This year we had 22 employees celebrating 40 years of service or more with Monash Health. Many of our longer-serving employees celebrated in person at our Length of Service Awards last week, where we learned a bit about them as they were presented on stage with their certificates.
We featured some stories of a few of our dedicated recipients in the lead-up to the event, and now, we’d love to share a few more!
John Spierings – Maintenance Coordinator, Engineering (main image)
For John Spierings, there’s nothing he loves more than getting on the tools.
A career in engineering was, therefore, an absolute no-brainer.
“I’m a maintenance coordinator at Dandenong Hospital, so I coordinate all the trades and tasks around the site and surrounding off-site properties and fix any emergency breakdowns,” John said.
He started as a fitter and turner apprentice at Dandenong over 45 years ago – and when he finished, he never left.
“I’ve been at Dandenong for my whole career,” John said.
“I started as a fitter and turner after the apprenticeship repairing mechanics, then moved into a maintenance supervisor role, and I’ve been a maintenance coordinator now for 20-odd years.”
During this time, John had the opportunity to work on the construction of a cogeneration power plant to help power Dandenong Hospital.
“It took a couple of months, and was a massive project,” he said.
Coincidentally, this year, John also worked on the decommissioning of the same gas power plant around 25 years later and is now assisting in the installation of new replacement electrical generators.
“I’ve literally done a full circle,” he said.
John’s magic touch can be found across Dandenong Hospital, having also worked on the Longford Gas Crisis in 1998, where many gas appliances had to be converted to liquefied petroleum gas or electric.
He also played an important role in the construction of the four-story West block building in 2002 and the Southwest block construction in 2008.
“My team and I are always ready for business, and no task is too small,” John said.
When John puts the tools down for the day, you can find him enjoying the outdoors at home. Beyond his own backyard, John loves a good outback adventure.
“I’ve been to the Simpson Desert, The Kimberley, Central Australia, and many more remote areas,” John said.
“I like to camp, relax, and take it all in.”
Congratulations to John for his significant achievement of 45 years of service, and we hope to support him on the tools for many years to come.
Ursula Alexander-Smith, Lactation Consultant
Ursula Alexander-Smith is a force to be reckoned with.
When she puts her mind to something, there’s no stopping her – and her colourful and varied career is proof of just that.
Currently working as our resident Lactation Consultant within the nursery in the Nest Ward at Monash Children’s Hospital, Ursula is responsible for looking after all the new mums and bubs while educating women about breastfeeding.
“We have 64 cots, and some days, they’re all full, and that’s how many babies I’m working with,” she said.
Ursula got her start at Monash Health as a Midwife in the Postnatal Ward at the Queen Victoria Hospital in 1982. Since then, she has worked at Jessie McPherson Private Hospital, as the Unit Manager in Ward 52 North, and as a lactation consultant in NEST, educating graduate and midwifery students since 2011.
“We’re all in the service industry, and we’re all married to people in the army – my daughter married one, my son became one, and my partner is one.”
Known for her ambition and eccentric sense of humour, a career in nursing didn’t stop Ursula from also dabbling in veterinary nursing, working as an army reserve nursing officer for 38 years, completing a business management course, a maternal and child health course, being the President of the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria through COVID-19 and running a Women’s Group for spinners and weavers every Wednesday.
“I did all that while working at Monash Health full-time,” she said.
“I did veterinary nursing for 30 years, and I was drawn to that field because at the end of a pet lead is a person, and I’m really passionate about compassionate care and educating the owners.”
Ursula’s biggest joy during her 40 years at Monash Health has been teaching midwifery students.
“I loved imparting my knowledge to them,” she said.
A close second is making a real, lasting impact on her patients.
“You start off being their sister, then you’re their mother, their grandmother – and now I’m at the stage where I’m their great-grandmother. It’s an evolution,” Ursula said.
Congratulations to Ursula for her significant achievement of 40 years of service, and we can’t wait to see how many more mums and bubs her wisdom and kindness make a real difference for.
Jennifer Dunlop, Deputy Chief Medical Imaging Technologist
When Jenny Dunlop started her career as a radiographer at the ‘Queen Vic’ 40 years ago, she never expected the small maternity hospital in the city to grow into the largest healthcare provider in Victoria.
“It was an amazing journey to have been part of, and I am proud that we can support integrated care across our patients’ lifespan. I recommend Monash Health to
everyone I know.”
In her role as Deputy Chief Medical Imaging Technologist, Jenny manages a team of 85 radiographers and additional support staff, providing hands-on advice and support.
Medical imaging is a complex department and requires a clear understanding of modalities.
“I need to have a deep understanding of our staff skills in each modality to ensure the right service is provided to our patients.”
Jenny’s colleagues can attest to her being across the detail in everything she does.
Jenny notes that completing her MBA 25 years ago has opened doors for her to progress into management of the department. Her love of being organised, planning, and making sensible decisions, have allowed her to flourish in her role.
