DENISE LOIS PETERSEN - Aspiring Writer
Denise Petersen nee McCallum was born in Jamestown 1949, and lived in Caltowie, a very small town nearby in the grain belt of South Australia. She now lives in Cairns with her husband and adult children. Still works happily at the Cairns Base Hospital.
As a child in the 1950s Denise was asked many times, "What would you like to be when you grow up?" Aunty Mavis her mother's sister, was a much travelled nurse. On her return she would chat extensively about her great adventures overseas and her many stories of nursing experiences became an inspiration for Denise. From an early age Denise told everyone how she wanted to be "A nurse like Aunty Mavis."
The family moved to Port Augusta and after a torrid time in school due to dyslexia Denise commenced nursing training at the Port Augusta General Hospital in 1966. This began her journey with nursing, from the fun days of training, where compassion, camaraderie and hard work were a nurse's life. It all lead to Midwifery training, remote nursing out on the Nullarbor plains of Australia to Patrol work and home deliveries overseas in Papua New Guinea.
After 20 years in Papua New Guinea, she returned to Australia and settled in Cairns, Queensland with her family. She continued to expand her nursing career in the Cairns Base Hospital working a 2 position in Paediatric Units, Paediatric Oncology. Also working higher duties in Nurse Management positions while passing down to younger nurses some "Tricks of the Trade" nursing experiences. Denise has also spoken at the international conference on Paediatric Oncology in Adelaide in 2009.
Over the years Denise often thought of recording Aunty Mavis' many nursing adventures but sadly by the time an opportunity for this arose her Aunt had dementia. Aunt Mavis' stories were lost but this encouraged Denise to write about her own nursing career and travelling experiences in memory of this inspirational aunt's life. Denise's book incorporates her many adventures and experiences of living in PNG, stories about her family and ocean sailing on The Yacht Vitiaz. |
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