Usually, staff farewells are held in the tea room on a weekday morning. You pop in if you’ve got time for a skerrick of cake and say ‘hoo roo’.
But for Antoinette ‘Neti” Geary, it was the campus Concert Hall on a Sunday morning with 70 or more of her colleagues, past and present.
Afterall, 45 years’ service as a paediatric nurse at Bendigo Health, Neti was front and centre at her recent farewell sharing stories amidst laughter and tears.
In 1978 Neti commenced her training pausing to have two children for a couple of years and then graduating with current day colleague Sue Donnellan in 1983 (School 96). That was the beginning of their career and friendship.
In her farewell speech, Sue said, “All wondered who this young woman was with two young kids and how she would manage working full time and studying with a very young family.
“But in true Neti style she did it! Sue said to much laughter and applause,” said Sue.
After the training and placements Neti said she found her nursing niche, “I found my little niche in the kids ward and never left.”
But it’s not just all about the critical skills you need to excel in nursing. For Neti it’s also the value of a smile particularly in caring for sick children.
“One of the things that you try to get a child to do is give you a smile. It sort of helps to indicate how they're feeling or not feeling. If you get a smile, it's great. You love it.”
Neti says a smile has a healing capacity, “Yeah, it does. It makes you feel good. And if you can do that with your child you're looking after, then, yeah, it helps.”
While the day was to celebrate the exceptional nursing career of Antoinette Geary, it also highlighted the special connection and camaraderie between past and present staff members of children’s ward.
Thirteen retired and past staff members attended the function, but there were 16 others who due to other commitments or illness could not attend and were very disappointed.
Why is this connection special?
Children’s ward has always fostered a positive culture where newcomers are made to feel welcome, valued and supported. Of those that have worked for many years in children’s ward, the bond of this relationship is particularly strong.
Surrounded by her 15 grandchildren with another on the way, Neti said her six children were born while she was employed and raised while doing nightshift for 20 years.
As for people understanding what nightshift is like, “A lot of people don't understand. They feel that people sleep during the night and that's not the case.
“Babies need to be fed or settled. Parents need that chance to have a chat. It’s a good chance to reassure the parent then too,” said Neti.
Colleague and event organiser, Cath Pearce said the kids ward is very special, “It was so important to recognise and celebrate the lifelong friendships made between paediatric nurses and the care and respect shown towards each other.
Neti encourages nursing as a career pathway, “Oh, absolutely. It's an amazing career to be in. Very self-satisfying. It's fun, and enjoyable.
And on the huge crowd in the big hall who came to celebrate with lots of cake, “Oh, absolutely amazed. Everyone has had a very big impact on my life, and to see them all return was great.”
Sue recalled the time when Neti fell asleep in her driveway after a long night shift. “It speaks volumes about your commitment, giving so much of yourself that you literally couldn’t take another step before your body hit pause.
“Neti, beyond the jokes and memories, you’ve brought intelligence, compassion, humour, and genuine warmth to every shift. Your patients were lucky to have you, and so were we.
“Kindness, love, thoughtfulness and friendship are qualities which makes children’s ward staff special and that lasts well past the end of working life.
“… what we’ll miss most is you. Your heart, your spirit, and your friendship,” said Sue.