Joyce Faunce celebrated her 95th birthday surrounded by friends and fellow swimmers when members from the Noosa Master Swimmers Club threw Joyce a party to remember.
The club members and Joyce’s friends, some travelling from France for the event, gathered at the RACV Resort for a luncheon to celebrate the milestone birthday.
Joyce is admired by many having represented England in the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney at just 17 years old, however her dream of attending the Olympic Games was put on hold after the declaration of World War II.
Joyce went on to marry in 1943 and raise three children. In 1957 Joyce and her family immigrated to Australia, settling in Sydney initially, and 40 years later relocated to Noosa.
With swimming still on Joyce’s mind, she attended the opening of the Noosa Aquatic Centre on 1 May 1999, and was inspired to join the Noosa Masters Swim Club and soon established several national records for freestyle and backstroke in her age group as well as becoming the club’s secretary at the age of 80.
