NSW’s longest serving nurse retires after 61 years at Sutherland Hospital

NSW’s longest serving nurse has revealed the first thing she plans to do on her retirement after 61 years in the job.

Nurse Kay Davison said she plans to drive to Alice Springs after retiring this week. Picture: David Swift

NSW’s longest serving nurse has retired after 61 years in the job and the first thing she plans to do is drive to Alice Springs in her Lexus IS250 convertible.

Kay Davison, 78, moved from her family home in Punchbowl to Sutherland Hospital in 1960, where she began her four years of general training.

She remembers the times wearing a hat and dress and “running up three stairs at a time around the wards” with her close group of nursing friends.

Nurse Kay Davison worked at Sutherland Hospital for 61 years before retiring this week. Picture: Supplied

Kay Davison, 78, said she thinks it was in her DNA to become a nurse. Picture: David Swift

“Because I lived in the nurses home for four years, I made lifelong connections and friends, Robyn Price who I did my training with is still my best friend today.”

When Mrs Davison was lying on a bed in Canterbury Hospital to have her appendix out she decided she would one day become a nurse.

“I was cared for very well by the nursing staff and was also very impressed with the crisp white and blue uniform the nurses wore,” Mrs Davison said.

“Robyn has said she thinks it was in my DNA to become a nurse.”

Mrs Davison talks of the “highs and lows” of her 61 years of nursing at Sutherland Hospital.

“In the quarters at night, we’d be up having fun and I remember when we heard the night supervisor coming we’d jump into bed, pull the covers up and close our eyes before the torch shone on our face.”

Nurse Kay Davison. Picture: David Swift

“The old building was only two years old when I started there, it was lovely because it had balconies all around it so we could get the patients out in the sun.”

“We just dealt with everything we had, we had no machinery to lift patients.

“I remember Robin and I would put one shoulder each under the patients arms and one, two three we would lift patients.

“They have machines for that now.”

Mrs Davison said she has “loved every minute” of her nursing career.

“It’s the most stimulating job, you’re problem solving and you’re dealing with lots of lovely people and it’s the people that have made my career,” Mrs Davison said.

“My three beautiful children were all born in Sutherland Hospital and I just love the hospital.

“I have always thought that if you find a job you love then you will never wish to stop working.”

Mrs Davison said she is concerned she will be “bored stiff” now she is retired so has made a bucket list of the things she plans to do.

“I’m going to be doing photography, art, pilates, walking, aqua aerobics and most importantly go for long drives in my convertible,” Mrs Davison said.

“I would like to drive to Alice Springs in my car and visit friends who work in the hospital there.

“Everywhere I go I love to see the hospitals.

“I recently drove to Broken Hill and they said it would take me eight hours after I stopped in Dubbo but it only took me six because there’s no speed limits you see.”

Originally published as NSW’s longest serving nurse retires after 61 years at Sutherland Hospital