1938
Born Ulgundahi Island Aboriginal Reserve, Maclean, NSW
Related event
British Empire Games in Sydney
1939
World event
WWII starts.
1948
Her mother, Hilda Mercy dies from double pheumonia on the verandah of Mclean Hospital
1950
The mission school on Ulgundahi Island closes - Joyce initially admitted to 2nd class with 6 year olds at the Maclean School for the first time.
1954
Joyce taken to Sydney by Uncle's to speak for them at representations to AWU / Labour Council. over loss of jobs with mechanisation of sugarcane harvesting.
1955
Joyce moves to Sydney
1957
Joyce starts nursing at St Margaret's Hospital in Sydney.
1958
Joins APA -the Aboriginal Progressive
Association and the Aboriginal Australian
Fellowship
Association and the Aboriginal Australian
Fellowship
1958
Aunt Eva passes. Joyce returns home to care for younger sister Christine and becomes her guardian.
Grandfather Dick Randell dies.
Grandfather Dick Randell dies.
World event
FCAA formed at meeting in Adelaide Aboriginal delegates Jeff Barnes (SA), Doug Nicholls (VIC) and Bert Groves (NSW), February 1958.
1960
Returns to Sydney with Christine Attends her first FCAATSI Conference at Newport, Sydney
1960
Works at Wagner and Regan bookbinders in Chippendale.
Attends courses at Tranby Co-operatives College, Glebe.
Attends courses at Tranby Co-operatives College, Glebe.
1962
Speaks at NAIDOC event Martin Place, Sydney
1964
Attends Asian Christian Youth Assembly in the Philippines and meets Colin Clague.
Joyce travels to China for UNESCO.
Joyce travels to China for UNESCO.
1965
Begins working for the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs, giving welfare advice and assistance to Aboriginal residents, families visiting relatives in hospital, prison inmates.
1966
Joyce goes to UNESCO conference
"Women and Community Development" in New Delhi, India as the representative of the Australian division of WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom).
Meets prominent Kenyan women's rights campaigner, Jael Mbogo.
Marries Colin Clague and they move to Darwin.
Meets President of India, Indira Ghandi.
"Women and Community Development" in New Delhi, India as the representative of the Australian division of WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom).
Meets prominent Kenyan women's rights campaigner, Jael Mbogo.
Marries Colin Clague and they move to Darwin.
Meets President of India, Indira Ghandi.
1967
Joyce gives birth to Liesa May.
Colin is promoted to Senior Social Worker with the NT Welfare Service in Alice Springs. They are allocated a house in McKinley St where they set up home starting their family with foster son Sammy and joined by daughter No 1, Liesa May.
Colin is promoted to Senior Social Worker with the NT Welfare Service in Alice Springs. They are allocated a house in McKinley St where they set up home starting their family with foster son Sammy and joined by daughter No 1, Liesa May.
World event
National Referendum to include Indigenous peoples in the census with a 90.97% yes.
1967
Joyce gives birth to Liesa May.
Colin is promoted to Senior Social Worker with the NT Welfare Service in Alice Springs. They are allocated a house in McKinley St where they set up home starting their family with foster son Sammy and joined by daughter No 1, Liesa May in July.
Colin is promoted to Senior Social Worker with the NT Welfare Service in Alice Springs. They are allocated a house in McKinley St where they set up home starting their family with foster son Sammy and joined by daughter No 1, Liesa May in July.
Related event
National Referendum to include Indigenous peoples in the census with a 90.97% yes.
1968
Joyce stood as an independent candidate for the Stuart electorate for the NT Legislative Council.
1969
Joyce becomes a member of the formation Board of the Institute for Aboriginal Development in Alice Springs chaired by the late Yami Lester.
The family visits Tasmania where Joyce meets up with her former English teacher from Maclean, Joan Woodberry, author of the children's books the Rafferty series set in Yamba and Come Back Peter in which Joyce is named.
The family visits Tasmania where Joyce meets up with her former English teacher from Maclean, Joan Woodberry, author of the children's books the Rafferty series set in Yamba and Come Back Peter in which Joyce is named.
1970
Joyce gives birth to Anne Grace.
Joyce and Colin with Grace travel to Geneva for her role as a Commissioner, World Council of Churches, Commission Program Combat Racism. Grace is baptised at PCR.
Joyce attends PCR committee meeting in Nairobi, Kenya for meetings with representatives of southern African liberation movements.
Joyce and Colin with Grace travel to Geneva for her role as a Commissioner, World Council of Churches, Commission Program Combat Racism. Grace is baptised at PCR.
Joyce attends PCR committee meeting in Nairobi, Kenya for meetings with representatives of southern African liberation movements.
