Sheila Simpson awarded Order of Australia medal for service to nursing
After dedicating her career to caring for patients with tuberculosis, one woman has now been recognised for her services to nursing as part of this year’s Australia Day honours.
Liverpool
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When Sheila Simpson left school, she had no idea what she wanted to do.
Coming from the country in NSW’s Upper Hunter Region, there were limited opportunities, she said.
Little did she know many years later she would be awarded an Order of Australia medal for her services to nursing.
The 71-year-old can today reflect on a nursing career spanning decades with pride and passion.
From humble beginnings as a nursing aid in Manly in 1967, Ms Simpson later trained to become a registered nurse.
She subsequently completed a cardiothoracic course and worked as a nurse at Randwick Chest Hospital, now the Prince of Wales Hospital.
In 1984, she moved to Liverpool Hospital, where she would continue caring for patients until her retirement in 2018.
There, she worked in the Liverpool Chest Clinic before serving as clinical nurse consultant and tuberculosis co-ordinator for the South Western Sydney Local Health District.
“We had a great team of nurses. I did at Randwick and I certainly did at Liverpool. Everybody worked together,” Ms Simpson said.
She remembers her time working in the southwest fondly.
“I just enjoyed the work so much, working with people. I never really had any problems with people. It was great to work with a wonderful group in the community.”
Specialising in tuberculosis, Ms Simpson dedicated her career to caring for patients affected by the illness.
“When people have got tuberculosis they recovered and it’s nice to work with people who recovered. Some diseases are very hard because they’re terminal.”
She said she was surprised to be recognised for her work in the community.
“I was really honoured.”