General News
27 April, 2022
Turner calls time after decades of care
LYN Turner has made the difficult decision to retire after more than 35 years with Terang and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS).
LYN Turner has made the difficult decision to retire after more than 35 years with Terang and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS).
Ms Turner began her career after moving to Mortlake in mid-1981 to begin her career with Terang hospital.
She worked on and off for a few years while raising her young family before working the evening shift.
As her family grew, so too did her availability to the service.
From 2004 she was working any shift needed at both the hospital and Mount View Aged Care with the support of husband Bill.
In 2001, Ms Turner began working at the Terang Social Centre as physiotherapy exercise coordinator to help clients boost their physical activity.
She later completed a Diploma in Lifestyle and Leisure, and coordinated the activity program at the Social Centre until the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
Ms Turner said the decision to retire brought about mixed emotions but she knew the time was right.
“I’m excited, nervous and a little sad but I’m also looking forward to it,” she said.
“It’s a long time to work at one organisation.”
Ms Turner said she had loved her time working for TMHS.
“It’s been great flexibility, great colleagues and it was convenient to be working in Terang as I was living in Mortlake.”
During her time with the health service, Ms Turner experienced the growth of the service through the addition of the Mount View Aged Care facility, the renovations which have occurred at the hospital and even the introduction of trousers instead of uniform dresses.
While the health service grew, so too did the friendship and working relationships she shared with colleagues and clients alike; including working with multiple generations of the same families.
She is known for having developed ‘The Golden Girls’ group, who enjoyed outings on a fortnightly basis to experience everything from art galleries to plant nurseries.
The outings centred on what interested clients and their like-minded companions.
While the decision to move on is one Ms Turner acknowledged was not easy, she said she looked forward to travelling and spending more time with her family.
“I’m travelling on The Ghan in June and going to an Elvis concert,” she said.
“I’ll be going to the footy and looking after my grandkids, which I am doing anyway, but I’ll have more time and not be so tired.
“Everything has revolved around work for me, and now I won’t have that.”
