For over half a century, Heather Hancock’s passion for helping others has seen her dedicate her working life to care for the people of the Tweed and Murwillumbah communities.
Heather trained as a registered nurse at a private hospital in Brisbane, before returning home to Murwillumbah to decide her next move.
After a local chemist encouraged her to work at Murwillumbah Hospital, Heather headed along and introduced herself to the Matron, Miss Riddell, and started immediately. However, her initial experience wasn’t without its challenges, prompting her to offer her resignation to Miss Riddell by the end of her very first day.
Heather’s training at the private hospital had familiarised her with contemporary theatre practices, whereas Murwillumbah Hospital used traditional methods, prompting Heather to express her concern to the Matron. Rather than accepting her resignation, Miss Riddell urged Heather to modernise the hospital's theatre nursing practices. So, she did!
Heather headed back to Brisbane for further training and experience. However, she was soon missing home and jumped at an offer from the Matron to return and set up the new hospital operating theatre at The Tweed Hospital.
Heather spent six months setting up the theatre at and was part of the first surgery carried out on 21 March 1973, before the hospital had even opened. She was integral in expanding the perioperative department, even commandeering space from the then Emergency Department to set up a second theatre, recognising the need for an emergency theatre to be available when the other theatre was tied up.
As The Tweed Hospital expanded and more theatres were built, Heather continued to be involved in readying them for patients.
Fast forward 51 years, and Heather continues to be a much-valued member of the Tweed theatre team. Whilst the department has grown significantly over the years, the key foundations Heather put in place in the early days remain – innovation, passion and care for others.
When the time came to plan the perioperative spaces for the new Tweed Valley Hospital, it was an easy decision for Perioperative Nurse Unit Manager, Neroli Prestage, to involve Heather.
Heather spent the weeks before the 14 May opening of the Tweed Valley Hospital, setting up the theatres ready for the hospital to start receiving patients, this time preparing a total of 12 theatres, rather than one.
Heather’s passion for theatre nursing remains strong, and she continues to love what she does. For now, she’s right where she wants to be – living and working in the region where she was born and raised, living in her family home in Murwillumbah and enjoying gardening outside of work (thankfully not 24/7 anymore!). She’ll think about retirement, “one day.”