THE AUDITORIUM BEARS THE
NAME OF LADY JOYCE FISHER,
NEE PAYKEL.

Joyce Paykel grew up in Epsom, Auckland and attended Epsom Girls Grammar School. She maintained a close connection with the school for her entire life.

Joyce's brother Maurice Paykel formed a company in January of 1912 with Woolf Fisher, a close family friend. Joyce married Woolf Fisher in September of 1935 at the Auckland Synagogue. Fisher & Paykel later went on to become a household name and iconic manufacturing company in New Zealand.

Joyce's husband Woolf, was knighted in 1964 for his contributions to industry and philanthropy. Joyce and Woolf had a long and happy marriage, which sadly ended with the sudden death of Sir Woolf in January of 1975.

Lady Fisher, like her husband, was heavily involved in a wide variety of charities and in March 1975 she established the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust. She continued to have a keen interest in charities which benefit New Zealand Youth and education and Fisher & Paykel's activities throughout her life, before passing away, aged 96 years, in July of 2009.

Today, Lady Fisher's legacy of generosity is continued through the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust. The Trust supports many of the charities Lady Fisher endowed including Laura Ferguson Trust, Auckland Hebrew Congregation, National Foundation for the Deaf, Ambury Park Riding for the Disabled, SPCA and projects supporting education.

Epsom Girls Grammar school is extremely grateful for Lady Fisher's patronage, which has had a great impact on the education and success of the arts for both the school and the wider community.