1971
Joyce attends formation conference of National Tribal Council in Brisbane, financed by a grant from WCC PCR she negotiated.
Establishes Central Australian Tribal Council as an affiliate of the NTC as the vehicle for commencing a voter education and enrolment program across Central Australian communities.
Buys second hand early model Nissan Patrol that is used first by western Arrernte men from Hermansburg and then by Warlpiri men from Yuendumu for the voter enrolment program.
Establishes Central Australian Tribal Council as an affiliate of the NTC as the vehicle for commencing a voter education and enrolment program across Central Australian communities.
Buys second hand early model Nissan Patrol that is used first by western Arrernte men from Hermansburg and then by Warlpiri men from Yuendumu for the voter enrolment program.
1972
Joyce gives birth to Pauline Jael.
Joyce hosts annual FCAATSI Conference at Alice Springs.
Joyce hosts annual FCAATSI Conference at Alice Springs.
World event
Whitlam Government elected
1973
Joyce appointed a Board Member of Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Ltd (Minister's nominee)
1974
Colin takes long service leave and the family heads south with Joyce and the children spending most of the time at Maclean while Colin completes his BA degree at Sydney University.
Family arrive back in Alice Springs at Christmas in time for Colin to take charge of services for Darwin residents evacuated after Cyclone Tracy and Joyce accommodating Aboriginal community residents relocating to be with relatives in Central Australia.
Family arrive back in Alice Springs at Christmas in time for Colin to take charge of services for Darwin residents evacuated after Cyclone Tracy and Joyce accommodating Aboriginal community residents relocating to be with relatives in Central Australia.
World event
Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin on Christmas Day
1975
The booklet Voting in the Northern Territory was published by the Grace Bardsley Aboriginal Fund and distributed widely to NT communities. Joyce was a trustee of the Fund.
Family moves back to Maclean. Formation and management of Nungera Co-operative Society Ltd. Purchases houses at Ilarrwill and the Cameron St house where they live with the Nungera office on the side verandah. Begin farming on Ulgundahi Island.
Family moves back to Maclean. Formation and management of Nungera Co-operative Society Ltd. Purchases houses at Ilarrwill and the Cameron St house where they live with the Nungera office on the side verandah. Begin farming on Ulgundahi Island.
Related event
Double Dissolution of government, Whitlam government dismissed. Freeze on government funds to Aboriginal Affairs by new government
1976
Joyce and Colin start Woolitji Co-operative and buy the former Bank of NSW property in the middle of Maclean. Open Nungera Gallery in time for the Cane Harvest Festival in September. Move into the first floor residence.
Appointed by Premier Neville Wran as a member of the inaugural NSW Women’s Advisory Council. Appointed as an adviser to the Minister for Co-operatives, Sid Enfield.
Appointed by Premier Neville Wran as a member of the inaugural NSW Women’s Advisory Council. Appointed as an adviser to the Minister for Co-operatives, Sid Enfield.
1977
Founding member of NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
1978
Member, Council of the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education (Minister’s nominee).
Establishes Institute for Aboriginal Community Education at NRCAE.
Establishes Institute for Aboriginal Community Education at NRCAE.
1980
Joyce goes to World Peace Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria visiting Leningrad on the way.
Related event
The Moscow Olympics
1981
Joyce gives birth to Evette Myghin.
Joyce air evacuated from Grafton to KGV hospital in Sydney where Evette is born 12 weeks prematurely weighing 986 grams.
Joyce air evacuated from Grafton to KGV hospital in Sydney where Evette is born 12 weeks prematurely weighing 986 grams.
1983
Liesa enrolled at St Catherine’s School, Waverly, Sydney. Joyce leads formation of Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council and chairs Northern Rivers Regional Aboriginal Land Council.
Related event
NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act
1983
Liesa enrolled at St Catherine’s School, Waverly, Sydney. Joyce leads formation of Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council and chairs Northern Rivers Regional Aboriginal Land Council.
Related event
NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act
1984
Colin appointed Manager of the Aboriginal Land Claims Unit in the NSW Department of Lands and moves to Sydney. Grace joins Liesa at St Catherine’s School.
World event
NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act amended abolishing Regional Aboriginal Lands Councils.
1985
Joyce resigns from Nungera Co-op and moves to Sydney where she obtains a job with the NSW Ombudsman. Appointed a sessional Assessor to the NSW Land and Environment Court for the resolution of disputes under the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act.
1986
Appointed a Member of the Australian Museum Trust.
1987 / 88
Deputy Chairperson, Ministerial Task Force on Aboriginal Culture and Heritage. Member NSW Bicentennial Council.
