Australia’s Most Decorated Woman – The Story of Joice Loch

Susanna de Vries

Jocie Loch was an extraordinary Australian. She saved countless lives post World War 1 in Poland, Serbia and Greece. During World War 2 she worked under cover for Britain and saved the lives of refugees in Poland and Romania.

Jocie Loch’s 12 medals are as follows:
• Poland: Gold Cross, 1922
• Serbia: Order of St Sava, 1924
• Greece: Order of the Phoenix 1926
• Greece: Order of the Phoenix, 1929
• Greece: Order of the Redeemer,1931
• Greece: Order of the Redeemer, 1932
• Greece: Gold Medal, National Academy, 1935
• Britain: MBE, 1933
• Romania: Order of Elizabeth, National Academy, 1941
• Poland: Gold Cross, 1945
• Greece: Order of Beneficence, 1950
• Greece: Order of Beneficence, 1952

This biography is a tribute to one of Australia’s more heroic women who always spoke of her fondness for her birth place in Queensland. In 2006, the Loch Memorial Museum was opened in the tower by the sea in Ouranoupolis as a tribute to the Loch’s humanitarian work.