Joyce Doreen - known as Joy

In early 1939 Joy married Arthur James Edward COTSWORTH (Jim), a metal worker of Footscray, and had two children, Arthur and Sandra Joy.

Leslie Milo does not appear to have announced the marriage of Joyce in the Victorian papers. In 1954 the family owned and ran the Shepparton Guest House, 108 Nixon Street, Shepparton, Victoria 3630, a town in the north of the state. The family were affluent enough to send Sandra to boarding school, described in 1950 as Mansfield Ladies College, in 1951 as Sacred Heart College and in 1954 Convent of Mercy, Mansfield. Mansfield, Victoria, is some 124km from Shepparton. By 11 August 1967 Joy had divorced Jim and taken the name Mrs DRURY. (Source: Trove)

At sometime before 1964 Jim died in Brunswick, Victoria.

The Electoral Roll records a Joyce Doreen DRURY living at:

• 1968 1628 Drury, Joyce Doreen, 15 Flora street, hd - Mascot sub-district of Kingsford-Smith, NSW

until 1972 and then with her new husband

• 1972 1504 Drury, Joyce Doreen, 15 Flora street, hd - Mascot sub-district of Kingsford-Smith, NSW
• 1972 1504 Drury, Frederick Thomas, 15 Flora street, butcher - Mascot sub-district of Kingsford-Smith, NSW
• 1977 1281 Drury, Joyce Doreen, 109 Pit Town Rd, supr - Kenthurst 2154 sub-district of Mitchell, NSW
• 1977 1279 Drury, Frederick Thomas, 109 Pit Town Rd, butcher - Kenthurst 2154 sub-district of Mitchell, NSW
• 1977 6254 Drury, Joyce Doreen, Bushgrove Hotel, Bushgrove 2460, housekeeper - Maclean sub-district of Cowper, NSW
• 1977 6253 Drury, Frederick Thomas, Bushgrove Hotel, Bushgrove 2460, publican Maclean sub-district of Cowper, NSW
• 1980 12273 Drury, Joyce Doreen, Metropolitan Hotel, Orange, hd - Orange sub-district of Calare, NSW
• 1980 12274 Drury, Frederick Thomas, Metropolitan Hotel, Orange, publican - Orange sub-district of Calare, NSW

Joy's sister, Gladys Lesley worked at the same hotels

• 1977 6269 Forsyth, Gladys Lesley, Brushgrove Hotel, Brushgrove (2460), maid - Maclean sub-district of Cowper, NSW
• 1980 12323 Forsyth, Gladys Lesley, Metropolitan Hotel, Orange, barmaid - Orange sub- district of Clare, NSW
• 1980 2409 Forsyth, Gladys Lesley, Brushgrove Hotel, Brushgrove, maid - Maclean sub- district of Cowper, (Hunter Valley) NSW

In retirement Joy moved to the Gold Coast and lived with her sister Joan and died from emphysema about 1995. It is believed that Jim COTSWORTH, remarried and lived in the Gold Coast, Qld.

1821info9e, sheet 2

Sandra Joy COTSWORTH

Joy Doreen and Jim's daughter Sandra Joy was born between 1943 and 1946. Sandra, once of Shepparton, Victoria, died in tragic circumstances.

On Friday 11 August 1967 The Canberra Times reported on page 6, the inquest into the death of Sandra Joy HARRISON also known as Sandra Joy KINKAID and Harold Edward RICHARDSON, also known as William Harold KINKAID, Bradley James BARRIE-GOVIS, a hillbilly country Western entertainer known as Billy Starlight, whose successful recording career started with Phillips in late 1953. RICHARDSON, under the name KINKADE had married Sandra Joy COTSWORTH at St. Peter's Church, Surry Hill, Sydney on 22 June 1963. Right: Billy Starlight

/td>

The Coroner decided that Harold died (NSW BMD 27463/1967) from self administered tablets of bromine and barbaric acid poisoning on or about 8 December 1966. Richardson's body was found by a walker on 13 January 1967. Sandra died (NSW BMD 3348/1967) from a bullet wound to the head, aged 20, in unknown circumstances around about 18 December 1963 and was later buried by her husband at Little Badja near Countgany, New South Wales. It was impossible to decide under what circumstances Sandra had met her death, but the incident played on RICHARDSON's mind and he returned to her grave to commit suicide. The court was told that RICHARDSON had continued to send letters to Sandra's mother, Mrs Drury, to give the impression she was still alive. RICHARDSON had been in a psychiatric ward at Albert Park, Melbourne between April and June 1966.

As a youth RICHARDSON had been before the magistrates charged with larceny and house breaking. He was put on a good behaviour bond of £20 for two years and on 'probation' for one year. On 22 January 1942, RICHARDSON was sentenced to one month imprisonment for the theft of a £2 rifle from his employer. In a statement RICHARDSON said that his marriage 'some time ago had not turned out well'. On both occasions he was employed as a painter.

His records are believed to include:

• My Blue Eyed Darling of the Darling Downs;
• I'll Throw a Lasso Round Your Heart;
• Open the Throttle Mr. Engine Driver;
• I Like Western Music;
• I'm Growing Older Now;
• Roses and Crinolines;
• Train Whistle Blowing and many more.

All classified as Timeless Vintage Australian Country.

