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Rising from the ashes

Writer's picture: RonalynRonalyn

Evelyn Joy’s story is one of creativity, travel, resilience, trauma and triumph, from Bateman’s Bay to bushfires to building an artists’ hub.


by Gay Liddington


Speaking with Evelyn Joy, a Maleny business woman and artist, I am reminded of the phoenix, a mythical golden bird associated with hope and new life after rising from the ashes.


We settled comfortably into a creative space surrounded by artworks and colour. As Evelyn’s story of her work in hospitality, world travel and the trauma of bushfires unfolded, I was in awe of the drive and resilience of one so young.


Born in 1989, the fourth of nine children, Evelyn grew up in Bateman’s Bay on the south coast of NSW.

 

“I started painting and drawing as a child because it was my time out from the chaos of our big family, but I also helped Mum with my younger siblings… changing nappies, washing and lending a hand in the kitchen.


“We grew up in the kitchen and around food. My grandfather was a chef who cooked for Queen Elizabeth II at Parliament House in Canberra when it opened in 1988.”


At 16, Evelyn created her own path by moving to Canberra. The day after her arrival, she secured a full-time position running a takeaway shop.


“After six months, my sister invited me to live with her on the Gold Coast where I started my work in the up-market hotel industry working my way up to the position of restaurant supervisor.


“I followed my sister when she moved to Melbourne where I fell in love with the city life, art and the music scene. At 21, I began a Diploma in Visual Arts at La Trobe Art School and continued supervisory work in hospitality, working full time and studying part time.


“Early in 2000, I became torn between my full-on life of work and study and travel. I chose to travel. My friend Elle and I took off to America, where we accommodated ourselves by couch surfing. We saved money on accommodation and met amazing people, many of whom remain friends.”


After three months in America, the two friends travelled to Iceland where they drove around, checked out the sights, and then went on to England and Europe.


“Elle and I had saved enough money to buy a car. It was small, purple and we named her Dory the Explorer. We travelled around Europe for about six months, all the while couch surfing.


“The differences in accommodation were interesting. Some were just a room with maybe six people in at one time, others were a couch or we slept on the floor and some were mansions where we had a room to ourselves.


“We had to cut our trip short in Europe because someone robbed us in Rome. Pick-pocketed two days before Christmas. We had to wait for keys to be made for Dory, then went back to England, sold the car and came back to Australia.”


Four years along, Evelyn turned her attention to her creative muse and became a mural artist branching out into tattoo design and sign writing. At this time, Elle and her business partner ran healing retreats in Byron Bay. They asked Evelyn to work as their chef. 


“I worked at about six one-week retreats a year, which kept me coming back to Queensland, which I loved. Retreats and murals. That was my lifestyle.”


Evelyn Joy’s idyllic life was about to end when she received devastating news while spending Christmas 2019 in England.


“Back in Bateman’s Bay, I rented a property—a beautiful little cottage on five acres with my dog, chickens, vegetables and art studio. My sister was house-sitting for me. 


“I was at a wedding on New Year’s Eve when I received a call about the threat of bushfires and that they were evacuating. My sister left my house with the dog and chickens. Then, we lost communication. Feeling helpless, all I could do was pray.

 

“Two of my brothers had lost their homes weeks earlier. I wondered if mine was next.


“I woke up at around two o’clock one morning to a video call from my brother. He was crying while driving down our street. Everything was gone.”


Twelve days later, Evelyn arrived back in Sydney to the news that the Bateman’s Bay area had lost over 500 homes, including her rental—photo albums, car, motorbike, art studio… 


“I had left a car in Sydney, but the engine blew up on the way home so my dad had to come and pick me up. That car was a right off and was the last thing I owned apart from my suitcases.”

 

Evelyn recalls driving through what had been thick bushland. “It didn’t feel real. Everything was dead and burnt, the air smokey. The animals … gone.”


Despite the devastation to the community, the townspeople rallied together, supporting each other and showing their never-give-up spirit during 'Black Summer', a fire that originated from a lightning strike in November 2019 and lasted for 74 days.


“After the fires, I stayed in a caravan park for six weeks, and then charity organisations provided me with housing. Also, GoFundMe pages set up by family and friends in England and Australia helped me get on my feet.


"I felt like I was just starting to breathe again when Covid hit, then everyone forgot about the fires and our town."


Feeling the need for a new start, Evelyn Joy drove to Queensland looking for the next stage in her life. House-sitting led her to Palmwoods.


“After the house sit ended, I moved in with the neighbor and painted his house as an exchange. It was there I started my five-year business goal, something wholesome and aligned with my vision, which was to start a community coworking creative space.”


In 2021 at 32, Evelyn’s vision manifested as The JOY Collective: art gallery, workshops, events and cafe in Maleny. 

“I like to think this is more than just a physical space, it’s a community of kindred spirits.”


A new life, after rising from the ashes.


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