We have followed the life of Matthew Joyce with great interest. Not only have we been close friends with Matthew’s parents, Rob and Janet, our own son’s have gone through school together and remain close friends. This friendship extended to the coincidence that the three boys were all living in the UAE at the same time. Having known Matthew from a very young age, we have found him to be a quiet, sensible and reliable person with many loyal friends. He is a caring father and husband.

We have watched Mathew’s professional progress with interest and admire the success he has achieved. During our long association we have never had any cause to question his honesty or integrity.

We are saddened by his present predicament and we give our full support to him clearing his name and returning to Australia.

1978 was the first time I met Matthew. For the next 15 years he was what I would describe as one of those ‘stalwart’ friends. One of a group of 3-4 that shepherd each other through the vagaries of adolescence and young adulthood.  We worked together, lived together, played sport together and took holidays together. They were formative years and for my part it was a privilege to have someone like Matthew alongside me.

We had our disagreements but they didn’t last long. Most of the time we were a consolidated force working together chasing similar dreams – as one has in youth. While the outcomes of this effort were  rarely as planned it was mostly extremely positive and often a great experience.  Through this extended period and since I have never once had cause to question Matthew’s loyalty, integrity or character at any level.  He is one of those people that exude stability and surety – one whose example it was always worth following.  Often providing support to those less sure or less able to deal with various ‘life’ situations.

He was reliable – almost to a robotic level.  I think back over the years and remember running around the bush in the 1980’s – three times a week, two short runs and one long run.  I also remember that one bloke won every week and that Matthew, without fail came second in every single race – time after time, like a machine – just kept fronting up.  It was admirable stuff.  Then there was that one race, just one where Matthew won – it was such a turn up it still ranks as one of my fondest memories from that period.  Matthew’s reliability and honesty was broadly recognised.  He was one of a small group hand picked out of 300 possibles to go searching for lost hikers – and ultimately was in the group that found them.

Into adulthood we went our separate ways, different industries, different and expanded groups of friends.  When possible we kept in touch but things drifted to a point I found myself watching Matthew’s career from the outside.  It was no surprise to me to see him have such success in work and with family – he basically has admirable core values that are recognizable, highly prized and readily transferable.

His current situation is gut-wrenching to watch.  However, it is important that ‘distance challenged’ but highly skilled Australian’s like Matthew have the courage to take themselves and their families into totally different environments and cultures.  Working with other cultures and nations is a fundamental pre-requisite for the future of a ‘cooperative global community’ – there is much to be said for it and for those that undertake it. In Matthew’s case he has always had a desire to contribute – always keen to produce something and make a difference.  I never felt it was much about chasing personal success but more about contributing in the best way he could.

Individuals like this often find themselves having a level of success. My distant observations on this point suggest success does bring with it greater rewards but also greater risks. Simple decisions of early career escalate in later life to become future defining – either for good or bad.  Success involves informed risks and the ability to make hard and very hard decisions.  Such environments are double edged fostering both winners and losers, envy and adulation, leaders and scapegoats.  It would appear to me that few at the top work a full life immune from a perceived social, financial or emotional glitch in the eyes of others at some point.

Matthew has courage, resilience and an open honest character. I would happily extol his virtues at any given opportunity.  I remain optimistic and confident of his long term future – and will do whatever I can to support he and family.

Cullen Gunn

I have known Matthew Joyce since we were kids and he is a person that I love and respect. Matthew Joyce is a man that I can rely on and is married to the lovely Ange and they have three wonderful kids. I find the uncertainty of Matthew’s current situation hard to believe. All efforts must be made to ensure he clears his name and can return home to his country.

David Rogers

I have known Matthew for many years having grown up with him at the beachside mecca of Peterborough. With a great sence of humour and a happy outlook on life we had a lot of fun. It is hard to imagine he is in this situation. I wish him well.

Paddy Moore

I have always known Matthew as “Joycey” and he is one of my oldest friends. Our families lived in the same rural community and have shared friendships that now span several generations. Joycey and I went to school together, shared a house in Melbourne for a short time after leaving University and then both ended up in Sydney where we started our families. I look forward to another generation of friendship between our families as our children grow up. In all my dealings with Joycey over the years, as an adolescent and as an adult I have always found him to be reliable, generous, thoughtful, considerate, dependable and hardworking. He is the type of person you would always want on your team. I echo Cullen Gunn and Charlie Gubbins sentiments about his loyalty, common sense and maturity. Joycey is an admirable and honorable person and I am proud to call him my friend.

Wendy Jamieson

I got to know Matt in Dubai when the family moved into the villa behind us. In fact, I was stood on my balcony half-dressed when Ange yelled over “how’s it living here?” as she was being shown around for the first time. The answer was that once the Joyces had moved in, living there was fabulous. Our backdoors were always opened to each other and the adjoining gardens were as one property as we would to and fro trading frosties and endless evenings just talking all sorts of rubbish. We had never lived so close to anyone ever, but being neighbours with Matt, Ange and the kids it was the most natural thing to pass life in close proximity. Throughout the year we lived in the villas we got to know their friends and relations and having moved from Dubai, we miss that a lot. I know that there will be many people dying to see them all when Matt can finally leave Dubai, but as I’ve always said to him, there’s a frosty in my fridge in England and I hope they come over to claim it!

Shaun Wildey

I was the former colleague in Waterfront of Nakheel, and that time I was the construction manager for Omran and I was under Shehad and Conrade group. I meet Matt in the ceremony for the completion of Omran Labour accomodation. Matt is very kindly and warn to the staff. But after financial fall down in Dubai we have to force to separate. Suddenly today I found Matt’s web site and I hope we can meet and again together. Right now I was worked in Xiamen of China and my contact is (86)18606932833.

Paul Yu

I first met Matthew in the late 1990’s when he joined Australand in Perth, as General Manager of Australand Holdings, Western Australia. Matthew always demonstated excellent leadership characteristics, high integrity and gained an excellent reputation within the land development and housing industries. Following Matthew’s departure from Perth to advance his career, I subsequently lost contact with him, however I have followed his career with interest and noted his obvious character and skills provided him the opportunity to pursue his professional career aspirations. This eventually leading him to a senior position within Nakheel Corporation in Dubai. Upon learning of Matthew’s plight and following his story with interest, I have and will continue to lobby media and Government to ensure that Matthew’s situation is treated with urgency and that he has the best possible opportunity to return home as soon as possible.

Dale Alcock

Matt is my friend and I want him to come home now, enough is enough. As you can see by the many important people who have contributed, this bloke is of decent moral fabric and anyone who cannot recognise that has rocks in their head. If others had as much courage and honesty as Matthew Joyce has in his little finger on his left hand they would be war heroes. Time to come home Matt.

Matthew Vincent 

I was one of Matthew’s direct reports at Australand. He is a man of the highest integrity and I found that he applied that standard to all of his business dealings and expected nothing less from those around him. The recent decision by the Victorian Supreme Court demonstrates that he could only find himself in this situation as a result of the deceit of others who have made a bad business decision and tried to cover it up. These people have no regard for Matt, his family or the others wrongly implicated by their incompetence and inability to accept responsibility. I trust that the Australian Government will make every effort to convince the UAE to right the wrongs that have been done to Matt and his family and secure his, and his colleagues, immediate release.

Ross Biancato