Celebrating Kerry's 60-year career

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) farewelled Kerry Mordaunt last week, a true nursing pioneer in Western Australia, who devoted 60 years of service to the community, the majority of that time at SCGH.

Kerry, who may also be the longest-standing registered nurse in WA, completed her last shift in the SCGH Respiratory Medicine Department on 9 July after spending the past 17 years in the Department.

Kerry commenced her nursing training at SCGH in 1964 and has worked in a variety of roles at the hospital. On the completion of her training Kerry moved to New South Wales where she worked as a theatre nurse for seven years before returning to SCGH in 1974 as a Relieving Charge Nurse before moving into the Coordinator of Nursing Management role in 1987.

Highlights included opening the first oncology unit in the state, commissioning the opening of SCGH’s G Block Theatres and being part of a new nursing structure. While still working part-time, Kerry also found time to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and a Post Graduate Certificate in Management.

During her time at SCGH she was also seconded to the Department of Health to assist in the decommissioning of both Sunset Hospital and Mt Henry and took on the temporary roles of Port Hedland General Manger for the East Pilbara Health Service and the Director of Nursing at Kalgoorlie Hospital.

Kerry left SCGH to commence as the CEO of Cystic Fibrosis WA from 2000-2006 after which she briefly retired before returning to SCGH's Respiratory Medicine Department.

In the Respiratory Medicine Department, Kerry started the first patient on a new revolutionary drug for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and was responsible for maintaining the SCGH CF database.

When asked what had changed during her time Kerry jokingly said everything.

"When I started at Charlies there was only A Block so everything you see around us has been added," she said.

"The hospital has been very good to me; I've had a lot of wonderful opportunities and made good friends" she said.

Kerry said she hadn't thought too much about retirement but expected that when she got home and reflected on her 60-year career she would feel a lot of emotion.

"I previously said I would stay until I was 80 years old, I turn 80 next year so I made it pretty close," she said.

Kerry will be missed around the halls of SCGH and we wish her all the best in her retirement, spending time seeing her children and grandchildren.