Today I learnt that a dear friend had passed away. Nothing
is as final death. Not illness, not sickness, NOTHING.
I've known Joan since 2002, May actually. I was working at the
Austin Hospital at the time.
We seemed to hit it off straight away, age made no
difference, nor the fact that she was wheelchair bound and using a respirator to
survive. See Joan was a polio sufferer, yet suffer she did not.
She helped everyone, she had a smile for everyone. She was a
beautiful person.
She always put everyone else's needs above her own. In fact
when I saw her on Thursday, whilst she was an in-patient, she was more
concerned with getting out and about again, than worrying about her health. She
was worried people were missing her already (She'd been in hospital one week)
She would do the shopping for many patients, buying Tattslotto
tickets and generally just being useful for those that couldn't get out. Being
wheelchair bound made no difference to her.
Her lovely husband John, made much of this possible, John
was Joan's right hand man, literally.
Joan (and John) would regularly present a Sunday session on
Inner FM, Melbourne 96.5FM Much of the
music was requested by Joan and Johns' friends.
Some of Joans' Milestones
1937 - Contracted polio and lived in an Iron Lung for the next
30 years
1967 - (approx) released from the confines of the Iron Lung
1980 - (approx) Met John, her partner
1990 - debut on radio
2011 - Victorian Senior of the Year Awards - Veteran Community Award
Joan was an avid
listener to 3AW Melbourne radio, as well as a prolific poem writer, which were
often broadcast on 3AW radio.
I have previously
written about Joan (and Charlie) here My
Hero
Joan loved the
work she did, it may have been voluntary, but to Joan it was work and very
rewarding from what she always told me.
Joan, you will
live in my memory forever. I looked up at you. My problems seemed like baby
goldfish. Yours were the sharks of the world.
Thank-you for
being my friend.
Thinking of you
John at your great time of loss.
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