you’re never too old to learn.
Good one. OK, Any pet peeves?
Yes. People that are cruel to animals.
Three dream dinner guests?
My old school friend of over 60 years, Marlene Bird, and also the old school friend who shared my cancer journey with me, Judy Wheelan, and one of my best friends who I’ve just lost recently – Wilma Allan.
So finally then Joan, what do you enjoy most about where you live?
Well I like the lifestyle. It’s quiet. I like to go on holidays but it’s lovely to come back to Strangways. The people are nice. It’s a supportive community. It’s a good community to live in. I don’t want to live anywhere else.