Adelene Village is thrilled to celebrate a milestone birthday for one of its most cherished residents, Joyce Corbett.
On April 30, Joyce will turn 100 years old, marking a century filled with remarkable experiences, unwavering dedication to family and a lifelong passion for giving back to the community.
Born and raised in Enfield, Joyce is the second of four sisters.
Her journey began with a strong foundation in family life, filled with cherished memories.
At the young age of 14, Joyce entered the workforce at Angus & Robertson, starting in the mail order department.
Her dedication and talent were recognised, leading her to become a bookkeeper before ultimately leaving the company to start a family.
She married her beloved husband, Bern, shortly before her 22nd birthday and together they built a loving family, welcoming three children – John, Kerry and Brett.
After their children were grown, Joyce and Bern embarked on a new chapter, moving to Narara on Joyce’s 60th birthday.
This move opened doors for even greater community involvement with Joyce joining the Narara Red Cross, quickly rising through the ranks, becoming the esteemed treasurer for an impressive 17 years.
Her service continued when she discovered a newfound passion for lawn bowls and she is still an active member of Gosford City Women’s Bowling Club.
Club members held a surprise birthday party for Joyce last Tuesday where 45 members gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday with her by having a game of bowls and a lunch after.
In 2001, Joyce and Bern decided to transition to retirement living.
After exploring various villages, they found their perfect match in Adelene Village at Wyoming.
This decision proved to be a wise one, fostering a vibrant new chapter in their lives.
Joyce has always embraced the opportunity to learn new skills and in her 50s, she surprised everyone by taking up cake decorating.
“You’re never too old to learn,” she said.
“I loved making special birthday cakes for my family.”
Her love of learning continued well into her 80s when she began knitting dolls to donate to charity.
These heartfelt creations brought joy not only to recipients but also to the Adelene Village staff, many of whom proudly gifted them to their grandchildren.
Joyce’s artistic expression extends beyond knitting and she finds solace and inspiration in singing and poetry.
Joining the Sing Australia group 13 years ago became a cherished weekly activity, while her love for the written word continues to blossom with the creation of beautiful poems capturing life’s precious moments.
Joyce’s commitment to volunteering extended to her new home at Adelene Village.
She served on the activities committee, residents’ committee and even the board of directors.
“I found it such a pleasure to organise events and outings for the village, seeing the joy it brought to my fellow residents,” she said.
One of the factors that initially attracted Joyce and Bern to Adelene Village was the proximity to residential care.
This thoughtful consideration proved invaluable when Bern required additional care in his later years.
He moved to Rumbalara House, the adjacent facility, allowing them to spend precious time together despite his health challenges.
“We shared over 66 years of marriage before Bern passed away,” Joyce said.
“Not a day goes by where I don’t miss him. I’m so thankful he could move into the facility next door so I could be with him as much as possible.”