Joan Beauchamp Cameron was born in Coolangatta, on the 14th March 1920 to Kenneth Beauchamp Cameron and Eileen Mary Cameron. She was the only sister of Bill, Dick and Rod.
Joan was first schooled at Glennie prep in Toowoomba and then later at Glennie Memorial.
Her father, KB Cameron, took up Bullamon Plains, Thallon, in 1928. The land sold for approximately (in today’s value) 8 cents an acre. It was cheap because the prickly pear had overrun the beautiful grazing country that the indigenous people had developed, and that Major Mitchell had explored in 1846. While wearing oil painted clothes, KB Cameron spread the Cactoblastis beetle eggs across the property, clearing the land of the dreaded prickly pear, and once again returning it to productive country, making farming possible across the region.
During this period Joan lived in Toowoomba with her mother and brothers until the homestead was built in 1932. The Depression impacted severely on her life. It also caused her to develop characteristics that ran throughout her life. She lived frugally; she spent thriftily and always saw the best in things.
Before the Second War which would sadly take her Air Force pilot brothers [Royal Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force], Joan trained as a nurse in the St Martin's hospital in Brisbane. After her brothers, Bill and Dick's, tragic deaths, she returned to Bullamon Plains to help her parents on the property as the war-years drought worsened.
In December 1945 she married Stanley James Willis. Stan, who was from Guyra in NSW, was working on the property as the manager. They married in Coolangatta. Four children (Judith, Ann, Bill and Helen) followed in the years afterwards.
Together with Stan, and working together with her parents and brother Rod, they set about building the business partnership and growing the family. Joan grew into an accomplished and astute business woman, appreciated active woman of the community (member of the CWA since 1956, and involved in the Thallon Progress Assoc. and tennis club) and beloved mother and wife.
One of the most significant developments on Bullamon Plains was the regulator, built during the 1950s, which helped to make the property virtually drought proof.
In the years after her own kids had grown up, Joan was instrumental in establishing the Thallon Kindy, driving around picking up local children and helping them with their first years of learning.
Empowered by a ferocious work ethic and her love of gardening she left an indelible mark on numerous gardens, including other family properties, Pine Park and Bookalong, and at the QCWA grounds where she often propagated and watered trees and shrubs. Her love of reading and gardening is beautifully reflected in one of those wise old sayings she'd say: "If you have a garden, and a library, you have everything you need".
Her love of reading and gardening is beautifully reflected in one of those wise old sayings she'd say: "If you have a garden, and a library, you have everything you need".
Being a bush woman, Joan had a deep love of animals.
The Thallon Pony Club, established on Bullamon Plains for a couple of years in the 1950s, gave much happiness to local children.
Throughout her life, Joan was always sourcing and buying new horses and rode right into the 1980s.
Dealing with bucking horses extended beyond the boundary fence.
While in Rome, Italy, on route with Helen to her daughter Judith’s wedding in England, an Italian scooter rider rode swiftly past and grabbed her hang-bag with everything inside - passports, cash; everything. She held on for dear life, being pulled and dragged onto the road until the strap broke.
In retelling the story she said: "It’s just like a bucking horse, I just knew I had to hang on".
Joan was a wonderful cook. Throughout her life she cooked at times for large numbers; simple and nourishing food.
Using the same barbecue her family still use, she cooked during the shearers strike of '57, and keep generations of tractor drivers, fencers, jackaroos and of course family and friends contented and well fed.
Her community work and generosity of spirit provides an example of the respect and kindness she held for others.
When the grandkids were born she was there to help.
And then more recently she was raising money for water bores to be dug in India and sewing machines provided to those less fortunate.
Joan leaves behind her four children, 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Hers was a life with deep respect for learning, a life made wholesome through sustained, clever, hard work, a life of honesty and integrity, a life nourished by years of joy from a garden, of watching investments grow, by being kept company by horses, dogs and stock.
But, I think, a life most deeply defined by having an open, generous and loving spirit.
- This is an abbreviated version of the eulogy given by David Thomson at Mrs Willis’ funeral.