DARWIN, Joan Margaret (née Halliday)

5 tributes Leave your tribute

1. We will miss you twinkle

   Will Darwin April 8 2017 6:26 pm

2. We loved Aunty Joan. She had a huge heart. She was warm and loving and always interested in everything our family was doing. Our children have wonderful memories of holidays spent on the farm, especially David. She will be missed.
   Alison Halliday

   Allie Halliday April 10 2017 1:47 pm

3. Fond memories of a long time friend of our family. Will always be remembered for her keen interest in our family activities in Queensland. Thinking of you all during this sad time.
   Bev & Barry Higgins & family.

   B Higgins April 12 2017 11:37 pm

4. I was staying at the farm on my 9th birthday. On that morning, Joan gave me a pillow case of presents of things she’d bought and things my parents had left with her. She said I could open one present every hour. I followed her around all day, driving to other towns, farms. I opened a present every hour and it was one of the best birthdays ever. Now on my wife’s birthday, I give her a pillow case of presents and tell her to open one every hour. Got the idea off Joan.
   She laughed a lot. I remember Joan making fun of Christopher at mealtimes, pointing out that when he spilled food on the table, he’d just shift his plate over it instead of cleaning it up.
   She was a great gift giver. For my birthdays she used to send me books (usually by Australian authors and usually very good). I loved them. Now most of what I do is about books.
   Joan taught me how to ride a horse. And a motorbike. And a cow at one point.
   I remember even though we were kids, Joan always treated me and my sister like we were real people. We’ll miss her.

   David Halliday April 12 2017 11:53 pm

5. My Aunty Joan memories – Dave Halliday

   I spent my 9th birthday at the farm.
   (Fun note: The nights at Kerridale were pitch black, so I had a little nightlight. Chris woke up one night and thought the house was on fire. On my birthday card, he wrote “Shut off the light mate you’re not eight.”)
   On the morning of my birthday Joan gave me a pillow case of presents of things she’d bought and my parents had left with her. She said I could open one present every hour. I followed her around all day, driving to other towns, farms. Opened a present every hour and it was one of the best birthdays ever. Sometimes on my wife’s birthday, I give her a pillow case of presents and tell her to open one every hour.
   She was a great gift giver. For my birthdays she used to send me books (usually by Australian authors and usually very good). This fostered my love of books. Now everything I do is about books.
   She sent Ros a ‘Girlfriend magazine’ diary that Ros thought was the coolest.
   She and Col kept a fridge permanently stocked with a limitless supply of Sprite and Fanta.
   And a polystyrene centrepiece on the dining table covered in Minties. I remember getting Iced Chocolate with her in Camperdown. And Joan didn’t want to buy us icecream unless it was this sort of lemon Cornetto thing.
   She cooked roasts and put sugar in the peas to make them extra sweet.
   I remember Joan making fun of Christopher at mealtimes, pointing out that when he spilled food on the table, he’d just shift his plate over it instead of cleaning it up.
   Even though we were kids, she always treated us like real people. She gave me jobs to do like ride around on the motorbike every morning to go feed the horses.
   She introduced us to some movies. On the bean bags on the carpeted floor of the house we watched Gremlins. And she introduced us to Star Wars for the first time. She played games on Nintendo too. Duck Hunt I remember being the game that got played.
   She drove me to a field full of cows (maybe pelican point?). One loped straight up to her and began sucking on her hand. She said it was because she’d raised it, because it was born too small or something. Anyway, she plonked me on its back and I rode it around for a bit.
   She taught me how to ride a horse. Old and young. Ros and I used to ride Kickidee(? ) Also she took me to visit a horse called Goldie that looked about a hundred. She plonked me on his back and I rode around for a bit. She said something to the effect of it being the most Goldie had moved in years.
   She used to laugh at my long fringe and the way I’d flick it out of my eyes.
   I remember giving honey toast to Wonks the Jack Russel in the morning.

   David Halliday April 13 2017 2:37 pm