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Shippy retires in style after 50 years of nursing

4 min read

Rosalyn Shipp celebrated her 50th year of nursing this year and commemorated her illustrious career with a retirement party with friends and family. Rosalyn shares her story with Dubbo Photo News:

I was born in Dubbo in February, 1956. My parents were Mickey and Betty Shipp. Dad passed away in 1970, when I was just 14. I had one older sister Lorraine who sadly passed away on October 25 this year. Lorraine will be sadly missed. I went to Dubbo Central School and then Dubbo High School. When I was young, I was in the Dubbo Swimming Club and during winter I played hockey.

In 1973, when I was in 5th form (Year 11), I decided I wanted to begin nursing. I got an application form in September 1973 and then started nursing on October 3. I moved into the nurses’ home and end up living there for 11 years. What great times we had there, and lifelong friends were made during that time.

My first shift was in the old maternity ward. The shift started at 6am. I did my first 12 months there and enjoyed every moment. My first uniform was a light mauve with a white cap. I have special memories of the girls there that were so good to me when I first started... Janet, Marg, Bev and Pam. There have been three maternity wards while I have worked at the hospital. The old one is where the medical ward is now.

After my first 12 months in maternity ward, I worked mostly in the old female and male wards. They were the best wards to work in. In 1976 they introduced ward clerks who were enrolled nurses in those days. Dr Beith started doing the rounds and he began calling me ‘Matron’ and that name has stuck.

Mum remarried to John Porter in 1976 and they moved to the Gold Coast. I spent my annual leave sun-baking on the Gold Coast, visiting mum and John. In 1979 I decided to move to the Gold Coast to be closer to them. I worked three months at the Princess Alexandra Hospital but wanted to return to Dubbo. When I returned to Dubbo, I got a job back at the Dubbo Base Hospital and became the ward clerk in the male ward from 1979 to 1990. Sadly, John passed away not long after I returned to Dubbo, however mum remained there for many years and that was my destination for annual leave.

My in-charge in the female ward was Lorraine, and male ward was Helen. I still remain good friends with them both. I have seen a few matrons during my time at the hospital. Today they are called the directors of nursing.

I have met so many girls through nursing that have become lifelong friends. I can remember going to a hospital ball as robots with Liz and Tarn. We made the robot outfits out of cardboard but then we discovered we couldn’t bend when we had them on! We had to get lifted onto the back of a ute and taken to the ball. We called ourselves A1, B1 and C1.

Through nursing I met Bernadette and, after a visit to her hometown of Forbes, she introduced her brother Stephen. We married in 1984 and will be celebrating 40 years of marriage in June next year.

In August, 1985, Steve and I had our son Grant. After maternity leave, I returned as ward clerk. In December 1989 we decided to move to Narromine. In November, 1990, our daughter Megan was born.

The next year mum moved to Narromine from the Gold Coast and we built a granny flat for her. Mum stayed with us for nearly 20 years, sadly passing away in 2013. Steve worked away a lot, and mum’s move to Narromine helped me to return to work as permanent part-time doing night duty. I have been doing night duty now for 32 years in male ward, female ward and G ward (now called medical ward).

Steve and I have a beautiful family: Grant and his wife Renee and their children Alice and Elsie; and Megan and her husband Alister and their son Fletcher.

I have seen many changes over the years, some for the better and some not. During the years I have met some lovely patients. Many friendships I’ve made have lasted over 40 years, some 50 years. I am not just a friend of the girls but also their families. I am sad to be leaving but am ready to go and have 'my' time and family time. It has been my life and I have no regrets. My nursing life has been great... it can be hard at times but as long as you can walk out smiling it is all worth it. I will always remember my nursing life, the good times, the sad times and the beautiful friends I’ve made.