January 9, 2018
PURKISS Juanita (June) Died peacefully at New Norfolk District Hospital on January 8th, 2018. Daughter of Bill and Jean Herbert (both dec). Sister to Bill Herbert and Sheila and Rex Cleary. Loving aunt to her nieces and nephews. Now at peace.

Published in: The Advocate

It is with great sadness that Willow Court has lost one of its longest serving staff members and keepers of the history. I had the privilege of recording an interview with June Purkiss a couple of years ago with Anne Salt the chairperson of the Friends of Willow Court and found her to a knowledgeable, warm and respected lady.

June was able to shed light on much of the history from her start at the Hospital in 1946 and even was able to remember earlier than that when her father William (Bill) Herbert worked as a bricklayer on Wards E and D around the oval in the early 1930’s. Bill also became a long serving and respected staff member in 1938.

I have included a previously unreleased section of that interview and another podcast that was a recording of June’s memories for the “walking through time” project which can also be found on the Derwent Valley Council Website.