Related event
The Bicentennial happens in Australia.
1989
As advisor to the NSW Ombudsman. Investigating Police Raids in Redfern.
Colin transfers from the Land Claims Unit in Department of Lands to the newly formed Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment in the Premier's Department.
Colin transfers from the Land Claims Unit in Department of Lands to the newly formed Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment in the Premier's Department.
1990
Chairperson, Aboriginal Affairs Policy Committee, NSW Branch, ALP. Joyce stands for pre-selection for ALP candidate for Port Jackson.
Related event
ATSIC commences.
1993
Joyce works for NSW Trades and Labour Council and advises the ACTU - Lend Lease Foundation on group training programs aimed at training Aboriginal community members in building trades while constructing houses on their community lands.
1996
Joyce collaborates with Della Walker to lodge Yaegl Native Title Claim No1.
1997
Joyce joins Breastscreen NSW.
1998
Chair, Board of Directors, Redfern Aboriginal Corporation Construction P/L.
1999
Joyce works for the NSW Working Women’s Centre.
2000
Colins retires from the NSW Public Service.
2001
Joyce, Colin, and Evette move back to the Clarence, buy the former South Arm School for the family’s home. Yaegl Native title claim No1 given priority status. Claim No2 over extended land/sea/river rights for Yaegl country initiated.
2001
Joyce, Colin, and Evette move back to the Clarence, buy the former South Arm School for the family’s home. Yaegl Native title claim No 1 given priority status. Claim No 2 over extended land / sea / river rights for Yaegl country initiated.
2015
Claim 1 is won. 🎉🥂
2017
Claim 2 is won. The first mainland sea rights Native Title determination. 🎉🥂
A Change is Gonna Come - exhibition at NMA, Evette presents speech on behalf of Mum.
Joyce, Colin, Beatrice and Evette travel through NSW, SA, NT and QLD to do a round trip to visit friends and see old haunts, Dubbo, Adelaide, Uluru, Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, Brisbane. Pauline, Grace and Luke join them in Alice Springs for Easter.
Warrior award - recognition at the 40 years of State Land Council as one of it's members.
A Change is Gonna Come - exhibition at NMA, Evette presents speech on behalf of Mum.
Joyce, Colin, Beatrice and Evette travel through NSW, SA, NT and QLD to do a round trip to visit friends and see old haunts, Dubbo, Adelaide, Uluru, Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, Brisbane. Pauline, Grace and Luke join them in Alice Springs for Easter.
Warrior award - recognition at the 40 years of State Land Council as one of it's members.
2017
Claim 2 is won. The first mainland sea rights Native Title determination. 🎉🥂
A Change is Gonna Come - exhibition at NMA, Evette presents speech on behalf of Mum.
Joyce, Colin, Beatrice and Evette travel through NSW, SA, NT and QLD to do a round trip to visit friends and see old haunts, Dubbo, Adelaide, Uluru, Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, Brisbane. Pauline, Grace and Luke join them in Alice Springs for Easter.
Warrior award - recognition at the 40 years of State Land Council as one of it's members.
A Change is Gonna Come - exhibition at NMA, Evette presents speech on behalf of Mum.
Joyce, Colin, Beatrice and Evette travel through NSW, SA, NT and QLD to do a round trip to visit friends and see old haunts, Dubbo, Adelaide, Uluru, Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, Brisbane. Pauline, Grace and Luke join them in Alice Springs for Easter.
Warrior award - recognition at the 40 years of State Land Council as one of it's members.
2016
Becomes a life member of the Australian Labour Party
2017
Claim 2 is won. The first mainland sea rights Native Title determination. 🎉🥂
2020
Move to Grafton
2018
Exhibition Because of her we Can at Ulmarra - Festival of Joyce with celebration around her 80th.
2020
Move to Grafton
In loving memory of
Joyce Caroline Clague (nee Mercy) MBE
Born 22nd of July 1938
1938
Born Ulgundahi Island Aboriginal Reserve, Maclean, NSW.
World events
British Empire Games in Sydney.
1948
Her mother, Hilda Mercy dies from double pheumonia on the verandah of Maclean Hospital.
1955
Joyce moves to Sydney.
1958
Joins APA -the Aboriginal Progressive
Association and the Aboriginal Australian Fellowship.
Association and the Aboriginal Australian Fellowship.
1960
Returns to Sydney with Christine Attends her first FCAATSI Conference at Newport, Sydney.
1962
Speaks at NAIDOC event Martin Place, Sydney.
1965
Begins working for the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs, giving welfare advice and assistance to Aboriginal residents, families visiting relatives in hospital, prison inmates.
