66 - CSI Challenge - Anatomy of nurses training

This week's colours reminded me of our hospital colours which were red white and grey, so I decided to scrap a photo which is many years old, but it still makes me smile. The quality of the photo is bad, but it reminds me of an era, a different society and of friendship born of united goals.  One of my friends has died, another has had cancer and we are all old chooks, but what we shared was precious and deserves to be remembered.

The photo is one of three of my cobbers, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  As usual, I am behind the camera, so nothing much has changed there.  We were all country kids and therefore not quite up to snuff with the city slickers.  They probably out did us in the sartorial stakes, but we won hands down, with our work ethic and practicality.

EVIDENCE

Buttons

Arrows

Plaid or check pattern

Heart

Plain white background

Holes - punched on the border

Drawing - doodled arrows

TESTIMONY

I chose to start my writing with “Anatomy of.....” and went on with details about Nursing training in the sixties.

THE JOURNALLING READS

Trainee Nurses were not allowed to continue their training if they got married.  We worked up to 60 hours a week, staying on duty until chores were completed. There was no provision for part time work. We earned less than $25.00 for our 60 hour week.

If unwell, we had to dress in full uniform, walk to Matron’s Office across the 

quadrangle and be examined by her.  She would then decide if we were crook enough to have a day in bed.  All sick leave had to be made up at the end of the course. A fine incentive not to “swing the lead.”

Whilst on Night Duty, we got out of bed to attend 2 p.m. Doctor’s lectures.  

Late leave to go out at night, was requested from the Home Sister, the one in charge of the Nurses Home where we all lived.   Only one late leave a week was permitted and begrudgingly approved by this self appointed moral guardian of our virtue. Nurses Home doors were locked at midnight, too bad if we weren’t Home.  Punishment for being late home was extra cleaning duties and no leave at all for a month.

This sign was placed in front of the Nurses Home, supposedly to stop Nurses kissing 

and cuddling their boyfriends in the car after a night out. To ensure no such liberties were taken, Home Sister used to ride her wooden broomstick around to shine her torch into the cars. 

In the four years of training we grew from girls into women & made friendships which have lasted a lifetime.  We looked after each other through thick and thin and most of all we had fun on the journey.

MATERIALS

Kaisercraft - white cardstock

Basic Grey - Patterned Paper, Wassail collection, D1448, Mantle, reverse side (red)

Basic Grey - Patterned Paper, Black Tie collection, D144, ( check)

My Mind’s Eye - Follow your heart collection, “Be amazing” reverse (spots)

My Mind’s Eye - Boy Crazy, Decorative buttons

Michelle Singh’s downloadable art - Heart and the arrows

Prima alphabet - Sunrise Sunset collection # 562984

Tape ribbon -  Craft Queen

E.K. Success Punch - Binding edge