Life Story of Joan Heather Easton

Joan left school in 1938, having graduated at the start of the Second World War. Being a woman, she was not forced to enlist but her father Duncan served his country once again, this time as an amenities officer for the Australian Imperial Force in Townsville and Papua New Guinea at the age of 53. In her father’s absence, Joan worked at the local Commonwealth Bank, once again following in his footsteps. However, rather than being a Teller, Joan worked at the enquiries counter, because, “girls weren’t allowed to be Tellers.” Despite the restrictions of the role, Joan enjoyed her job because she was able to interact with all of the customers, many she already knew from around town. Joan’s determination to help others also begun to emerge during this time, as she became the president of a group known as the, “Younger Set,” a group of girls who worked together to raise money for charities and the war effort through holding social events. Joan obviously took after her mother in this regard. It was at one of these social functions during the war that she met two British Colonels. Joan became fast friends with both of the young men, but soon fell in love with one of them. He was from London, but planned to live in Scotland after the war. Although the man asked Joan to come back with him to Scotland, she was hesitant because she knew that he was already married, and she did not want to move all the way across the ocean to be with him. Despite leading different lives, the Colonel and Joan kept up a lifelong friendship, well into their later years.

8