Biography:
After being a member of the Scout Association for 21 years and working with like-minded people, Joyce Proglio was looking for a Community Service Group that held the same form of structures and disciplines –voluntary, non-denominational and non- political. Joyce wanted to be involved with an organisation that 'hopped in and helped'.

As Australian Red Cross Personal Support Regional Liaison Officer for the Hills Area in Sydney, Joyce has found just that. 'I have found in particular the calibre of the volunteers I have been privileged to work with to be great givers – both of their time and the emotional support they give in a time of crisis,' Joyce said.

Being involved with Personal Support since 1998, Joyce has experienced the impact of a number of disasters first hand including the 2002 Christmas Bushfires where she worked at the Recovery Centre at Dural and organised the Door Knock with Personal Support people covering the area north from Dural to Wisemans Ferry, west to Lower Portland and back South East to Dural delivering water, grocery packs and 'green cuttings' for people who had ducks, chickens and rabbits. She also assisted on the American Tracing Hotline in September 2001 and the storms in the Richmond – Kurrajong – Wilberforce areas as well as assisting on the night shift during the Glenmore Park fires. Joyce has also become actively involved in representing Australian Red Cross at regional Department of Community Service meetings and forums.

Joyce says that the immediate acceptance of a person wearing a Red Cross Tabard has brought home to her the responsibility that a person has when wearing the 'Red Cross'. 'The organisation is held is such high regard across all sectors of the community and it is the commitment of the volunteers who keep the good will of the organisation alive'.