I have quite a unique and special connection to my workplace! It feels surreal to be in such a significant location for both me and my mum.
This heritage building, Murwillumbah District Hospital, is the guardian of a rich history, captured in the pictures of former staff, including my aunt, who was a ‘triple-certificate nurse’. Even more meaningful and enjoyable is sharing some laughs with my colleague over our ‘ancestors watching over us’ through the wall, as she also has a relative in one of the photos.
My mum recalls when she was five, walking from the train station to the CWA in King Street to hire a pram. After a weigh and measure, they could take turns wheeling her up hospital hill to visit Grandpa, who spent many years here, off and on.
My parents lived and worked locally when I was born. Dad brought mum to hospital and was asked to wait across the road in a ‘wait room’ which had chairs and a telephone, until he got a call to say I’d arrived. This later became the hospital shop. Dad remembers feeling very isolated and wanting to be with mum. Dr Peter Stanton Cook delivered me in the maternity ward (Room 1 Medical Ward), which was the same room mum was born in.
In 1980 I was accepted to Lismore Base Hospital to begin my registered nursing training. I completed my training in Sydney and returned home to work at The Tweed Hospital in 1983.
In 2009 I worked here as a nurse and remain connected to some of the staff who mentored me back into nursing. Now, I’m in my fifth year of working with the administration team. I’ve shared some great days over the years, particularly during COVID and flooding.
Our daughter, who is also a nurse, and I spent a week during the flooding sitting in a booth each at front reception, answering phones and responding to community enquiries. We lived close by and were able to get to work by going through one-way streets and keeping on the high roads in town.
We had a wonderful team supporting the marooned staff, feeding and dressing them, and in turn we enjoyed bringing in moisturiser, shaving cream, shampoo and treats for our nurses who were overnighting in the old nurses’ quarters.
I look forward to work each day and feel lucky to be a part of this service.