Joan Still the Life of the Party at 100

Joan Davey has worn many hats during her amazing life: professional musician, racehorse owner, socialite, mother and wife, charity fundraiser, and family matriarch.

Now the Brookfield woman has achieved a milestone as the latest inductee into the 100 club for centenarians, after celebrating her 100th birthday on March 24.

A resident of the Carinity Brookfield Green aged care community in Brisbane, she was born was born Enid Joan Davey in Macclesfield, South Australia in 1921.

Joan’s love of music led to a professional career as an accomplished pianist from an early age.

As a teenager during World War II, she fell in love and married her childhood sweetheart, Robert. They had two children and set about establishing a happy family home in Adelaide.

The couple had a successful electrical business and enjoyed the sport of horse racing, owning and racing trotters.

After Robert and Joan divorced, Joan re-married in the early 1960s. Her second husband Norman’s work saw the couple travel extensively abroad, living in countries such as Philippines and Singapore.

Always the socialite, Joan quickly established herself within various charities in Manila and became a champion for underprivileged children. She set her sights on creating a steady source of vital nutrition for children in need throughout the Philippines, with great success.

After Joan and Norman returned to Sydney in the early-1970s, Joan began volunteering at Royal South Sydney Hospital and soon filled a vacant position as chief fundraising officer, raising money for a new rehabilitation centre. Leaning on her social skills, Joan was a favourite of many high-profile notable Australians who supported her fundraising efforts for the hospital.

Joan enjoyed this role immensely and created a number of prestigious events that supported the building of one of Australia’s leading rehabilitation centres.

Following Norman’s sudden passing, Joan moved to Queensland to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren, living with them on a thoroughbred stud on the Gold Coast for several years before relocating to Brisbane.

At the age of 80, Joan met a charming Scottish man called Daniel with whom she spent 14 years before his passing. For four years the couple lived happily together at Carinity Brookfield Green, where Joan continues to reside.

Joan is a much-loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother to over 18 descendants.

She is the second Carinity Brookfield Green resident to celebrate her 100th birthday this year, after Winifred Tazey joined the Carinity 100 Club in January.

Find out more about Carinity Aged Care.