Joyce celebrates 100th birthday in style

Renowned gardener, show cook and lifelong farmer, Joyce Bowles, celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday, October 17. 

Although she acknowledged it was “rather a big thing”, a very humble Joyce played down the occasion. 

“It’s just another day really,” she said. 

The centenarian was joined by friends and family, at Lakeside Living Care Community, for an afternoon tea on her special day. Friends and family arrived from across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, while cards and flowers filled Joyce's room. Grampians Health Edenhope staff ensured her hair was set, make up done and her favourite outfit ready for the big day. 

“Mum has never liked fanfare, but she has always loved fashion and to look nice,” daughter, Wendy Crossman said. “She is very very humble, I don’t know if we could ever do her justice.” 

True to her daughter’s words, Joyce brushed off questions about achievements or legacies. 

“I haven’t done much and I don’t have any secret for how I came to grow so old,” she said. 

To the contrary, Joyce is renowned for her acres of immaculate garden, show-stopping baked goods and intricate needle-work. Among a list of awards was the ‘Aggregator of the Hall’ prize at Goroke show, in recognition of her cooking, crochet, jams and preserves, sewing and flower exhibits. She also won the Royal Garden Competition and hosted several well-attended open days in her garden, to raise money for the Cancer Council. 

“She was a very passionate gardener, it was absolutely massive,” Wendy said of her mother. “She was also an amazing show cook; we kids loved getting the off-cuts from her honey rolls and ginger fluffs. And as for dress-making, she was very clever and made so many clothes for us without even using a pattern.” 

Joyce was born in Edenhope in 1925 and, along with two brothers, was raised among sheep and cattle on the family’s Ullswater farm. 

Both of Joyce’s brothers went to war and she finished school after Grade 5, during “hard times”. 

Joyce was very close with her father, who she worked with on the farm until she met her husband, Alf Bowles, at 20 years old. Alf and Joyce ran a farm near Goroke, where they also had four children and were heavily involved in community life. Among Joyce's list of commitments were the mother’s club, hall committee, show committee and church guild; she also played tennis and attended many balls and dances. 

Even after retiring into Horsham, Joyce maintained an impressive garden and enjoyed a rich social life; some of her "happiest memories" were in Horsham, with Alf. 

Although she feels some pride about reaching her 100th birthday, Joyce said there was a cruelty in old age. 

“I have lost a lot of friends, and I lost my daughter and a grandson,” she said. “The best times in my life and my main memory is of Alf and I being together; losing him was the worst part of life, I think.” 

Joyce now has 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, with her first great-great-grandchild expected next month. 

Although she has lost her eye-sight, Joyce still enjoys regular bus trips with Lakeside Living peers. 

“I love going on these trips we have, just to get out in the fresh air and mix with a few people,” she said. 

A Geelong football fan, Joyce enjoyed listening to the Grand Final but was obviously “very disappointed” by the outcome. 

She was “not fussed” about receiving a card from the King, to acknowledge her 100th birthday; the cards from friends and family meant much more. 

As for a 100th birthday present, Joyce has a pragmatic approach. 

“What can you give a 100-year-old woman?” she joked. “The presence of being here with me is all I want; it means a lot.” 

Lakeside Living staff members, along with the whole team at Grampians Health Edenhope, wish Joyce a joy-filled 100th milestone birthday.