VFA Learning honour deceased Geelong student with nursing lab

A Geelong learning institution has renamed one of its facilities after a Highton student who completed her training while battling cancer.

Emma, Leesa, and Chris Scorgie in front of VFA Learning’s Geelong campus, where a nursing lab will be renamed after their daughter and sister Kate. Picture: Alan Barber

There were many tearful phone calls for Highton resident Leesa Scorgie following the death of her daughter, Kate, in August 2024.

However, there was one conversation with staff at educational institute VFA Learning that she was “blown away” by.

They had offered to rename a nursing lab in honour of Kate, who completed her training while battling cancer.

Six months on from that call, those attending the Yarra St campus will now train at the Perseverance Lab — dedicated to Kate’s “determination in achieving her goal of working as a nurse”.

Despite having a bandage on her head from surgery during orientation, many of Kate’s peers were not aware of her health issues.

“She never told anybody, she just disappeared for treatment and came back,” Ms Scorgie said.

“Kate never once used her cancer journey as a get out of jail … she didn’t want to be treated any different to anyone else.”

Nursing instructor Rebecca Zammit with Kate Scorgie at the VFA Learning Geelong campus. Picture: Supplied

Kate, who was first diagnosed with leukaemia in 2017, started her diploma in 2020.

However, she had to take a year off in 2022 due to the intense treatment.

A journal extract written by Kate in September 2023 showed what it meant to her.

“I finally receive that piece of paper that looks like nothing at all, but cost a lot of money and blood, sweat, and tears to get. An 18 month course interrupted and completed over 3 years due to health reasons yet no one gave up on me, I never gave up on me, and I finally can say I am a nurse.”

Ms Scorgie said the team at VFA were “amazing” and helped Kate manage the setbacks.

“They worked their arse off to get her through it … they fought for her,” she said.

VFA Learning nursing instructor Rebecca Zammit said picking a trait that her student had consistently embodied felt right.

“To name something after someone is pretty special, but to make it mean more we gave it a word,” she said.

“(Perseverance) is what Kate portrayed and it was in everything I watched her do.”

Ms Zammit said she hoped that it would serve as inspiration to future generations.

“Every nurse who faces a challenge on their journey can look at the sign and see Kate’s name underneath.”

“It’ll be really special to know it means something to the next lot of student nurses.”

Ms Scorgie said she “did not realise how much of an impact” her daughter had.

“She was one of a kind … all she wanted to do was help people.”

On Wednesday, the Scorgie family will attend the opening of the site.

Originally published as VFA Learning honour deceased Geelong student with nursing lab