Gets engaged to Colin at Christmas.
Gets engaged to Colin at Christmas.
1967
Joyce gives birth to Liesa May.
Colin is promoted to Senior Social Worker with the NT Welfare Service in Alice Springs. They are allocated a house in McKinley St where they set up home starting their family with foster son Sammy and joined by daughter No 1, Liesa May.
Colin is promoted to Senior Social Worker with the NT Welfare Service in Alice Springs. They are allocated a house in McKinley St where they set up home starting their family with foster son Sammy and joined by daughter No 1, Liesa May.
World event
National Referendum to include Indigenous peoples in the census with a 90.97% yes.
1969
Joyce becomes a member of the formation Board of the Institute for Aboriginal Development in Alice Springs chaired by the late Yami Lester.
The family visits Tasmania where Joyce meets up with her former English teacher from Maclean, Joan Woodberry, author of the children's books the Rafferty series set in Yamba and Come Back Peter in which Joyce is named.
Colin visits Zeehan where the Clague family first settled as miners on arrival from the Isle of Man.
The family visits Tasmania where Joyce meets up with her former English teacher from Maclean, Joan Woodberry, author of the children's books the Rafferty series set in Yamba and Come Back Peter in which Joyce is named.
Colin visits Zeehan where the Clague family first settled as miners on arrival from the Isle of Man.
1971
Joyce attends formation conference of National Tribal Council in Brisbane, financed by a grant from WCC PCR she negotiated.
Establishes Central Australian Tribal Council as an affiliate of the NTC as the vehicle for commencing a voter education and enrolment program across Central Australian communities.
Buys second hand early model Nissan Patrol that is used first by western Arrernte men from Hermansburg and then by Warlpiri men from Yuendumu for the voter enrolment program.
Establishes Central Australian Tribal Council as an affiliate of the NTC as the vehicle for commencing a voter education and enrolment program across Central Australian communities.
Buys second hand early model Nissan Patrol that is used first by western Arrernte men from Hermansburg and then by Warlpiri men from Yuendumu for the voter enrolment program.
1973
Joyce appointed a Board Member of Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Ltd (Minister's nominee).
1975
The booklet Voting in the Northern Territory was published by the Grace Bardsley Aboriginal Fund and distributed widely to NT communities. Joyce was a trustee of the Fund.
Family moves back to Maclean. Formation and management of Nungera Co-operative Society Ltd. Purchases houses at Ilarrwill and the Cameron St house where they live with the Nungera office on the side verandah. Begin farming on Ulgundahi Island.
Purchases former CSR tugboat MV Beardmore.
Family moves back to Maclean. Formation and management of Nungera Co-operative Society Ltd. Purchases houses at Ilarrwill and the Cameron St house where they live with the Nungera office on the side verandah. Begin farming on Ulgundahi Island.
Purchases former CSR tugboat MV Beardmore.
World event
Double Dissolution of government, Whitlam government dismissed. Freeze on government funds to Aboriginal Affairs by new government
1977
Founding member of NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
Awarded MBE in Queens Royal New Years Honours
Awarded MBE in Queens Royal New Years Honours
1980
Joyce goes to World Peace Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria visiting Leningrad on the way.
World event
The Moscow Olympics
1983
Liesa enrolled at St Catherine’s School, Waverly, Sydney. Joyce leads formation of Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council and chairs Northern Rivers Regional Aboriginal Land Council.
World event
NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act
1985
Joyce resigns from Nungera Co-op and moves to Sydney where she obtains a job with the NSW Ombudsman. Appointed a sessional Assessor to the NSW Land and Environment Court for the resolution of disputes under the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act.
1987 / 1988
Deputy Chairperson, Ministerial Task Force on Aboriginal Culture and Heritage. Member NSW Bicentennial Council.
World event
The Bicentennial happens in Australia.
1990
Chairperson, Aboriginal Affairs Policy Committee, NSW Branch, ALP. Joyce stands for pre-selection for ALP candidate for Port Jackson.
World event
ATSIC commences.
1996
Joyce collaborates with Della Walker to lodge Yaegl Native Title Claim No1.
1998
Chair, Board of Directors, Redfern Aboriginal Corporation Construction P/L.
2001
Joyce, Colin, and Evette move back to the Clarence, buy the former South Arm School for the family’s home. Yaegl Native title claim No1 given priority status. Claim No2 over extended land/sea/river rights for Yaegl country initiated.
2016
Becomes a life member of the Australian Labour Party
2018
Exhibition Because of her we Can at Ulmarra - Festival of Joyce with celebration around her 80th.
Passed away Peacefully to the Dreaming 25th of September 2024