My family first met Joyce at Rickard Street, Ryde, when Colin and Joyce announced their engagement. Joyce quickly endeared herself to all members of our family. We quickly became aware of her advocacy of a Yes result in the successful 1967 Referendum. Joyce somehow convinced Col that he should move from the Physical Sciences field into Social Work as she continued nursing.

After their wedding in 1966, Col and Joyce moved briefly to Darwin and then to Alice Springs. In the early 70s I made two visits to Alice Springs: the first with my brother Col and later with a teaching colleague John Howard to help run a summer vacation play centre. We met members of the family including two foster children, Sammy and Glennis, and good friends such as Jill Pattenden. It was here that Liesa, Pauline and Grace were born. Joyce was looking after a group of children at a local clinic and I kept a video of a trip we took with the children out to the Tropic of Capricorn monument on the Stuart Highway.

In the early 70s, I was there in Alice after the Whitlam government gained power and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gordon Bryant helped a group of Indigenous people take possession of a cattle station in the Northern Territory. Apparently Joyce was instrumental in helping an Indigenous group to raise funds to purchase another cattle station and she was the one who delivered funds to the bank.

A further visit to Alice was aborted for me when Cyclone Tracey hit Darwin and survivors were streaming south through The Alice. There was no accommodation available. The vacation activities were cancelled.

When Colin and Joyce moved back to the East Coast, Joyce was actively representing Indigenous people in conferences around Australia and overseas, at one stage meeting leaders of the Black Panther movement in the US who greeted her as a sister.

Our family maintained close contact with Joyce and Col in the years when they lived in Maclean and Sydney. My dad, Bob, and Col’s dad Les were very supportive of the Woolitji Co-operative Project in Maclean and members of family became shareholders of the co-operative. Some of our overseas visitors met Joyce and Colin in Maclean and the visit made a lasting impression on them. I made a few visits to the Hillcrest community in Maclean and met some of Joyce’s family who welcomed me warmly. Joyce was keen about setting up the Nungera Gallery in Maclean for her Yaegl people.

My partner Leonie and I have fond memories of visits by Joyce, Col and girls to our home in Terrey Hills and when we left Joyce took pity on the fact that Leonie had a sore back, arranging for assistance from the girls in the packing up process. While I was teaching at Meadowbank Boys High in Sydney Joyce and Col alerted me to the arrival of a young lad called Joe Simpson from the Northern Territory. He was in Sydney to get treatment for a heart condition. In the end he was well enough to play in my basketball team. Joyce and Col were always helping kids.

Having moved to the North Coast we also met up with Joyce and Col around Maclean and Yamba after Evette was born. We watched as Joyce, Colin and eventually Grace were candidates for election in various spheres of government. It was always a joy to attend significant birthdays and anniversaries and we were thrilled to watch Pauline’s film When Colin Met Joyce on SBS. We enjoyed happy times at their South Arm island home and around Maclean on the Clarence River near Joyce’s birthplace. We have enjoyed listening to the Jazz radio programs broadcast by Evette on the local Yamba radio station.

When I was working at the Lismore Campus of Southern Cross University in the 1990’s, I became aware that Joyce had been a member of there University Council in its foundation years and she had helped found the North Coast Institute for Aboriginal Community Education which has been dedicated to keeping Bundjalung languages and culture alive.

On a trip to Canberra to see my sister Merilyn, we visited an exhibition at the National Museum where we were pleased to see the recognition given to Joyce for her contribution, with other leaders like Faith Bandler, to the 1967 Referendum campaign.

In recent years we have admired Joyce’s resilience as she battled poor health. Despite this, she always welcomed us with her characteristically cheeky smile and a big, warm hug. She always showed concern for members of our family and particularly Uncle Bob.

The passing of Joyce will leave a huge hole in our hearts but she will leave some very significant memories. Our thoughts are with her immediate and extended family.

