1937 - present

Joy Clayton is a long-term Bondi resident who became a Waverley Councillor to give back to her community and work for better outcomes for the residents.

Joy Clayton grew up in Bondi and later as a businesswoman and Waverley Councillor she continued the fight to keep the area environmentally pristine.

Discussion of Clayton’s Bondi childhood sparks fond memories - learning to play tennis at courts in Blair Street and piano lessons from a teacher in Wallis Parade.

She attended Bellevue Hill Primary School then Randwick Girls High School where she completed a Life Saving Certificate and Intermediate School Certificate before furthering her education at Ultimo College to become a stenographer and book keeper.

Clayton began her working life at 2GB Macquarie before moving into the film industry with Eric Porter Productions at North Sydney as the Managing Director’s private secretary.

Moving forward Clayton remarried and shared an Opal mining company called Harlequin Opals which mined and sold South Australian Opal to Opal outlets around Australia. In the early seventies, Joy moved overseas to America and established a successful business in New Jersey selling cut stones to the New York Market as well as other States throughout the USA. Joy was recognised as an international specialist in Queensland Boulder Opal by the Australian Government and concentrated on selling Boulder Opal as a sole trader upon her return to Australia and registered a new company QB Opals trading in cut and Rough Boulder Opal as well as specialising in rare Opal Fossils.

Clayton is a past Federal President and office bearer of the Australian Opal and Gem Industry Association and Life Member and Director of the Opal Association. In 1993 the Australian Government declared Opal Australia’s National Gem which was a tremendous boost to the Industry.

She was elected as a Waverley Councillor in 2004 and was active on numerous committees including Community Services and Public Works, Safety Committee, Waverley Surf Life Saving, the Bondi Forum and Bondi District and Chamber of Commerce, including serving as a chairperson of many of the above.

During her time on Council, Clayton was a passionate advocate for keeping the Bondi area litter-free working with local Members of Parliament on Graffiti Removal Day and Clean-Up Australia Day each year.

Her priority was to make Waverley a pristine place, targeting the above as well as removal of bill posters and promoting prompt removal of rubbish dumped on streets.

Clayton is a Life Member of Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club and City Tattersalls Club. She is a member of the Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Junction-Waverley RSL and former member of the Club Rose Bay and 18 Footers Sailing Club.

Her passion for local history was fostered by her membership of the Waverley Historical Society. She is also a member of Waverley Community and Seniors Association and VP of both the above. A Justice of the Peace for over forty years and a volunteer at Waverley Council Service Centre in Spring Street providing free JP service to the public on behalf of the Eastern Suburbs Branch of the NSW Justice Association.

Images courtesy Joy Clayton.