In honour of a family friend, fellow nurse, daughter, wife, mother, aunty, and best friend, Gayle Woodford (nee Thompson), please, if you are a nurse, anywhere in the world wear a black arm bank in honour of Gayle today.
Please also consider signing the petition for the safety of all nurses as well:
“Remote Area Nurses (RAN) are instrumental in delivering and improving access to healthcare in isolated communities across our expansive outback. The role of the RAN encompasses the whole of life care, from antenate to end of life. We operate far outside the metro area, which means we are on call after hours and usually expected to attend after hours emergencies as single responders. Since Christmas 2015 there have been two sexual assaults of RAN’s and now the murder of our colleague in Fregon, South Australia. We are asking the Federal Health Minister, The Hon. Sussan Ley to abolish single nurse posts in Australia. And to assist in making it mandatory for two responders to attend all after hours call outs in Government, Indigenous Health Corporations and Not For Profit health centres across Australia.”
My heart goes out to Gayle’s immediate family and close friends, and especially her husband, children, sisters and her dear mum, my long time friend who I have known as Mrs Teacup for my whole life. No words will ever express the sadness, loss and tragedy of this truly senseless murder. R.I.P Gayle.
I’m very sorry to hear the sad news. Nurses should never be victims of violence!
I imagine it happens far more often than we hear, though more often not resulting i death (thank fully) – but any form of violence against nurses, is simply unacceptable.
I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your dear friend. Another campaign that will lead to some more sense in the madness in this world.
‘… more sense in the madness of this world’ – I certainly hope so!
Kate, I am so very sorry for your loss. It is my hope that this petition brings change. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
the loss is so much greater for her immediate family…
Kate, very sorry about what happened to Gayle. My wife is an RN and PA (Physician’s Assistant) now retired. Like Gayle, she has been stationed in remote areas, even in a men’s penitentiary, as the only medical support available in the area. It is a thankless, and sometimes dangerous, job.
Nurses all over the world will be feeling this loss. As you rightly say, it is often a thankless, and dangerous job, but those of us who are or have been nurses, almost never take that into account as it is for most, a passion to help others. I hope Gayle’s tragic loss brings about much needed change, especially for remote nurses and doctors, as it may ultimately be the only way anyone can make any sense out of it.
Kate – I thought the name was familiar – her sister must be married to Grant? I worked at Fregon briefly last year. So sad. For everyone there as well.
Very sad indeed Sally…
Hi Kate such sad news for a nurse doing her duty. My thoughts go out to her family We worked in the evening and overnight we always went out in twos. However we used our own cars, so it is good that Gayles car had a tracker as it would have been hard to find her in such a vast area. xxx PS I have signed the petition
Thanks and hugs xx
So sorry to read about the loss of your dear friend. Hope the government will step in to improve nurse safety.
As of yesterday, there were more than 70,000 signatures to make changes to remote nurses safety and conditions…
RIP to someone who seems to have been a wonderful spirit and resource for the outback community she was based in. Such a tragic waste of life
Tragic indeed…
Thanks Kate for your beautiful words. Just wanted you to know Australia wide all the nursing social media sites have been encouraging nurses or any one who wishes to show their respect for Gayle to wear a bandage as an arm band today.
Thanks for putting into words the sorrow every one is feeling xo
Just working out now, where to get an armband from…. may have to improvise and use black tape.
Sorry for the loss of you friend Kate. I don’t understand the evil in this world 😦
Ditto to that dear Susan xx