It is with great sadness that I heard of the sad passing of Joyce. I attribute to her the opening of a door that has enabled me to devote my adult life to improving education opportunities for our people. Joyce was working at the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs in George Street Sydney when I first met her. I was a young kid from the bush and lost and ill-prepared for the 'Big Smoke'. Joyce listened to my story and was able to arrange for me to attend Tranby College where I shared a room with Lester Mercy, Joyce's brother. This experience started me on a path of Aboriginal education advocacy, which I still tread today, some 60 years or more since first meeting Joyce. Joyce was a pioneer in so many ways and the world was so much brighter and promising for having her in it. She laid the political foundations for many of those who serve today in state or federal parliament. Her dignified leadership and advocacy should serve to as a legacy to inspire all those who aspire to lead. Condolences to the Clague and Mercy families. Rest In Peace, dear friend and mentor.

Growing up in Maclean I was often discombobulated and confused by adult behaviour that was at times contradictory, at times hypocritical, at times mean, at times cruel, often this behaviour was from those known as “pillars” of our community. Joyce Clague was a beacon of light to me as a girl…her strength, her wisdom, her clarity, her gentleness, her unwavering values, her fortitude. Her ripples of light forever on earth. Thank you Joyce 🙏🏻✨💗

I met Joyce many years ago when I first moved to Sydney from Walgett in 1969 (18 years old). First at The Foundation in George Street where everyone met on Sunday evenings.
She was a beautiful person who everyone knows had a solid commitment to better the life of our peoples. Many of our fighters have passed on and Joyce will catch up with them in the dreaming and ensure they are treated right.
R.I.P. Joyce always remembered

Hello dear Clague family
The Cameron’s from James Creek, Maclean - Carol, Melissa, Sue-Ann and David and their families extend the greatest love, respect and admiration for your Mum & wife.
We are all sad she isn’t still with us in this realm.
I especially enjoyed (as a child of Maclean Primary) coming to visit Joyce at Nungera with Leisa.
She was such a force, such an enthusiast. I recall being in awe of the enormity of her laugh, smile and intense curiosity. I’m humbled by the contributions she made to the world. She was and will always be an extraordinary person.
Big love to everyone in the Mercy clan and especially the related community she left behind.
Kindly.

Thank you Aunty Joyce Clague for your enduring love for, and service to Aboriginal People, families and Communities. You used your knowedge, experience, skills and qualities to be in service to thers, plain and simple. Martin Luther King Jnr says it perfectly with: Not everyone can be famous, but everyone can be great, because greatness is determined by service. Aunty Joyce was one of the great ones to remember, and follow.

How can we say goodbye to such a strong spirit? But it is time: farewell on the journey to the ancestors, my teacher, our mentor and deep soul friend.

My deepest condolences to all her family .. sending my thoughts and prayers for you all at this sad time .. Joyce was a good friend and a tireless advocate and worker for her people and community .. she will be missed so much ..I will cherish my fond memories of our working together in the NSW Public Service back in the late 70’s & 80’s her infectious laugh & smiling face Is something I will always remember and brings a smile to my face when I hear her name..
Rest in Peace dear Friend 🥰🙏🏽🙏🏽🥰

Dear Col, Liesa, Anne Grace, Pauline, Evette and family. So many fantastic memories of Aunty Joyce and what a legacy. I will forever feel that huge embrace, hear that wonderful laugh and keep the fire in my own belly! Thinking of you all. Love Matt, Natalie, Annabelle and Lucas

I just heard about Joyce’s passing and saw the story Neville Jennings posted. I was a teacher with Neville at Meadowbank Boys High and as he said in his story, we travelled to Alice Springs in the early 1970s to assist with some school vacation activities at Jay Creek, Ilparpa and Amoonguna. There I met Joyce and Col and was excited hear about their activism. A wonderful, much loved, cherished, and effective leading voice for Indigenous recognition, rights and services. Rest in peace - you did a great job

Our condolences and respects to the family and friends of Joyce. Our prayers are with you all.

Sending my thoughts to the Clague family and friends. May you now rest in the Dreaming Aunt. You will be missed

So sorry to hear of Joyce’s passing. A loving wife, mother and passionate in her pursuits for her people

The flame seems dimmer but thanks to our Elders and you, we are able to have that 'fire in our belly'....to continue with what our Ancestors fought long and hard for.
I thank you for all that you did for our lil community -o-

Thinking of you all at this time,have memories of Aunt,from my child hood,love to you all.XO.

We send our love condolences to you all our clague Family from Sonya Breckenridge and Family

From my whānau to you, ka aroha hoki x Biggest love and gratitude for all the work and leadership for us to move forward with her fire in our bellies x