20 June, 2022

Vale Joan Broadhurst

It is with regret that we acknowledge the passing of a much respected and loved member, Joan Broadhurst. 

Joan was born and raised in Brunswick, and was the apple of her father’s eye.  She was only 11 when her father passed away.

Joan was 14 when she met Noel Broadhurst in 1952, although she told him she was 16, when he took her home on the back of his motor bike.  She had a job as a telephonist with the PMG, and they kept company from that day, eventually marrying on 16 June 1956, when the archaic laws of the day dictated that married women were not permitted to work for the Post Master General.  Joan and Noel moved to Morwell where they made home for 8 years, however, Joan was uncomfortable with Noel’s shiftwork, and living in the bush, so in 1964 they came back to Melbourne, and Joan secured a job with Paul’s Icecream. 

In 1978 she joined Kingsbury Bowling Club, making the transition from ten pin bowling, a sport in which she excelled and was held in high regard, and in which she was a prolific award winner, notching up many trophies complementing her prowess.  On one occasion she scored 296 out of a possible 300.

Joan and Noel separated in 1995, however, love can be very strong and in 1997 they lived together again, buying a house in Yallambie in 1998, and re-marrying in 1999.  They both joined Rosanna Bowling Club around that time.

Joan loved her lawn bowls and took to the sport with the same passion she had in her ten pin days.  She was ecstatic in being in the Women’s Only Division Two Midweek Pennant Premiersip team in the 2013 – 14 season.  Her rink boasted the likes of Wilma Paine, Gwenda Bail and Ethel Taylor.  All in all Joan played 268 pennant games for Rosanna, 243 midweek and 25 weekend games.  She and Noel ran the Scroungers social bowls on a Sunday afternoon for a few seasons.

Rest in peace, Joan.