So many Museum visitors were assisted by Joanie and have such wonderful memories of her and of the Simon's Town Museum, as a result of her kindness.

Joanie passed away this morning. She had suffered 3 strokes since mid December 2009. We have lost a beloved friend and colleague. She was a very dedicated worker and gave more than was expected of her, for the nearly 25 years that she worked at the Simon's Town Museum. She only had a Std 7, but she was one of the wisest people that I have ever met and was for us, in herself, an entire archive of museum and community history.

Joanie used to say that she was "only a cleaner", but she was so much more to us, as her colleagues and to the Museum. She helped scores of visitors and researchers, lectured to thousands of learners and even reunited some families, who had been separated by the Group Areas Act.

Her contribution to the preservation of our history and to the history of those of our community who suffered under the Forced Removals, was immense and she must be credited for her tremendous contribution to the transformation of our museum, to date. We will miss our Joanie more than words can say.