1821info9e, sheet 4

Gladys Lesley

Gladys FORSYTH was a member of the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) The Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS) grew out of the volunteer Red Cross and St John Ambulance Voluntary Aid Detachments (known as the VADs). From December 1942 nearly 8,500 AAMWS served as nurses, nursing aides, and technicians tending sick and wounded soldiers in the Middle East, New Guinea, and Australia. The AAMWS served alongside army nursing sisters in hospitals. Her military record, catalogued as FORSYTH GLADYS LESLEY : Service Number - V504167 : Date of birth - 25 Mar 1923 : Place of birth - WANGARATTA VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE VIC : Next of Kin - FORSYTH LESLIE, has yet to be examined at the National Archives of Australia, but could be purchased for A$32. (Accessed 20 March 2016) The military record, catalogued as FALLA RONALD LAWRENCE: Service Number - VX139949 : Date of birth - 30 Dec 1921 : Place of birth - ALTONA VIC : Place of enlistment - PORT MORESBY PAPUA : Next of Kin - FALLA GLADYS, has yet to be examined at the National Archives of Australia, but could be purchased for A$32. (Accessed 20 March 2016) It is assumed N.G. indicates service in New Guinea. Whilst living with her parents Mrs Falla sustained abrasions when she was struck by a car whilst riding her bicycle on Saturday 24 May 1950. The driver of the car was James Short of 9 Hutchinson St., Sunshine. Source: WOMAN CYCLIST INJURED (1952, May 30) Sunshine Advocate, p.1 (Accessed: 31 August 2016)

The Electoral Roll records the married Gladys Lesley at first living with Leslie and Beatrice at:

• 1949 1809 Falla, Gladys Lesley, 125 Morris Street, hd - Lalor sub-district of Sunshine, Victoria
• 1949 1810 Falla, Ronald Lawrence, 125 Morris Street, machinist - Lalor sub-district of Sunshine, Victoria

until 1954 when Gladys and Ronald are recorded as separate people:

1821info9e, sheet 4

• 1963 4878 Falla, Gladys Lesley, Ormond ave, hd - Lalor sub-district of Sunshine, Victoria
• 1972 1750 Falla, Ronald Lawrence, 66 Church Street, Newcastle, 2300 NSW, carpenter

Later Gladys joined her eldest sister, working in their hotels:

• 1977 6269 Forsyth, Gladys Lesley, Brushgrove Hotel, Brushgrove (2460), maid - Maclean sub-district of Cowper, (Hunter Valley) NSW
• 1980 12323 Forsyth, Gladys Lesley, Metropolitan Hotel, Orange, barmaid - Orange sub- district of Clare, NSW
• 1980 2409 Forsyth, Gladys Lesley, Brushgrove Hotel, Brushgrove, maid - Maclean sub- district of Cowper, (Hunter Valley) NSW

Hoverbox Photo Gallery - The Metropolitan Hotel, Orange - Author: November 2015

Gladys died in Cairns at the home of her daughter Diane on 13 November 2006 with emphysema. Right: Gladys Forsyth's funeral card

1821info9e, sheet 5

Left: St John's Church, Footscray where Gladys and Joan were married

Gladys's' daughter Diane

Diane lived in Cairns, Queensland, where she was a left-wing Division 7 councillor, with a responsibility for health, for many years. She was due for re-election in April 2014.

1821info9e, sheet 6

Joan Milner - who was given an old family name from Caleb's mother-in-law

On Friday 01 December 1944 the Sunshine Advocate announced the engagement of Joan, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs LM Forsythe (sic) to Ricky (US Army), second son of Mr and Mrs HL Evans, East Main St., New London, Ohio, USA. East Main Street is now, and probably was the same street of detached, two storey timber lapped buildings set in large, fenceless grounds. On 01 September 1945 at Footscray, Victoria, Joan Milner married Richard (Dick) Shoemaker EVANS who was born in Huron County, Ohio. After a family party, telegrams, beautiful gifts and speeches at Morris Street. On Saturday 29 June Joan, sailing on the Monterey, left Sunshine to join her husband in New London, Ohio. On 04 October 1946 the Sunshine Advocate reported that Mrs Dick Evans was the 'honoured guest [...] at the home of Dr and Mrs JD Brandish, New London, Ohio, USA, to welcome her to America. Mrs Evans is New London's only war bride, arriving from Australia only recently. Mr and Mrs Evans were the recipients of a liberal purse as a mark of esteem from the gathering.' New London is 20km from the US Civil War battle site of Shiloh. It is believed the couple first lived in Sandusky, on the shores of Lake Erie, in Ohio, where her Social Security Number was issued before 1951. Sandusky is very close to New London, Huron County, where Richard was born. (Source: rootsweb) and 55km from New London. On Friday 19 November 1948, the Sunshine Advocate reported, under the heading SUNSHINE GIRL WELCOMED IN AMERICA, Mrs Dick Evans (née Forsyth) arrived home by plane on November 12th after an absence of 2½ years. Mrs Evans was accompanied by her infant son, Ricky Steven, and will remain in Australia for six months, with her father, Mr Les Forsyth, 125 Morris St., Sunshine. (Source: Trove) Later the couple moved to California. Ancestry/US Social Security Death Index suggests that Joan last address was 90630 Cypress, Orange, California. This is very closed to Anaheim, California, where Richard EVANS died. Joan moved to the Gold Coast and lived with her sister Joy, and also died from emphysema. Source: Trove: FORSYTHE—EVANS. (1945, September 7). Sunshine Advocate, p. 1. (Accessed: 20 March 2016)

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass		Version A5 Updated 15 September 2021