Lifetime of devotion for Shirley

There is no questioning that Shirley Summerhayes has devoted a lifetime to caring for others.

The enrolled nurse has been recognised recently by Grampians Health for her 45 years of service to the Stawell Hospital and MacPherson Smith Residential Care and yet amazingly, Shirley had already nursed across three states of Australia before she settled in the gold mining hub of the Wimmera.

Growing up on a farm north of Minyip, when Shirley left school nursing was her only goal. She trained at Horsham’s Wimmera Base Hospital and worked there for a while after graduating.

Then Shirley got the urge to see more of her country. For the next few years, she worked in hospitals at Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh before moving interstate, nursing in Alice Springs, Bundaberg and Mt Isa. Shirley’s next move was back to Victoria, working in Melbourne and St Arnaud then Warracknabeal.

In 1981, Shirley moved to Stawell and started working in what she referred to as the ‘old section of the hospital’.

“One end of the section was the female ward and the other end the make ward with six beds to a bay and there was a communal shower in between,” Shirley said.

After two decades at the hospital Shirley transferred to MacPherson Smith in September 2003 where she reaffirmed her true passion for looking after the elderly.

MSRC Care Community Manager Tess Beniga said that Shirley’s dedication was exceptional and she remained completely committed to nursing.

“Even after five decades of nursing, Shirley still works full time, almost never takes a sick day and has to be encouraged to take annual leave,” Ms Beniga said.

“She is just so committed to her colleagues and the care community. She clearly loves what she does.”

Ms Beniga said Shirley had to adapt and roll with so many changes in the industry throughout her career but she had always shown a willingness to learn and adjust.

“A great example of this was when computers were introduced to nursing and Shirley didn’t know how to turn one on, let alone use it.

“She admitted to not being very tech savvy but she was soon sending emails and completing all the necessary documentation without missing a beat.”

Shirley said she absolutely loved going to work every day and socialising with her colleagues and the residents.

“I don’t have any immediate thoughts of retirement but I guess it will have to happen eventually,” Shirley said.

Grampians Health Chief Operations Officer Ben Kelly spoke at the award ceremony and congratulated Shirley and acknowledged her undeniable dedication to nursing and to those for whom she cares.