By Mitchell Clarke
For Kooweerup stalwart Joyce Mills, being officially recognised with an Order of Australia medal was “embarrassing” at first.
From appearing in the Guiness World Records for potato peeling to serving as district commissioner of the Girl Guides Victoria, Mrs Mills has been a much-loved member of the community.
The sprightly 81-year-old was told just before the Queen’s Birthday long weekend that she could now place the revered OAM title next to her name, thanks to her service to Kooweerup.
“I found out last week when a chap from Canberra called me. He was very nice but I didn’t want it at first. I felt it was embarrassing,” she laughed.
“My daughter then found the letter in the letter box and said to me ‘this is from Canberra, what have you done now’.”
Born and bred in Lang Lang, Mrs Mills told the Gazette that she met a “Koowee” boy, Ken Mills, and eventually moved to the town.
“Of course I ended up in Kooweerup,” she said.
“Much to my mother’s disgrace, she didn’t like Kooweerup at all, but that was probably because of the football.”
Joyce and Ken Mills became parents to three children, Christine, Ross and Jan, and were married for 60 odd years until Mr Mills passed away six years ago.
“I had a wonderful husband and I think that he would have been very proud,” she said.
“I’m still here (in Kooweerup) and my daughter lives next door, so I’m not alone.”
It’s hard to imagine such a joyous woman could ever feel lonely, with her community service alone stretching across a number of organisations.
Mrs Mills has been a member of the Kooweerup Regional Health Service’s Ladies Auxiliary since 1983 and served as president from 2005 to 2008, and again from 2018 to present.
As a co-ordinator, volunteer and driver, she’s also played a crucial role in the organisation of the Harewood House Open Day charity event.
Away from the auxiliary, Mrs Mills volunteered at the Kooweerup Football Club for 20 years and was a member of the mothers’ club at the local pre-school, primary school and high school.
Today, she remains a member of the Lang Lang Historical Society and a member of the Kooweerup and Lang Lang RSL.
But her proudest achievement has been her work with the Girl Guides Victoria.
A member of the Kooweerup Guide Group between the 1950s and 1980s, Mrs Mills has been an adult trainer, youth leader and was the Gippsland region’s district commissioner for five years.
She is currently a member of the Trefoild Guild.
“I love the girl guides and especially working with the older group, between 11 and 15,” she explained.
“I achieved a lot out of guiding. You get to know the girls very well, and you get to know them even better when you go camping.
“I love camping and all the outdoor activities. I still keep in touch with a lot of the girls.”
But perhaps the most unique award was being crowned the inaugural winner of the Australian Potato Peeling Competition in 1974.
When asked how she became equipped with such a skill, Mrs Mills admitted she wasn’t entirely sure how she managed to peel the spuds so quickly.“I don’t know, I suppose being a housewife,” she laughed.
“I won that one of my own but there was actually five of us who ended up in the Guiness Book of Records and went down to Melbourne.
“The potato festival was good fun. It was really good for the community and we raised a lot of money for the hospital back then.
“There was a lot of potatoes grown in the area, but of course now its asparagus.”
Mrs Mills said although the award was yet to truly sink in, she admitted it was “pleasing” to be recognised.
“I don’t do the things I do for the awards. These are just the things that I enjoy doing,” she said.
“I’m pleased now, though, and I’m very thrilled. I guess I have a lot of people to thank for putting me up.”
