My nursing career all started long ago with the women in my family. I remember sitting around the table at family BBQ's listening to my grandmother and my aunts tell nursing stories. It was these stories from the strong women in my family that birthed a desire to follow in their footsteps and purse a career in nursing.
Pamela Evaleen Willey was born in 1929 in London, England and she started her nursing career in 1951 when she graduated from her 3 year general nursing certificate at Brighton General Hospital. She then went on to do her Midwifery studies which at the time was a further 18months. During her midwifery studies she was engaged to my grandfather, Donald Bushby, a dashing young officer in the British Navy and they later married on the 26.09.1953 (which incidentally will later be the same date my only daughter is born 57 years later).
She went on to work at the Southlands Hospital in Shoreham-by-Sea, where she became a mother to Sally (her first born of 4 girls and my mother). In 1964 after the birth of 3 daughters, (Sally, Dawn and Beverly) Pamela, Donald and their daughters migrated to Australia. Before arriving in Australia Pamela had already secured a position at the Liverpool Hospital in NSW where we worked for most of her daughters teenage years and later became a mother to daughter number 4, Helen.
In the 70's Pam and Don decided to move to Queensland, presumably to chase better weather and lifestyle, however I'm not entirely sure they chose the best location for weather as they settled in Townsville. And while it definitely has plenty of sun, it also has plenty of heat!
1982 not only was I born in Townsville but Pam went on to complete a diploma of Nursing Administration at the Armidale College of Advanced Education in an effort to further her career in nursing management. This paid off in a big way. Pam was the Deputy Matron at the Townsville General Hospital from 1974 well into the 80's. She then went on to hold the Director of Nursing position at the Good Sheppard Nursing Home. It is this role that I remember most, spending plenty of time here as a young girl and participating in the annual Christmas concerts for the residents. Grandma retired early before reaching the age of 65 and lived to the ripe old age of 90. While grandma certainly started the nursing legacy in our family with 2 of my Aunts, 2 cousins and myself all going on to study some form of nursing (1 cousin became a vet nurse), it was a combination of all of the women in my family that ultimately led to my chosen career. I'll share their stories in posts to follow.
As the oldest granddaughter, I have always wanted to do my grandmother proud. In 2020, the year of the nurse and the year of the pandemic, I was awarded Nurse of the year and 2 years later I was awarded Nursing Director of the Year. These achievements held a great deal of meaning for me as I know that while grandma wasn't around to see me achieve these awards, I know she would have been so proud. Today, I have these awards hanging in my home office right next to grandma's nursing certificates as a constant reminder of the legacy of caring that has been left behind by my beautiful grandmother. My hope for the future is that my children and grandchildren will one day, look up to me and my achievements and out live me and achieve even more greatness.
Thank you grandma for this legacy and for ensuring that strength, determination and compassion were traits that you embodied and passed on to all of us.
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