Shirley Roberts celebrates 50 years as a nurse in Crookwell and Goulburn

This year, Shirley celebrated 50 years of nursing.

Here, she tells her story and reflects on what she most enjoyed throughout her 50 year career:

I commenced my nursing career at Crookwell District Hospital, and instantly knew that this was the career for me.

My initial training was second to none as it was hands on training.

There were three shifts and my favourite was mornings - from 6am to 2.30pm.

Crookwell District Hospital in the 1970s catered for care of the elderly (no aged care as we know it now).

There was also a children's ward, maternity ward and a general ward.

The hospital at that time also did theatre work where I enjoyed the role of scrub nurse.

The matron at this time ran a tight ship and staff were always respectful and in turn they were respected.

My Enrolled Nurse training was completed at Crookwell Hospital for practical skills and Goulburn Base Hospital for theory skills.

In March 1972 I gained my Enrolled Nurse Registration of which I am very proud.

I continued nursing once I married and in between having three children.

I particularly enjoyed working in children's ward but when it closed, I moved to the maternity and general wards.

In 1990 I worked between Crookwell Hospital and Banfield House hostel and did this until I chose to work solely at Banfield House hostel, where I worked for 18 years.

It initially had 14 residents lived there which increased to 21 after renovations.

In 2008 Viewhaven Nursing Home was built by the Crookwell Taralga Aged Care Ltd and this facility provided care to residents from Banfield House hostel and Harley Nursing Home.

I enjoyed my rapport with the older residents while caring for them and always providing high quality care and support both to residents and their families.

You need to be a special type of person to work in aged care - patient, kind, caring and compassionate which I always strived to achieve.

In October 2020 I celebrated 50 years of providing nursing services to the Crookwell and district communities.

I have always been proud and privileged to provide high quality care and compassion to all ages.

Unfortunately coinciding with my 50 years' service, I resigned from my position due to ill health.

If not for my ill health I had no plans to retire as my nursing career gave me a sense of purpose and pride in helping others.

I have appreciated working within a dedicated team of professionals - doctors, managers, CEO's, directors of nursing, Registered Nurses, nurses, admin staff and housekeeping and maintenance staff.

I still maintain many friendships from over my 50 years of nursing for which I am very grateful.

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