MEMBER PROFILES

buy a month’s worth of groceries in one shop, not just for the family but also for their workers and who still cook at home every day and home school all the time - what’s the difference? Nothing much has changed. But now that the curve has flattened and we look forward to sending the kids back to school, country folk are asking “what was all the fuss was about?”. We’ve had no virus out here! Social distancing was something that was normal. We can say g’day from the other side of the street and the challenge was not how many times to wash our hands but where to wash our hands. There’s no dispenser holder on the saddle for the hand sanitiser! We did as we were told, with wiping surfaces, washing hands, no hugging or kissing and not visiting. But when the restriction on travel was first announced people were happy to travel the 50 kilometres to their letter box or to the neighbour’s place. You certainly couldn’t get to the next town. So, we did what we always do, roll our eyes and think “that’s city thinking for you” and interpreted it into country miles. We are still wary of visitors and are happy to welcome them back, but please not until you’ve been vaccinated. Marian Vierveyzer JP(Qual) – Roma Qld

The new coronavirus has pushed our health care workers into the spotlight and we are sure that all QJA members join with our fellow Australians to say thank you for your dedication and professionalism.

When we called for your stories Tammy Copley reminded us of the impact COVID-19 was having on our health care workers and nurses in particular, as she said ‘May 5 was International Day of the Midwife. May 12 was International Nurses Day and 2020 is International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. We surely didn’t expect COVID19 to rain on our parade and highlight our professions. We thought we would be having a year of celebration and recognition and not a year of trial, tribulations, trauma and the public having to see health professionals and especially Nurses and Midwives showcased in such a way. We also didn’t expect to hear of the deaths of so many of our colleagues worldwide. This year on International Nurses Day we will be recognising the loss of those colleagues via online means and by making a video of Australian and New Zealand Nurses and Midwives to commemorate our fallen colleagues across the globe.

Tammy provides health services to ‘mums and bubs’ in their homes and clinics. She had watched her uncle for a number of years as he served the community as a Justice of the Peace. While it was her uncle that was the inspiration for her to become a JP, it was while she was working as a midwife and child health nurse for an Aboriginal Medical Service that she realised just how much demand there was for JP services amongst her clients. Tammy realised that becoming a JP would be very beneficial for her the indigenous community and her client group, so she quickly set about becoming a JP. That was 20 years ago and she has been helping her patients and the community with witnessing and certifying services ever since. ‘Working conditions have been a little different during the last couple of months as we try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.’ said Tammy. Many of her colleagues have been co-opted into hospital service so her workload has increased somewhat. Going into people’s homes and clinics while applying social distancing restrictions has been quite challenging says Tammy. ‘Initially, many patients were quite fearful, particularly those with premature babies, and not knowing what to expect. But that seems to have dissipated now as nurses tend to go about their business in a calming and reassuring way, and of course appropriate hand washing is nothing new to us.’ Tammy finds being a QJA member very beneficial, as she purchases her stamps and other merchandise from QJA and uses the QJA office address on any legal documents. She recommends the pre-enrolment training to those wishing to become JPs and encourages JP colleagues to take up QJA membership. Despite being fully occupied with her nursing career, when the COVID-19 crisis subsides Tammy is hoping to join a community signing centre to keep giving back to the community.

We all know about the work of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals in hospitals, but few might think of the patient’s need for pastoral or spiritual care. One of our QJA members provides just that. Providing JP services for patients and staff at The Prince Charles Hospital is Chaplain Judy Burt. Originally from North Wales, UK, Judy (pictured) was persuaded by her father to pack up her young family and immigrate to Queensland’s Gold Coast in the 1980s. After almost 20 years on the Gold Coast Judy moved to the Sunshine Coast where she took up the role of Chaplain at the Nambour Hospital. It was here that she was encouraged to become a JP and has continued to provide pastoral and JP services to patients ever since.