General News
4 March, 2022
Sixty years of service to the Camperdown community
FRIDAY marked the end of an era for South West Health (SWH).
FRIDAY marked the end of an era for South West Health (SWH).
SWH bid farewell to its longest serving employee last week, Carole Manifold, who has been working at Camperdown Hospital for 60 years.
She began working at Camperdown Hospital in 1962, where she lived in the nurse’s quarters above the hospital.
Carole helped push the beds over to Merindah Lodge when it opened in 1976 and was on duty for the first night shift.
“From that moment she has had a life-long affinity with the aged care home and has served as President of the Friends and Relatives of Merindah Lodge Committee for 11 years,” according to SWH executive director redevelopment and infrastructure Jamie Brennan.
The nursing stalwart was honoured with a retirement bash last Friday at the Commercial Hotel in Camperdown which was attended by colleagues, family and friends.
Although Carole will be retiring from work at the Camperdown Hospital she will continue in her role as president of the Friends and Relatives of Merindah Lodge committee.
Mr Brennan commended her in her role as president and the impact she has had for residents.
“She has been instrumental in fundraising and planning outings and trips for residents,” he said.
In 2016 the committee helped SWH purchased a bus, and have since also planted a garden, purchased a TV and various other items to help the Lodge feel like a loving home.
Mr Brennan said Carole had always been a “passionate advocate” for patients and became a breast care nurse following her own experience with not one, but two, bouts of breast cancer.
“Perhaps Carole’s most impressive achievement however was chasing down an escaped prisoner from his hospital bed at 4am and convincing him to return again, all while his guard slept soundly unawares,” he said.
“A true act of nursing diplomacy!”
Carole described her retirement as bitter sweet.
“I’m still getting my head around it,” she said.
“I’m still pretty busy with my exercise classes and breast cancer nursing. I do 18 classes within Corangamite and Moyne Shire a week.
“Life’s pretty busy.”
Carole said she would miss working at the hospital.
“It’s been a part of my life for so long,”she said.
“I will miss it. It was a really great place to work in the community.”
Carole said she had plans of giving up her exercise classes any time soon.
She hopes to spend more time with her growing family, with 13 grand children and two great-grand children in the family.
Carole thanked those who attended the luncheon last week.
“The luncheon was fantastic,” she said.
“It was so good to see so many people I’ve worked with over the years.
“It was so good.”
