Graduates of 1977 tell of their love of nursing

NURSING has come a long way from the days of patients smoking on wards and uniform hemlines having to be a certain length, the graduates of April 1977 say.

Nurses came from across the country to Hobart this week to meet for the 40th reunion of their time at the Preliminary Training School at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The majority said they were still practising and many spent their formative years working at the hospital and living together at the nurses’ accommodation in Campbell St.

“The difference between training now and when we trained is the fact we all lived together — we had our parties together and celebrated birthdays together,” retired nurse Agnes Stanislaus said.

“That relationship is something you don’t get unless you’re that close in such a big group and sharing all those experiences together.”

Inspirational patients and a passion for helping people was the driving force for most.

“The reason you stay with nursing is because of those quirky little things that happen, the friendships you have and, whether it be nursing formally or doing volunteer work, you tend to move back to that industry because of the inherent caring nature,” Jane Foden said.

“You never lose that desire to make a difference and improve somebody’s quality of life, whether it be at the beginning or end of their life,” Carol Gadd said.

It wasn’t unusual 40 years ago to have to empty patients’ ashtrays into paper bags, and gloves weren’t commonly used, they said.

The group welcomed comments from Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner on Anzac Day about recognising the role of women in war, particularly nurses.

“It’s slowly becoming more acknowledged that it wasn’t just the men who went and were directly involved in the war,” Carolyn Wallace said. AN exhibition to mark 40 years of the Clarence Family Day Care scheme has opened at Rosny Farm.

The exhibition features children’s art work, interactive art displays, photographs and toy memorabilia dating back to the 1970s.

Clarence City Council started the Clarence Family Day Care scheme in 1977 and has since cared for thousands of children, with the scheme currently averaging more than 400 children each week.

The Clarence Family Day Care scheme provides care for children from birth to 13 years within private homes of qualified registered educators.

Forty Years of Family Day Care will run until May 7.