Joan Kilner (d. 2009)
Joan Kilner died on 24 June 2009 after a long illness. She leaves her husband, Prof Tony Kilner and her two sons, Richard and Simon.
Joan started working in the Black Sash Advice Office when it was based in Athlone. Her husband Tony remembers her involvement "as a routine worker" from "when the office was next to the garage in Athlone" and when the office moved to Mowbray. Joan spent about 3 decades diligently giving of her services voluntarily. At the same time she was a voluntary counsellor at LifeLine where she received an Award for outstanding service.
Mrs Lettie Malindi, who worked with Joan, describes her as being "brilliant, wonderful, and a person who showed great care for people and the community. Personally she helped me enormously while I was in detention by collecting my children's clothes, washing them and returning them to my mother who lived in Athlone at the time".