Historical information

Vanda Joyce Stiles (nee Johnstone) was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, in 1916. A woman of remarkable resilience and capability, she was widowed during the Second World War when her husband, Leo Stiles, died as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway. Joyce devoted herself to raising their two sons in Mount Gambier, meeting life's challenges with strength, hard work, and determination.
Joyce latter settled in Kangaroo Flat, where she continued her association as a valued member of the Country Woman's Association (CWA), the Returned Services League (RSL), and the Senior Citizens. Her service badges represent her long-standing commitment to these organisations and the community she supported so generously.
A skilled and creative craftswoman, Joyce was known for her talents in cooking, gardening, knitting, crochet, sewing, and preserving the produce she grew.
Vanda Joyce Stiles passed away in 1996 in Kangaroo Flat. She is remembered for her resilience, her creativity, and her lifelong dedication to family, community, and service.
Biography supplied by granddaughter.

Physical description

Four badges. Three metal and one plastic. Two CWA badges, one Kangaroo Flat RSL, and one Kangaroo Flat Senior Citizens badge. None dated.

Inscriptions & markings

Two badges inscribed with Joyce Stiles