As part of the King’s Birthday honours this year, Joan has been posthumously recognised for her tireless work for the Cobram and Yarroweyah communities with an Order of Australia Medal.
Those who knew Joan remembered her as a fearless community advocate, who dedicated her life to worthy causes. She passed away in August 2024, aged 93.
From 1968 to 2024, Joan was a committee member of the Cobram Agricultural Society. She served as a judge and steward in the arts section and was made a life member of the society in 1998.
Joan was also a volunteer at the Cobram Tourist Information Centre for at least 25 years, and volunteered with the Yarroweyah Hall Committee, Cobram Primary School Mother’s Club, the Cobram Secondary College Mother’s Club, the Yarroweyah Friends Group and the Koonoomoo Recreation Reserve.
She was a life member, former president and founding member of the Cobram & District Spinners and Weavers.
Past committee member of the craft group Maureen McKinnon recalled the outsized contribution Joan made to the group over her many years of active involvement.
“She was always there,” Mrs McKinnon said.
“If it wasn’t for Joan and a few others, it probably wouldn’t have gotten off the ground.”
Joan was also a member of the Cobram Quilters.
Alongside her late husband, Norm, Joan worked a dairy farm in Yarroweyah after moving from Melbourne in 1962.
Norm was a builder by trade, and together he and Joan played a key role in renovating the Yarroweyah Memorial Hall.
The hall stands proudly today as a material testament to their community spirit.
“Without them, it probably would have fallen down by now,” Mrs McKinnon said.
Despite being deaf since at least her teens, Joan didn’t let her handicap get in the way of pursuing her passion for crafts and her community.
A spokesperson for the Jordan family said the family was proud of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother for the services she gave to the people of Cobram and Yarroweyah over 62 years of living in the Cobram community.
“We’re sad that she is not here to receive the award in person, and she would have been tickled pink to have known all her efforts were publicly acknowledged,” the spokesperson said.
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