In 1886 Joe went to work as a 16 year old on George Joseph Gooch's Wandagee Station. The following year he resumed studies at Fremantle Grammar School. Joes first known involvement in droving was in !891 (21) when he and Drover Jones passed through Victoria Plains. He conducted another lift of sheep in 1893 from Wandagee Station. In 1894 he then ventured into mining.

After several years mining he entered into a partnership with William Septimus Snook and they took over the lease of Wooramel Station. During November 1907 this partnership was disolved and 2 more partners were taken on, namely James McCarthy and Thomas Statham. The company was then known as Snook, Waldeck and Co. Wooramel Station was eventually sold in June 1923 to Mr Ernst Anderson Hall. Joe spent 12 plus years droving and his postal address was via Minganew.

Mr J. F. Waldeck will early in May start with a mob of 4,000 sheep from Yanyeareddy station, droving them to Minginew.
Northern Times Carnarvon, WA Saturday 21 March 1908

Joe Waldeck passed Mullewa on Thursday with 1,000 sheep en route to Minginew. He reports a very wet trip and considers about eleven inches of rain have fallen since leaving Yanyeareddy. He had much difficulty in crossing the rivers. The stock route is looking splendid right through and squatters need not hesitate about sending stock overland this year.
Northern Times Carnarvon Saturday 11 July 1908

Drover Joe Waldeck with 4,300 sheep, from Yanyeareddy en route to Minilya, entered Clifton Downs paddock May 22nd.
Nor-West News Geraldton Guardian 26 June 1909

Mr. J. F. Waldeck returned from the south per the S.S. Gorgon after a successful droving trip from Yanyeareddy to Minginew. He had charge of 4,300 sheep and during the journey down only lost ten. He reports that the route is in good condition for travelling, there being plenty of feed and surface water. The wells which however, he did not have occasion to use, require attention from the authorities before the summer sets in. The market at Mingenew is very depressed, and early this month store cattle were sold as low as 2£ 7s 6d. Mr. Waldeck is now proceeding to Wandagee and Middalya to lift 3,000 sheep for Mr. G. J. Gooch and drove them to Minginew
Northern Times Saturday 24 July 1909

Drover Waldeck has passed through with 4200 sheep for Mullewa
Northern Times Saturday 28 July 1917

Drover Joe Waldeck passed Carnarvon last week with 1800 mixed breeding ewes from Point Charles and 1200 from Middalya en route Mullewa and Mingenew.
Northern Times Saturday 5 January 1918

The following stock passed the Boundary Store, recently for Mullewa Drover Joe Waldeck, 4550 mixed sheep from Mardie Station, July 4
Geraldton Guardian Saturday 27 July 1918

The following stock passed Boundary Store, Gascoyne River on the undermentioned dates. October 23, 4000 ewes from Onslow Creek Station, to Mullewa, Drover Joe Waldeck in charge.
Daily Telegraph and North Murchison Gazette Friday 8 November 1918

Several mobs of travelling stock passed Boundary Store, Gascoyne River, during last month, of which belated news has just come to hand as follows. June 23, 3000 fat wethers from Doorawarrah to Mullewa, Drover Joe Waldeck in charge.
Daily Telegraph and North Murchison and Pilbarra Gazette Friday 5 August 1921