Lover of all things Drouin dies aged 101
A love for all things Drouin and lending a helping hand to others were the hallmarks of Joyce Monaghan who died on April 24 aged 101.
Mrs Monaghan lived at Drouin from 1948 to until after her 100th birthday. spending that last 22 months in the care of Tarago Views nursing home at Neerim South.
She and her husband Dan, who died in 1988, were equal partners in their marriage sharing all aspects of family and business decisions.
They played a big role in Drouin's development and although the term "one-eyed supporter" usually applies to sporting teams their daughter Laraine said in her mother's case the term applied to all things Drouin.
Dan and Joyce Monaghan bought property, built shops and houses and developed small housing estates across Gippsland and in many parts of Drouin.
They had many discussions with the then Buln Buln Shire council in the 1960s opposing suggestions that Drouin become a heavy industrial town rather than be promoted as a leafy residential haven.
The first 20 years of Mrs Monaghan's life that were dominated by the aftermath of World War 1, the Great Depression, epidemics and pandemics formed her core belief of helping people in need.
From the early 1970s to the 1990s she helped many young couples with personal loans to make the deposits for their first homes.
Mr and Mrs Monaghan also backed the commercial area of Drouin, buying or building shops and helping new businesses become established.
Mrs Monaghan's support for the town extended to only shopping in the town - if she couldn't get what she wanted in Drouin she went without, according to Laraine - and when looking for a tradesman would go out of her way to find a local that was just starting out or battling.
Like many women of her generation when she was in her 80s she would shuffle to the shopping centre to pay bills, collect mail, buy some odds and ends and chat with people she met along the way.
It wasn't until Mrs Monaghan reached 90 that she was unable to walk to the shops but Drouin then came to her aid.
There were home deliveries by the supermarket and chemist and home visits from her hairdresser, doctor, optometrist, podiatrist, physiotherapist and the Baw Baw Shire home help team.
Laraine, the only daughter, said her mother said repeatedly throughout her life that she "had many wonderful memories from a happy, happy life".
Mrs Monaghan died peacefully at Tarago Views where she loved the kind and compassionate care received over almost two years.