30 May 2025

A Century of Love, Family and Adventure

There was a very special celebration recently at Cooinda Aged Care in Gympie – our lovely resident Joyce Sullivan turned 100!

Born on 4 April 1925 in Mont Albert, Melbourne, Joyce grew up with three older brothers and a younger sister. 

She remembers a happy childhood filled with family, backyard games and strong connections – the beginnings of a life filled with love and adventure.

Over the years, Joyce has lived a full and adventurous life. Back in the 1960s, she and her husband Geoff packed their bags and took a year long trip to the UK by ship. They spent time travelling around Europe visiting Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland and Italy. Joyce loved exploring new places, and that sense of adventure stayed with her. They also travelled right around Australia and visited places like New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Family has always been the heart of Joyce’s world. She and Geoff raised two daughters, Wendy and Vickie, and today Joyce is surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She’s a proud matriarch, and her love and care shine through every generation.

Moving to Gympie

After Geoff passed away, Joyce moved to Gympie to live with her daughter Vickie. She had her own little granny flat out the back and loved having a swimming pool to enjoy – something she’d always wanted. In 2020, just before COVID hit, Joyce moved to Cooinda. It was a tough time with lockdowns and visiting rules, but Joyce took it all in her stride. 

She’s always had a quiet strength and a positive outlook, and the team at Cooinda were right there beside her through it all.

A life full of love

As she’s gotten older and faced some health challenges, Joyce says her faith has helped her stay strong. She finds peace in prayer and knows she’s never truly alone.

Looking back now, she’s seen a lot of change in the world, but one thing that’s never changed is the love she gives to the people around her.

Happy 100th Joyce!