Joyce was born in Mudgee’s Braeholme Private Hospital on  May 20,  1915,  to Herb and Cordelia Tomkins.

She spent her early life at Mt Frome and started her school life at Mudgee Public School.  When the number of children was sufficient for a teacher to be appointed, Joyce transferred to Burrundulla Public School to complete her primary school education. Joyce drove a sulky and pony the ‘five miles’ from Burrundulla to Mudgee High School to commence her high school education, before completing this at Burwood Methodist Ladies College.   After completing her education, Joyce taught at Treloar Public School for a number of years, before moving closer to home with a three-year career at a subsidised school at Cooyal.

Joyce met Len Barnes at Cooyal, becoming engaged in 1939 and married in the Mudgee Methodist Church in 1940.  Rodger was born in 1941 and Peter followed in 1944.

Joyce and Len Barnes farmed vegetables and lucerne at Burrundulla until Len’s sudden death in 1969.  

Joyce is a life member of the Mudgee CWA and, through that association, a Land Cookery judge.

Joyce re-married in 1977.  Her second husband, Arnold Towner, had been a Minister in the Mudgee Methodist Church between 1944 and 1949.  Joyce and Arnold moved from Mudgee for a few years, spending time in Chatswood, Umina and Bowral, returning to Mudgee in approximately 1998.  Arnold passed away in 2000.  

Joyce continues to live in Mudgee, moving to Pioneer House from Cedar Gardens in 2011.

Until only recently, Joyce enjoyed playing cards, including bridge and solo with friends in local groups.  She also enjoyed mah-jong and bingo.

Joyce celebrated her 100th Birthday with her two sons, all of her six grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren, as well as extended family and friends with an afternoon tea at Pioneer House on Saturday, May 16. 

Joyce is enjoying the congratulatory cards received from the Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister, NSW Premier, local Federal and State members and family and friends.