My name is Alfred Joyce, and I would like to share my emotional but fulfilling journey.
I was born on the 27th of October in 1947 to John and Eunice Joyce at the District Hospital Innisfail.
My family and I had attempted to seek any connections or family to my Maternal Grandmother Tilly Bell. I had spoken to my family by the surname of Bell but had not heard back from them with anything. By not hearing back, it led me to Link-Up (Qld) where I became a client in June 2018 for some assistance to finding any information on my Maternal Grandmother Tilly Bell, whether it was any unknown relatives of my grandmother, visiting my grandmother’s birthplace or finding and visiting my grandmother’s gravesite.
Link-Up (Qld) staff have been outstanding in their work ethic and provided me with wonderful support throughout my journey. It was in May 2021 when my research had been completed. After having my research delivered to me and discussions with my family and Link-Up (Qld) staff Heidi O’Donoghue and Sharona Joinbee, we decided to go ahead with planning a reunion at the gravesite of my Maternal Grandmother Tilly Bell at Richmond Qld. Due to some medical reasons throughout 2022 and 2023, I had to hold off on my reunion to Richmond. During the hold off, Heidi contacted Richmond Council to obtain my grandmother’s plot number at the Old Richmond Cemetery.
After overcoming my medical conditions – during which, Link-Up (Qld) staff remained in contact and checked on my well-being throughout it all – Joshua Thompson and Jack Webster from Link-Up (Qld) had contacted me to enquire if I would still like to continue through with my reunion to Richmond Qld. After having a discussion with my children, we decided on a date and gave the go-ahead to start planning the reunion for the end of June 2024.
While Link-Up (Qld) were planning my reunion to Richmond, I contacted Richmond Council to obtain information on what my family and I were able to do to my grandmother’s gravesite as we were planning on taking a plaque out to place on her gravesite. The Richmond Council advised me that they were able to organise making the plaque and the installation of it on my grandmother’s grave before we arrived in Richmond, which my children and I agreed on.
Leading up to my reunion, I was informed of how Link-Up (Qld) were able to support my family and I on the reunion. I was very pleased with the support information that had been shared with me and got into contact with my children to notify them.
When everything had been finalised, we were set to travel out to Richmond to visit my grandmother Tilly Bell’s resting place. I was very eager to travel out to see my grandmother Tilly Bell’s gravesite accompanied by my children Megan, Jennifer, Carmel, Karen and Alfred Jnr.
When we arrived in Richmond Qld on Friday 28th June, we were met by both Jack and Joshua at the Midway Motel who had arrived a few hours earlier. We all sat down and had a yarn about our travels out to Richmond and got to know each other a bit more then decided to get some rest and meet in the morning to discuss plans for the next day.
On Saturday morning, we all met outside my room where we were going through old family photos, trying to decide on what one we could leave on the grave. After a brief discussion, we decided to head to the Old Richmond Cemetery. On arrival, we headed straight towards my Grandmother Tilly Bell’s gravesite. I felt overwhelmed and in good spirits that I was able to visit my grandmother’s resting place alongside my children, where we cleaned her plaque and placed flowers around her resting place.
Above: Alfred Joyce on his reunion journey with family members.
“It is a moment in my life that I will cherish forever, knowing that my family and I can now visit her and know where she is resting.”
– Alfred Joyce
After a few words and some photos, we then decided to head back to the motel to debrief with for some refreshments and lunch along with a rest afterwards.
That Saturday night, we all met for dinner at the Mud Hut Hotel. Plenty of laughs and stories were shared as we enjoyed our beautiful dinner. We thanked the Link-Up (Qld) staff for such amazing support and compassion they had provided my family and I on our journey and reunion.
Waking up to our last full day of the reunion, the group thought it would be nice to take a drive to Julia Creek, which was just over an hour from Richmond for some sightseeing and to look for any significant sights around the area. We enjoyed the travels and country out to Julia Creek. We then grabbed a bite to eat and returned to Richmond. After a long day everyone had decided to enjoy an early dinner and say our goodbyes as we were departing early in the morning.
My family and I said our thank you and acknowledged the Link-Up (Qld) staff for assisting us with finding my grandmother’s resting place as well as getting us out to Richmond for the reunion. We enjoyed Jack and Joshua’s company as they were exceptional with what they provided us on our journey along with plenty of laughs.
Image: Alfred Joyce and family visiting the gravesite of his grandmother, Tilly Bell, at Richmond, Queensland.
I would personally like to say thanks to Link-Up (Qld) staff for their professionalism in helping me and my family in tracing my Grandmother Tilly Pedro (Bell) life’s journey, which bought us to the reunion at the Richmond cemetery end of last month.
My journey to this point has been long, but until I can find out if Tilly Bell has any family out there or which part of this country she comes from, there will always be that missing link.
Perhaps my grandmother has no other family out there, but someone may know of the Bell family from Mackay. I can only hope that someone somewhere will read our story, and something may jog their memory.
Tilly Bell, born in the Mackay area in 1908, was sent to Palm Island in 1918. There are no records about Tilly’s parents, however her death certificate quotes Sambo Bell as her father. If anyone has any information, no matter how small, please contact Link-Up (Qld). Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Published 6 October 2024.