Lyn Crellin

Childhood

I grew up in an isolated corner of southeastern NSW surrounded by timbered hills, sheep, cattle, dogs, poddy lambs and lots of kittens. Although it was an idyllic childhood it had one drawback. There were no readily accessible schools. My sister’s and my primary education, therefore, was by correspondence and our secondary was at boarding school in Melbourne.

Early Career

After I finished school, I completed a twelve-month Nursing Cadetship at the Eye and Ear Hospital while I waited to commence general training at the Alfred Hospital in1962. After graduation, I remained at the Alfred until 1967 when I resigned to marry and to commence Midwifery at St George’s Hospital Kew. At that time, St George’s Hospital was one of only two midwifery schools in the state that would accept married students. How fortunate it is that attitudes towards women in the work force have changed significantly since that time! After I finished Midwifery, I worked as a receptionist for two obstetricians and gynaecologists. I resigned 12 months later when I was expecting my first child.

In the early 1970’s there was a shortage of nurses, and to help address this shortfall, the Alfred Hospital was willing to employ nurses part time. I was delighted by the hospital’s newfound flexibility, as I had two children under 2 years and was only able to manage part-time work. In 1971 I returned to the Alfred Hospital and was employed part time in the paediatric unit where I had worked previously. So began 13 years of part time night duty while I “grew” my children up enough to allow me to return to full time work!

Employment at the Royal Children's Hospital

In 1984 I deemed my children to be “old enough”, and I was ready to start full time work again. Where else, other than the Royal Children’s Hospital, would someone who had been working in a paediatric unit for more than 13 years seek employment? My application to the Royal Children’s Hospital was successful, and I was employed in the acute respiratory and gastroenterology unit, which at that time was on the 9^th Floor of the Old Building.

Four years after joining the staff at the Royal Children’s Hospital I was appointed as Unit Manager of the inpatient area for children who had chronic respiratory, gastroenterology and developmental disorders. Endocrinology and liver transplantation were added to the inpatient cohort six years later.

In 1990 I took study leave from my position as Unit Manager to undertake a Bachelor of Nursing at Latrobe University.  After my return from study leave, I became a respiratory assessor for students who were enrolled in the Post Graduate Diploma of Advanced Nursing – Paediatric, University of Melbourne. In 2000 I became a Fellow in the School of Nursing within the Faculty of Medicine, Melbourne University.

As a manager of an inpatient area, I believed that it was incumbent upon me to gain a post graduate qualification in management. To test the waters, in 1994 I enrolled in a unit of a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies at the Melbourne Business School – Melbourne University. This unit was followed in 1996 by a Certificate in Workplace Leadership, and two years later by an Advanced Certificate in Management Skills. These two courses were offered by the Swinburne University of Technology. However, my academic endeavors confirmed that higher education in management was not for me, but exciting challenges awaited me in my existing role.

In1995 the first liver transplant was undertaken at the Royal Children’s Hospital. When paediatric liver transplants were first offered in Victoria, at the time of the transplant, children were transferred to the Austin Hospital for the surgery and for the immediate post operative care. They returned to the Royal Children’s Hospital after they had been stabilized in ICU post operatively. This changed in 1995 when the Royal Children’s Hospital began to provide all the medical, pre-operative and postoperative care. It was my responsibility to prepare the unit and the staff for this new and exciting initiative.

Funding became available for a Liver Transplant Coordinator at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2000, and I was delighted to be appointed to the position. The role provided a rewarding opportunity to develop a new role, to work closely with families, Dr. Arnold Smith, the transplant and multidisciplinary teams throughout the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Austin Hospital Transplant Unit and the donor agencies. It was the highlight of my career.

Scholarships and Awards

Department Health Victoria Post Graduate Nursing School Scholarship – full time 1990

Volunteers Scholarship Royal Children’s Hospital 1990

Royal Children’s Hospital Chairman’s Medal 2010

Retirement

Early in 2011 I looked back on 50 years of nursing that had taught me so much more than anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology. The years had been wonderful ones that had enriched my life, but the time had come to pursue other interests. In June 2011 I resigned and hung up my coordinator’s phone for the last time.

Retirement has offered even more enriching years. I have a wonderful son and daughter, their partners and grandchildren and can now spend more time with them. I have returned to tennis, social only now, and there is more time for exercise and the gym. I have joined a music group which meets regularly to hear and discuss music, and my book group continues. I have a broad range of friends with whom I can now socialize more often and there is more time for travel. I also have a beautiful cat who provides company and entertainment every day and there is more time to spend with him!

Retirement has also given me an opportunity to volunteer. Eleven years ago, I began volunteering at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre as a caseworker. My years at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre have taught me a great deal about resilience and fortitude, and also, sadly, about the treatment of those who come to Australia seeking asylum and a sanctuary.  Over more recent years I have also become a volunteer at the Cat Protection Society of Victoria, and what more joy could there be for a cat lover than to be surrounded by wall-to-wall beautiful cats on Wednesday afternoons?