We note with regret the death of Miss Annie Grieve, the last Director of Nursing for Queen Victoria Medical Centre, and the first at Monash Medical Centre.
Annie joined QV in 1979 and retired in 1988 following the transfer of services from Lonsdale Street to Clayton in mid-1987.
She led nursing during a period of great change, which included the transition to University-based education and increasing specialisation.
Annie also oversaw the introduction of the first midwife-led Birth Centre in Australia.
Re-reading the nursing reports from that period show unsatisfactory nurse/patient ratios, a shortage of nurses and heavy workloads were all issues she worked hard to overcome.
Quietly spoken with a Scots-infused burr, she surprised many when she joined hands with colleagues at the Queen Vic farewell party, to lead an enthusiastic and heartfelt rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”, in a beautiful mezzo-soprano voice.