Eulogy for Nana Joyce

Within short walking distance from Joyce Gullick's house at Riyala sits a vertical wooden stump with a small flat surface on top. This is the place where Lorikeets’ feed.

Each morning and evening when Nana Joyce was able, she prepared bread, honey and water inside a large plastic bucket. The honey and water soaked and seeped into the bread. This was the Lorikeets’ meal.

From afar the colourful Lorikeet birds soared high in the sky and across the landscape in search of Riyala. As they arrived their wings stretched for a soft landing. One by one they flew in and took their place on broad branches in tall trees. Watching. Waiting.

The bread, honey and water sat in an old and used honey bucket. There were no decorations. No resplendent designs. The old labels on the side were used and worn. The bucket was large and had a handle, and so it was useful. It was simple, practical and served its purpose.

In the kitchen, as she prepared the meal, Nana Joyce could see and hear the Lorikeets arrive. They made their presence felt.

With the handle in one hand Nana Joyce made her way to the place where the Lorikeets’ feed. Her bare feet walked on cold concrete, then dirt and hard pebbles, around the bend and under the shade of trees, and then on lush, green grass. On hot days when the grass was wet it would cool her feet.

As she walked the Lorikeets called in loud, pitched squawks. They each braced for position. High amongst the trees and all around there was anticipation and excitement – a gift of service had arrived.

Nana Joyce placed the meal on top of the flat surface. And when her job was done, she stood back. Watching. Waiting.

In this moment we can picture Nana Joyce standing, looking on.

The Lorikeets also watched, squawking at each other and waiting for the first to fly in. As one did, so did another, and then another, until a mob flew in all at once.

Nana Joyce’s eyes moved frantically at the flutter of wings and activity. Against a green and brown backdrop of plants and trees was a colourful array of bright blues, oranges and greens. Light flickered with rapid movements. The body of one Lorikeet floated motionless in the air as its wings fluttered at lightning speed to keep position. Then another. Her ears were attuned to what she saw and the sounds of fluttering wings and activity. What a magnificent and glorious sight to behold.



In this moment, what was Nana Joyce thinking?

Perhaps she was drawing on earlier memories of her time on earth, growing up in Manly north of Sydney in the 1930s and 1940s. As an Elder her memories were deep; Sydney harbour had nature just as great.

Perhaps she was thinking of the values she gleaned from family and church life. One value Nana Joyce practiced was the notion of ‘love for one another’. In her own, subtle way she shared this value with others.
In the book of Psalm - 'the Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made[i]'. 
Perhaps, in this moment, Nana Joyce was thinking about authority. After placing the meal on the flat surface, she stood back, but only so far as was required. She was the Master of the meal – the Lorikeets; the takers. Her distance gave permission for the Lorikeets to feast. In her own way, and with the Lorikeets, they gave thanks before a meal, or at least could have.

In that moment, as Nana Joyce looked on, she also smiled. As the Lorikeets competed for space they squawked so loudly. They carried on like mad, pork chops. The pitch of their sound was uncomfortable to the human ear, unless the human ear was attuned to the reality of nature and its peculiar ways.


Perhaps Nana Joyce smiled because she saw the similarities and noise of our own people – of those things that should not matter yet worry us – the diversions and non-priorities – the gossip and squabbles – the voyeurism and tabloid media – the complaints for wants over and above our essential needs. Such is life’s humour.
In Proverbs, ‘a cheerful heart is a good medicine[ii]
Or maybe, in that moment, Nana Joyce was thinking about simplicity and that of the Lorikeets’ meal – honey, bread and water. Each had its own flavour and served its own purpose. Sugar from the sweet nectar of honey. Sustenance from the goodness of bread. Replenishment from water.
In Psalm, ‘O taste and see that the lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in him[iii]’.
We imagine, in this moment, Nana Joyce was thinking about these things. Perhaps she was not. Maybe she never did. We do not know for sure. And it does not matter.

What we do know though, with much more certainty, and what does matter, is that Nana Joyce understood the power of this moment, when the Lorikeets had their meal.

She understood all of nature – the Lorikeets and all animals – as God’s creation. She felt and appreciated the gift and value of service.

And she knew as Truth the elegance, grace and magnificence of these moments were, are, but glimpses of Heaven, and eternal life. And she is at this place, and with these moments, that bring so much Glory.



[i] Psalm 145:9
[ii] Proverbs 17:22
[iii] Psalm 34:8
* Note this version is edited slightly from the original

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