There is a wonderful tribute to Mrs Joy Haynes in this week’s North West Telegraph. Mrs Haynes as she was known to me, lived on Moore Street as did our family. During the heady days of the 1970’s there were four Councillors who resided on Moore Street. There was Mrs Haynes’ husband Jack, my father Colin Matheson, Arnold Carter who is still a Councillor living on Moore Street, and Ike Holbrow. Between them they had more than 20 children.
It was with great fondness that I read the article about Mrs Haynes which captured part of the many joys of living and growing up in Port Hedland. Here are some of the quotes from the article:
Mrs Haynes with the Harbour Master Peter Blenkinsopp
Joyce Blance O’Brien was born on 6 April 1922. She joined the Air Force as an instrument mechanic during WWII. In 1946 Joy married Jack Haynes who she had knowned since her childhood. They moved to Port Hedland in 1963. She made the most of Port Hedland’s opportunities being a charter member of Soroptimist International of Port Hedland, an original committee member of the Hedland Tourist Bureau, local business owner and town socialite. She was referred to as “a pillar of the Hedland community”.
Mrs Haynes ran the kiosk at the Port Hedland swimming pool for six years in the 1970s. One of my favourite foods from the kiosk was her roast chicken. She also had a handcraft company which evolved from tiny beginnings in the Richardson Forum to larger premises at Hedland Arcade.
Mrs Haynes called Port Hedland “paradise” and defended it as the best place to be.
Joyce Blance O’Brien passed away on 30 December 2011. RIP.
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