General News
3 March, 2022
Beloved nurse farewelled
TERANG and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS) farewelled nurse unit manager Sarah Williams after almost three decades of service.
TERANG and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS) farewelled nurse unit manager Sarah Williams after almost three decades of service.
Mrs Williams finished her role with TMHS last Friday after providing 28 years of support for patients.
She began at TMHS in 1994, when it was still known as the Terang Community Hospital.
“I was fresh from attending my midwifery training in Scotland,” she said.
“Later in 1994, Terang Hospital amalgamated with Mortlake Hospital. The following year there was a large redevelopment of our nursing home and our residents went to the Mortlake campus to reside while works were completed.”
In 2002 she had the opportunity to join the board. While her term was short-lived due to state restrictions on board members, she had the opportunity to gain vital insight in to the health service.
“In 2002 I was approached by the hospital board to become a board member,” she said.
“During my time on the board, it was determined by the Health Department that employees of a hospital could no longer be on the board of their employer.
“I saw out one term (three years) on the board, and this provided me with a wealth of knowledge about governance.”
Among the highlights for Mrs Williams during her time was the 2001 establishment of the Early Parenting Centre in Terang, the first in regional Victoria, and in 2007 when she became the first nurse unit manager of the acute ward.
“This involved the oversight of acute, theatre and midwifery,” she said.
Changes she has experienced in contemporary times include the reduction of acute beds from 27 to 14 in 2016, the development of a day stay unit, retaining of the midwifery unit until 2020 and the growth of the theatre at Terang hospital.
Mrs Williams said all of her experiences had culminated in the health service being something she remains passionate about to this day.
“There are plenty of memories,” she said.
“I could write a book on this place.
“I am extremely passionate about this health service, but I think as I get older I haven’t got the energy to put in what I used to; a 2am callout would probably kill me now.”
The end of the era had not yet fully sunk in for Mrs Williams, but she said she knew it was time to move on and allow a fresh approach to take over.
“It’s a bit surreal at the moment,” she said.
“When I reflect on my decision I’ll think, ‘What on earth have I done?’
“But I believe you can stay in a position too long, and it’s time to move aside and let the fresh blood come in and take over with their fresh ideas.”
The responsibility of bringing the fresh ideas will fall on Elizabeth Mioduchowski, who takes over the nurse unit manager role.
While Mrs Williams’ time with Terang and Mortlake Health Service has come to an end, she is not yet done supporting those who come through hospital doors.
“I’m going to Queensland to hopefully do some remote nursing and midwifery,” she said.
“We’ve been going up to North Queensland for about 20 years and it keeps drawingme back.”