St Andrew’s Ipswich hospital midwife Dale McQuillan to retire after 50 year career

A beloved and tireless midwife who has become an ‘adopted grandmother’ for thousands of Ipswich families has enjoyed a storied career over more than half a century.

Midwife Dale McQuilian will retire at the end of October after a career spanning more than 50 years in Ipswich and Brisbane. Picture: Rob Williams

She has played an integral role in the lives of generations of families and became an “adopted grandmother” for so many newborn babies, but after more than half a century Dale McQuillan is calling time on a storied career.

The beloved and tireless midwife started nursing in 1966 at the then Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and realised she had found her calling.

Mrs McQuillan worked as a midwife there for 25 years and then made the move with husband James to Ipswich, where she soon started working at St Andrew’s and where she has remained for 26 years.

Kayla Shepherdson and Brendon Ashby with baby Quade alongside nurses Dale McQuillan (far left), Jo Ryan and Jean Ballin in 2015. Picture: Rob Williams

In that time she has been a trusted guiding hand for thousands of mums and ensured countless bubs have had the best possible start to their lives.

The clinical nurse has cut down her hours to two days a week over the past year in the hospital’s Well Baby Clinic.

She sees babies up to 12-months-old, ensuring parents’ queries or concerns are dealt with and a plan made to address any issues.

The last shift in an accomplished and satisfying career will be October 29.

“I can honestly say from the day I started nursing through to this day, there has never been one day I haven’t enjoyed coming on duty,” Mrs McQuillan said.

“I just love nursing and I’m going to miss it dreadfully. Handing my resignation in has probably been the hardest decision I’ve ever made.

“After 56 years I just think that now it’s my husband’s turn. It really is with a very heavy heart that I’m leaving here. It’s just going to be very sad for me.”

The mother of two said equipping first-time mums with the skills and confidence to embark on what can be a daunting step in their lives was the most rewarding part of her job.

It was too difficult to recall just how many babies she had cared for in that time.

“(Mums) will not leave this room until I have dealt with their problems and fixed them up,” she said.

Kate and Achint Birk and Kelli Myatt and Gemma Tuskes at a morning tea to celebrate the first anniversary of St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital’s women and children’s health unit in 2019.

“Every day is different and every day is fabulous. The lasses come in and you know they haven’t walked in before.

“If they’re having feeding problems or getting the baby to put weight on, they know they can ask me any question.

“Instead of being the frightened little mums, they become very together and in control managing their little babies. It’s total work satisfaction.

“You live and breathe it and sleep it.

“Each family is different and each family brings their own special little memory. I do (think about the impact she has had). I think I will do for a long time to come.”

It is all but impossible to go shopping for groceries in Ipswich without being stopped.

She has formed special bonds with generations of families across the city.

“It’s so nice to see these little people who were babes in mum’s arms come up and mum will say ‘see that lady there, she delivered you’,” Mrs McQuillan said.

“These kiddies are towering over the top of me.

“My dear husband usually says ‘I’ll leave you two to talk and I’ll keep shopping’.”

Dale McQuillan has worked at St Andrew’s for 26 years.

Raceview mum Alicia McQueen first met Mrs McQuillan in 2017 when her first of three children was born.

“She made a huge impact on my family with the first two,” she said.

“When I was a first-time mum and then when I had my second she was always there to reassure me.

“My second was not an easy baby, but Dale was the first person to listen to me about concerns about his sucking.

“He was a very, very slow gainer and he thought sleep was for the weak.

“He also didn’t ever want to be put down.

“She helped me through all of that and helped to continue my breastfeeding journey.

“She was also the first person to pick up on my postnatal depression with my older two kids. I also knew that if I called Dale with any concerns she would also call me back.”

Mrs McQueen said she went above and beyond to assist and nothing was ever too much trouble no matter if she was on shift or not.

An incredible memory meant every small detail was retained.

“I remember one time it was 7.30pm on a Friday night and she stayed on the phone with me for an hour to help me,” she said.

“When my now eight-month-old was born, she was a very sick little baby at the time.

“I would see Dale coming up to get supplies for baby clinic and she would always pop into (the special care nursery) to give me a hug and to see if I was OK.

“She has wiped away more tears then I could count from my worries and stresses of motherhood.

“She has cheered with me through the magical moments too.

“She also never rushed any phone calls or an appointments and always heard all my concerns.

“She truly has a heart of gold and is one of a kind.

“I’m sad she is retiring but she deserves it so much.

“I honestly don’t have enough words to describe how amazing she is, my husband and I often refer to her as the kid’s adopted grandmother. She is just a beautiful person through and through.”

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as St Andrew’s Ipswich hospital midwife Dale McQuillan to retire after 50 year career