Service award a heavy Cross to bear for Phyll

Andrew Mathieson
LEOPOLD marvel Phyll Serpell is not one for pomp and ceremony.
Just convincing her to accept a rare Red Cross distinguished service award was hard enough on the dedicated volunteer.
But she refused an offer for the presentation to be held at Government House in favour of accepting the award in front of friends at Leopold Red Cross unit.
“I’m accepting it under pressure because the unit wanted to do something,” she said.
“I’m always of the opinion that one person shouldn’t get an award – this should be for the whole unit.”
Little did Phyll know when she took over as Leopold’s unit treasurer in 1971 how great would be her influence on Red Cross.
As one of the first to begin the charity’s traditional door-knock appeal, she has raised thousands of dollars ever since.
“Back in those days, we more or less ran our own thing,” she said.
“There were less rules and regulations.”
CFA members, Girl Guides, mothers’ clubs and kindergartens have benefited from Phyll’s wisdom during most of the past four decades.
She has also provided emergency catering during flood and fire disasters and vital first aid in the aftermath of the region’s 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires.
While serving up snags to survivors and firefighters during Ash Wednesday her goodwill even extended to pets dogs and possums.
“In a situation like that the people get looked after first but poor animals are left to fend for themselves for days on end.”