Sister Marie Barrett began working at Cobden Bush Nursing Hospital in April 1967. She had recently finished her general training in Ballarat and just completed her midwifery training in Sydney when her mother rang to ask if she wanted to come home for a while to work in Cobden. “My sister was working here after a stint in Vietnam with a St Vincent’s surgical team, and they were desperately looking for staff in Cobden. After several phone calls, I agreed to come home for six to twelve months,” Marie recalls.Forty-seven years later, in 2014, our midwife and former director of nursing retired after a wonderful career at Cobden’s expansive health precinct at 5 Victoria Street.“When I arrived, I was a young and naïve nurse who had to learn on the run. We had a twelve bed acute hospital with a busy labour ward, theatre, and casualty department. There was only one person per shift except in the mornings when the matron, Janet Parlour, worked as well,” she said. “We had two doctors – Dr A H Barrett who, by that time, had suffered a stroke and was working part-time – and his son Dr Bill who had a very busy practice and worked 24/7.Marie said all baby deliveries were carried out in Cobden, including forceps and caesarean sections. “We relied on a visiting doctor from Terang, usually Bruce Appleby, for anaesthetics – also to give anaesthetics for general surgery. Very few cases were ever transferred and I saw quite a few undiagnosed multiple births as we didn’t have the benefit of ultrasound and x-rays.“All the nurses lived in the nurses’ home which is now the education area. Night duty could be quite scary and I was always relieved if we had a male patient who was up and about if needed. Dr Bill was also very good to us and would come up if we were ever in trouble,” she said. “Across the road was the holding paddock for stock to be sold at the saleyards (where the senior citizens’ flats are now located). So Thursday nights were very noisy and no-one ever had any sleep. Beyond the holding paddock was the tip and, when the rubbish was occasionally burnt, the rats seemed to find their way to the hospital. Marie spoke in glowing terms of Jean Willingham. “She was a fabulous cook who provided delicious meals, despite suffering from arthritis. One of our night duties was to open the flue on the wood stove and stoke up the fire at 4am so the oven would be hot for Jean to cook the scones at 6am: woe betide us if we forgot or were just too busy!

“Wendy Luker and I both had moments on night duty when hospital secretary Bert Scouller forgot to close the back gate and stray animals got into the yard – especially a neighbouring horse which frightened the life out of me one night, outside the nursery window disturbing the rubbish bins . . . and Wendy, another night, when it got into the entrance porch and couldn’t get out – the porch consisted mostly of glass.“Dr A H Barrett passed away in June 1968, and Dr Bill was on his own until Dr Jim Reid joined him in March 1969. With a degree in anaesthesia, he was a great addition to the team. Our theatre days became busier and, with the introduction of visiting surgeon Stewart Holloway (Terang), and obstetrician/gynaecologist Joe Brooks (Warrnambool), we could deal with most cases in Cobden.”Nursing duties were many and varied including manning the switchboard. Marie remembers, “The switchboard was a plug-in affair and we had to go through the main exchange – on night duty this was sometimes difficult as the young lad on the exchange was usually asleep and we would have to dispatch someone to wake him up – unfortunately, for him, it was usually Bill. Because we had a direct line to the Barrett house, we could usually contact him there but our biggest bugbear was the two-way radio he used on the golf course. “Another nursing task was doing the patient accounts until a receptionist was appointed in 1972. Thankfully, she also assumed responsibility for the money.“I remember when Wendy Luker and I were the only country girls doing a course in Melbourne. Our colleagues were absolutely amazed at the scope of work we did in one day - theatre in the morning, labour ward to follow then medical, surgical and geriatric nursing as well as possibly having someone in coronary care. The city nurses worked in one department and only did that one type of nursing. They were in awe.”

Marie said she owed most of her knowledge to two people in those early days. “Firstly, Phoebe Gray was probably the best and most competent midwife I have ever met. She taught me a lot including many tricks of the trade. The other major influence was Bill Barrett who incidentally Wendy Luker and I were terrified of when we first started, especially when he came marching into the hospital closely followed by two muzzled boxer dogs. We would hide and let Janet Parlour deal with him. Fortunately, I did overcome that fear. “One of the most important things Dr Bill ever taught me, apart from numerous medical procedures, was never to panic in any circumstances, and how to assess a situation calmly and methodically: they call it triage now.”Marie married Bill in 1972 and two children followed, Tony (1973) and Anna (1975). She had to resign and reapply later as there was no maternity leave. During that period Marie still scrubbed for emergency surgery which meant bundling up the kids and bringing them with them. “They still tell people they were bought up in the hospital.”Marie re-joined the staff in 1976 and worked constantly until 2014. She worked with five different CEOs - Bert Scouller, Jack Morris, Bob Reilly, Doug Issell and now Jeannine Creely and says she has learned from them all. “I have also worked with six different nursing directors– including myself from 1989 to 2002.”

Marie’s memorable moments• During handover one day, we heard and felt an almighty bang and

the whole building shook. At first we thought of an earthquake but, on closer inspection, discovered a car, with only the boot visible, protruding out of the unoccupied cardiac ward. Instead of reversing his car, an elderly gentleman had put it in drive and planted his foot – a lot of structural damage to the building but the man was quite alright.

