Joyce Baldock Illawarra

Joyce joined Dragons Abreast Illawarra (DAi) in August 2011.

Joyce was beautiful, inspiring, loving and kind. She was an exceptional lady who had such good qualities that we all admired and aspired to. She would come to paddling and greet everyone with her beautiful smile and some friendly words. While looking through some photos of our many regattas that she attended – the one thing that can be seen again and again – is Joyce – with her helping hands, her willingness to get involved and her enthusiasm to enjoy life and paddle with the team. Many a time, Don, her husband, would join us at the regattas to support us – always with his chair, packed lunch and newspaper!

We also appreciated having Joyce and Don at our many fundraising BBQ’s – always willing to help out whenever needed. The club certainly won’t be the same without her.

And in case she hadn’t enough to do with her family and other sporting / keep fit activities, Joyce held an important role within the main IDBC Club too, and that was Welfare Officer – Joyce was the perfect choice for this. Whenever anyone was ill or out of action, Joyce would be there sending messages of love, or flowers and checking if there was anything that we could do.

Those of us that attended the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission’s Regatta in Florence, Italy in July 2018, took our memories of Joyce with us when the Flowers on the Water ceremony took place.

Joyce has left us with special memories, filled especially with her courageous battle to the end, her hope and joy of life.

We acknowledge her family’s loss and rejoice in having the privilege of having spent time with her.

She now joins the other Dragons Abreast Angels