The Winner of the 1996 Nicholson Award for the International Caregiver of the Year was Joan Dartnell from Australia

Joan Dartnell

Joan Dartnell's daughter Natalie was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1988 at the age of 13 years. During the next few years Natalie had frequent major exacerbations necessitating transfers by air ambulance to hospital in Sydney. Natalie"s level of disability is now severe and her care needs are high.

Despite these problems Natalie remains an integral part of the family and its activities and this has been due to the way that Joan has managed to integrate the rest of the family with Natalie on a daily basis.

Joan has always been a supporter of the local MS Support Group and, because of her high profile in the local community, has often been asked to talk to newly diagnosed people which she does willingly.

Each year Joan organises a major fund raising function in the local area which raises thousands of dollars of the MS Society of New South Wales