PHYLL Serpell\u2019s home has been the centre of Leopold\u2019s Red Cross for the past few decades, where locals know they can go to for assistance or help.<\/p>\n
Phyll started volunteering with the Red Cross back in 1970 when she was just 31 years old, and last week received the Laurel Wreath for 50 years\u2019 service.<\/p>\n
This latest award follows a Distinguished Services Award in 2011, Award of Merit in 1993 and a commendation in 1989.
\nWhen asked what the Laurel Wreath meant to her, Phyll joked that, \u201cMost people just don\u2019t realise how important I am!\u201d<\/p>\n
Phyll said she inherited her passion for the Red Cross from her mum, Pat Pullin, who received a Guild Rosette for 60 years\u2019 service. She passed away at age 105.<\/p>\n
Phyll recalled her involvement in the Red Cross Calling door knock when she used to organise the fundraiser from Moolap Station Road down to Grubb Road, including Wallington.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had more than 100 people door knocking towards the end, but then the town got too big and I couldn\u2019t organise it anymore, so then we sat at the shopping centres and collected, but I think they are phasing that out now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd especially in the last two years due to COVID we haven\u2019t been able to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phyll also volunteered in emergency care, which started after Ash Wednesday\u2026 \u201cback before everything got highly political\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had six chiefs and about 40 Indians, and if anybody, usually the firies, needed feeding, we had a list and would ring one of the chiefs who would then go down the list of Indians and get a crew of six or something together and go off and do their thing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut these days Red Cross insists you have to be accredited to make a sandwich and for whatever else you do, so we have lost a lot of people on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phyll said she used to set up a lot of first aid posts, such as at pony club events in Geelong, and help lost kids find their parents on Gala Day.<\/p>\n
She has also written for the Leopold Local for quite a lot of years, and always with humour.<\/p>\n
Red Cross officials were meant to attend the Leopold Unit\u2019s latest Annual General Meeting at St Mark\u2019s Church last Wednesday, but due to COVID and restricted numbers, was cancelled.<\/p>\n
Phyll joked that she preferred the meetings at her place though, because then \u201conce a month the lounge room gets vacuumed\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PHYLL Serpell\u2019s home has been the centre of Leopold\u2019s Red Cross for the past few decades, where locals know they can go to for assistance or help. Phyll started volunteering with the Red Cross back in 1970 when she was just 31 years old, and last week received the Laurel Wreath for 50 years\u2019 service. […]<\/p>\n