Milestone 50 years for nurse
Enrolled nurse Alison Dangerfield recently celebrated 50 years of dedicated service with colleagues and friends at the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service Length of Service awards.
Back in 1966, Ms Dangerfield took a gamble to move to the Miles Hospital to finish her training as an enrolled nurse.
Ms Dangerfield said she started her enrolled nurse training at Bundaberg Hospital, then moved to Brisbane and heard there were places at Miles so she could complete her training.
Without knowing a soul, the girl from Gayndah caught the “milk run” plane and headed west.
“I was lucky that someone was able to pick me up as I didn’t realise I wouldn’t land in town, it was out near Condamine,” she said.
“It felt like a long, long way but it was a real adventure.”
She met her husband Ian, a local, and together they raised their family in Miles.
“I returned to work when my son was three and a half. Back then, my wage was $48 for four days’ work, and that included the weekend,” she said.
These days Ms Dangerfield has been working part time in both the acute and the aged care sides of the hospital looking after patients and residents.
“The staff here are lovely, they really help you out,” she said.
“They are very good friends to work with, they make the job a lot easier.
“I have really enjoyed my working life. There have been many sad times of course, but overall it’s been really good.
“I come home at the end of the day and know I have put in a good day’s work. It’s very satisfying.”