Vale: Joan Small
Above: Joan reciting some of her dad's poetry at my Jack’s Café & Bar
The Gold Coast has lost an inspirational, entertaining and charming woman - and good friend to many - with the death of Joan Small from a lingering and debilitating illness on Friday, Mar 3, 2017
Author, poet, teacher, a liver and lover of life, Joan quickly integrated into the Gold Coast community – particularly with the SWAP business group, International Toastmasters and the Gold Coast Writers Association - after shifting here from the Northern Territory in 2001.
She was a foundation member of Poetry in Paradise in 2004, reciting her work at monthly meetings until she became too ill to attend. Joan generously hosted the Poetry in Paradise internet presence via her own website, joansmallpoetryandbooks.com, where you can explore the breadth of her work and influence.
Joan was born in Western Australia, but spent most of her life in the Northern Territory, living in the small town of Tennant Creek where she married and raised her three sons. Her father, Dick Turner, was a renowned poet particularly in bush circles, with poems published in rural and regional newspapers including The North Queensland Register.
Living in the Australian outback didn't limit Joan, who was actively involved in the community as well as moving through different careers of teaching, politics, tourism, the nutrition industry, and her own businesses.
She was a finalist in the prestigious Telstra Business Woman of the Year awards, and was made a Life Member of the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association and Battery Hill Mining Centre.
Joan held leadership roles in organisations such as the Business and Professional Women's Association, Life Education Centres, Girl Guides, The Nursing Mothers Assn of Australia (Now the Australian Breastfeeding Association).
Fittingly, a service to commemorate Joan’s life with be held on International Women’s Day, Wednesday March 8, 9.30 am at The Braeside Chapel, 251 Gooding Drive Merrimac.
The Gold Coast has lost an inspirational, entertaining and charming woman - and good friend to many - with the death of Joan Small from a lingering and debilitating illness on Friday, Mar 3, 2017
Author, poet, teacher, a liver and lover of life, Joan quickly integrated into the Gold Coast community – particularly with the SWAP business group, International Toastmasters and the Gold Coast Writers Association - after shifting here from the Northern Territory in 2001.
She was a foundation member of Poetry in Paradise in 2004, reciting her work at monthly meetings until she became too ill to attend. Joan generously hosted the Poetry in Paradise internet presence via her own website, joansmallpoetryandbooks.com, where you can explore the breadth of her work and influence.
Joan was born in Western Australia, but spent most of her life in the Northern Territory, living in the small town of Tennant Creek where she married and raised her three sons. Her father, Dick Turner, was a renowned poet particularly in bush circles, with poems published in rural and regional newspapers including The North Queensland Register.
Living in the Australian outback didn't limit Joan, who was actively involved in the community as well as moving through different careers of teaching, politics, tourism, the nutrition industry, and her own businesses.
She was a finalist in the prestigious Telstra Business Woman of the Year awards, and was made a Life Member of the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association and Battery Hill Mining Centre.
Joan held leadership roles in organisations such as the Business and Professional Women's Association, Life Education Centres, Girl Guides, The Nursing Mothers Assn of Australia (Now the Australian Breastfeeding Association).
Fittingly, a service to commemorate Joan’s life with be held on International Women’s Day, Wednesday March 8, 9.30 am at The Braeside Chapel, 251 Gooding Drive Merrimac.
