Monday November 11, 2024
Eastern Health is made up of a diverse workforce, who have brought skills from a multitude of backgrounds to serve our community.
This Remembrance Day, we ask what 11 November means to our staff who have served in the Defence Force.
Director of Continuous Improvement, Jodee Bootle joined Eastern Health in March 2024.
She served in the Defence Force from 1989 to1998.
“We all had a trade of some sort. I was clerk admin before going into signals, but I spent most of my career in the regimental stream, instructing recruits and instructing on promotion courses.”
Ms Bootle comes from generations of family who also dedicated their time and lives both on the ground and from home.
“Remembrance Day, for me, is a day for reflection and being thankful. I grew up reminded of my family’s sacrifice for the Defence Forces. I have multiple generations of relatives who served in the Defence Force – great-grandfathers/great-uncles (WW1), grandfather (WW2), cousins and uncles (Vietnam) and brother (Australian and English Navy).
“I am the first female to serve, but each generational female contributed in some way, such as through the local CWA work, land army, or simply writing letters to their loved ones. My family are the original pastoralists, where I grew up in NSW country.
“We have our own local Shire Soldiers Memorial Hall and the cemetery. There are remembrance plaques for those who served displayed in the hall; most names are my relatives, and some returned soldiers are buried there. We grew up admiring and respecting the sacrifices made by listening to the stories, looking at the letters, medals and photos and visiting the graves.”
Deputy Director Operations, for Acute Medicine Mo Duncan, Ms Duncan commenced at Eastern Health 14 years ago as a Nurse Unit Manager on a Box Eastern Health Hill surgical ward.
She had served as a Registered Nurse in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) – with the rank of Sergeant.
“I joined the Army in October 1989, when I commenced my initial period of Basic Training, and then commenced my nurse training in January 1990, and left the Army in August of 2004,” she said.
Although two decades have passed since Ms Duncan left the Defence Force, she still reflects on the importance of remembering those who came before her.
“Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on those young men and women who have served before me, in order that I could be here today. Those who gave their lives, not only in WW1, but in WW2 and many conflicts around the world since, and sadly, even today.
“Many of these service personnel had no choice to join the forces, and I am so honoured that I was given a choice and continue to have choices. Remembrance Day allows me to think about the personnel that I served with, and some who still continue to serve today, and of their families who may not see them for many months at a time, when on Operational tours.
“I always have a lump in my throat when I watch the parades for Remembrance Day and am proud to have served my country,” Ms Duncan said.
Lest We Forget.