Celebrating a community icon

Wisdom, kindness and love.

That is the three words Joy Sneath’s family decided best encapsulated their much loved sibling, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother as they celebrated her 100th birthday last week.

The Sneath family matriarch shares her birthday with the late, great Sir Donald Bradman – she was born Alice Joyce Sneath on August 27, 1924, at Robe and one of five girls as well as three brothers.

Safe to say the moniker ‘Joy’ is what she has been known as for most of her life and is a reflection of just what she has brought to everyone who has crossed her path.

Her childhood was spent at Robe where she was educated to the age of 14 years, she then worked at her Nana’s as a house maid where she would milk the cow, do household chores and crank the car for them.

Then came Leslie Harrold Sneath (Bronco) and their love story began, marrying and living in Adelaide for a brief time and when Bronco was delisted from the Air Force they returned to Robe and the fishing industry.

In 1949 they made the move to Port Mac Donnell with Jillian and Geoffrey as toddlers, from there along came Cheryl, Robert, Vivienne and Trevor.

The family has multiplied through generations with 17 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.

“Throughout the years Mum has been a wonderful selfless person who has shown unconditionally love to all,” Jillian said. “Her caring nature is something that she should be proud of.”

Joy could always be relied upon to be there for anyone at anytime and food was her language of love, inviting people to tea, cooking for family friend Gill everty night for many years, and always checking on neighbours.

“If I called down to see Mum and she was not home I always knew she was down at Thelly’s or in visiting Mrs Wilke,” Jillian said.

And that care for others was also reflected in her community involvement – she was involved in Meals on Wheels for 25 years, Red Cross for 30 years and she is a Port Mac Donnell Football Club Life Member.

Joy worked picking crayfish at Fishbrook, with a group of ladies that had a lotto ticket religiously every week for years, but with not much luck.

“She had many friends throughout the years and dedicated her years to caring and looking after others.,” Jillian said.

And if all that wasn’t enough she was also kept busy with church, gardening, family BBQs, golf, cooking, knitting making clothes and toys for the family, cards and game days, lunches with friends, there was never a time that she sat still.

She found a passion for travelling and did many bus trips visiting Tasmania, New Zealand, Western Australia, Alice Springs, Darwin, Queensland, Eden and the Gold Coast.

Speaking at the family celebration, Jillian has these heartfelt words to share.

“Mum, your resilience and strength have been a guiding light for our families. As we look back on the century of memories, we are in awe of the legacy you have created. You have waited all these years for that Letter from the Queen…. but Charles will have to do.

“Your laughter, stories and your presences has shaped us into who we are today.

“Mum you are the heart and soul of our family, and we are forever grateful for the love you have given us, a life well lived, and a lady loved by all.”