• A snake was in the car park. Wendy Luker and Jean Heukers went out armed with a spade and a broom – result, one dead snake. We certainly had to be multi-talented.

• One morning, a shower was running in a bathroom. All the patients were accounted for in their beds. Handyman John Rippon had to take the snibbed shower door off its hinges – the shower was going full blast but there was no one in it!

• The Apex club organised annual hospital balls – with Barbara Leek’s expertise, we would put on cabaret-style floorshows with staff and doctors involved. One memorable show was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when we dressed as dwarfed Cobden footballers. Another year we did Cinderella, with Dr Bill and Jim Reid dressed in tutus. I think they were the ugly sisters.

Marie acknowledged Cobden District Health Services was a huge part of her life for 47 years. “I worked with some fabulous friends along the way. I lost two very dear people, my wonderful husband Bill in 2003 who I miss every day and my life-long friend Wendy Luker in 2008.“I have taken up golf in my retirement – I have a long way to go – just ask the ladies at the golf club – but I really enjoy the exercise and the social aspect,” she said.“I have been fortunate to have been able to travel to many countries in the world, both with Bill and with the children since his death . Anna and I travelled to Europe in 2004 to meet my first grandchild Mia who was born in Switzerland and to Eastern Europe with my brother and his wife. My eldest sister lives in Canada and I visited her twice and have been back since for my niece’s wedding. I hope to travel some more – health and finances permitting.

“I have my home on the market as I would like to be closer to family in Ballarat but, if and when I do, I will really miss Cobden and plan to visit often.”Marie said it was a very sad day for Cobden when the acute hospital was forced to close in June 1998. “But as a community, we have gained a lot in both aged care and ancillary services since. I think we should all be justifiably proud of CDHS and its wonderful staff and, as daughter Anna (an ambulance office in Melbourne who visits many nursing homes) often tells me: “Mum, you have a Palace in Cobden”.

Marie’s timelineBorn: Colac on 10th August 1944 – fourth in family of ten children (five girls and three boys, youngest two died shortly after birth).Family background: Father Ed and mother Mary Jones – Carpendeit farmers. Grandfather Harry and father were long-term Heytesbury Shire councillors. Originally from Wales and Ireland, Harry and his parents settled in Carpendeit in 1883. Education: Carpendeit State School, St Joseph’s College, Colac.Childhood: Very happy – not well-off but never wanted for anything – no family holidays as cows always had to be milked. Walked a mile to school and back again – rain, hail or shine. No television, spent our time outdoors. Both parents are now deceased but we are still a very close family.Early work/training/study: Worked in Coles (Colac) during school holidays – on the lolly counter which was a good and bad thing. Began work as a probationary nurse at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Melbourne until old enough for general training at St John of God Hospital Ballarat in June 1962 until 1966 – then went to Sydney for midwifery training at St Margaret’s Hospital Darlinghurst in 1966.Some important dates: • 1967: Began at Cobden Bush Nursing Hospital.• 1972: Married Dr Bill Barrett.• 1973: September, birth of son Tony who studied law/science

at Monash University. After graduating, spent 12 months backpacking overseas, then worked in Melbourne and Hong Kong. Married Lisa in 2003 and spent 2004 in Switzerland completing his MBA. Now general manager of SEEK Learning.com. Two children, Mia 11 and Jack 9.

• 1975: October, birth of daughter Anna who completed an arts degree at Monash and, after several changes, is now a paramedic, living in Melbourne with a long-term partner, currently stationed at Wendouree.

• 1976: Returned to work after a three year break to have children. • 1989: Appointed director of nursing; held position until 2002. • 2003: Dr Bill passed away.• 2006: Nominated for an achievement award at the Rotary

business awards.• 2014 – Officially retired and received a Corangamite Shire

Australia Day award.

Edition No. 47 May 27th, 2015

Friday 29th May: 8pm Old Time Dance at Cobrico Hall.Monday 1st June: 7.30pm Progressing Cobden meeting in Heytesbury Room. Saturday 6th June: 7pm Karaoke & Trivia Night. Cobden Golf Club. Gold coin donation. Phone: David Pringuer 5595 4441. Sunday 14th June: 9am - 1pm Market at Apex Park. 10am - 1pm Lake Cobden working bee.Monday 15th June: 7.30pm CopRice Cobden Spring Festival meeting in Heytesbury Room. Saturday 10th October: Claiming the date for the Spring Gala Extravaganza, in aid of CDHS Anzac Wing. Debs, graduates, brides, wear that special dress again. Contact Sandra Mason, s-mason@outlook.com or ring 5595 1352 for more information.Players wanted for a Cobden Night Netball competition starting Wednesday 15th July. Names in by Friday 29th May. Contact Janelle Smith 0409 423 687, Ella Howard 0488 057 000.Senior Citizens’ Hall: Bowls 1pm Mondays. Cards 1pm Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays. Hoy 1.30pm first Saturday of the month.

COBDEN CALENDAR

Bill and Marie - back when sideburns were popular with young fellows.

Above: In retirement, Marie enjoys a good read.

Right: Marie with her great friend, Wendy Luker.

- Connecting Cobden - A Progressing Cobden Twenty20 Vision Project. Registered email: kelvin@swllen.net.au

Bill and Marie (front) with daughter Anna and son Tony at Bill’s 80th birthday in 2000.