She has drawn on these skills over a range of projects at Monash Health, including the rollout of Kronos, to which she brought her unique perspective to champion for her team.
“I have been trusted on many occasions to bring the point of view of a radiographer to Monash Health projects, provide advice, and clearly articulate what would be useful for the team to help guide successful outcomes.”
Jenny is a unionist at heart, with a strong desire to fight for the best conditions and the welfare of her team. She understands the importance of abiding by rules given the risks involved in radiography and providing a safe environment.
Jenny shared her recent experience at Monash Health from a patient perspective as she cares for her ill mother.
“I have had a positive experience from the other side. Mum has been really well looked after, and you can see that we have the best team who collaborate and aim to provide the best service.”
Outside of work, Jenny dabbles in mosaics and lead lighting. She also loves to see live music, and her favourite artist, Keith Urban, has a special connection to Monash Health.
“Nicole Kidman attended the opening of the Monash Children’s Hospital as an ambassador. Keith Urban came along with her and donated a signed guitar to the hospital.
“I was contacted by a colleague and managed to get a photo of me holding the signed guitar. It was a real pinch-me moment,” she laughed.
Robyn Fisken, Midwifery Team Leader
Robyn Fisken has seen many sites in her 40 years at Monash Health.
Yes, that’s “sites”. Robyn has worked at Clayton, Moorabbin, and Queen Vic, and prior to her current 40-year stint – also at Prince Henry.
Robyn started as a night supervisor at Queen Vic in 1983, the week of the Ash Wednesday bushfires.
From night supervisor, Robyn moved to the birth centre, and then made the big move to Clayton when Monash Medical Centre opened in 1987. Robyn later moved to Moorabbin, then back to Clayton.
Now the Midwifery Team Leader, Robyn manages the Emerald Maternity Team at the Maternity Clinic. She triages all maternity bookings for Monash Health, accommodating high-risk and complex cases.
Robyn’s days can involve booking caesarean sections and labour inductions, allocating patients to sites and teams depending on their needs, and liaising with other team leaders.
Robyn also juggles the managerial tasks that come with being a team leader, and values her role as a resource of new information to her team.
Over the years, Robyn has had the privilege of assisting patients through one of their most memorable experiences, and often crosses paths with them outside of work, where they stop her for a chat.
“I would run into women at Chadstone Shopping Centre or Southland…I’ve had [work] conversations with my own daughters’ teachers.”
Robyn has had babies in her care who have grown up to have their own babies at Monash Health. Robyn recalls some expectant mothers saying to her, “Mum said you were at my birth!”
Outside of work, Robyn likes to keep her hands busy. She loves quilting and anything crafty, and is looking forward to her upcoming trip to Japan for a quilting tour.
“I’m a Gemini – I like to keep many things going.”
She is also kept busy by her dog and two cats who all get along if there’s a cozy bed to be shared.
Robyn is grateful for the opportunities at Monash Health and the diversity of her role.
“I enjoy the experience of primary care [and] the management role is really diverse, giving people support and information.
“It’s a really enjoyable place to work – at times it can be stressful, but the people you work with can make the difference.”
Sally Heyde, Grade 2 Physiotherapist, Monash Health Community
In Sally Heyde’s circles, it’s always been a running joke that her husband has had to compete against her second true love.
“We often laugh and say I’ve been married to Monash Health, because I’ve been working there for as long as I’ve actually been married,” she said. 
In her final year of her student placement at Dandenong and District Hospital, Sally married her husband and was offered a permanent position at the hospital the year after as a Grade 1 Physiotherapist.
40 years later, and the now Grade 2 Physiotherapist at Monash Health Community said her passion for Physiotherapy and Monash Health has only continued to grow.
“I’ve been so lucky because I’ve been able to do projects and hold senior positions throughout my career, I’ve been able to move around within the Physiotherapy space and do lots of different things,” Sally said.
In 1992, she helped set up a new home-based program within the Community Rehabilitation Centre when she left the acute space and moved into community care.
“That was the original home and community care funded position, which was so exciting,” Sally said.
Sally has also run the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at the centre since 2004, and was also half of a duo responsible for implementing a Physiotherapy gap fill service for patients discharged from subacute care.
“People leaving subacute hospitals were often discharged to private Physiotherapy care, but we thought we could do it better here,” Sally said.
These days, Sally splits her time between providing home-based Physiotherapy and working at the Community Rehabilitation Centre where she sees outpatients – and runs her Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program of course.
While Sally has had a remarkable career, she said what keeps her at Monash Health first and foremost is the amazing people she’s had the pleasure of working with.
“I’ve had some truly amazing colleagues and really supportive bosses, and that’s why I’ve stayed, because I’ve always had that support around me.”
Ruth Lia, Equipment Nurse, Dandenong ICU
In the Dandenong Hospital ICU, Ruth Lia is known as the resident “mum” who always has the best wisdom and advice.
“I’m the oldest one sitting on the perch,” she said.
Working as an Equipment Nurse for the last 19 years or so, Ruth is responsible for the daily smooth operation of all the equipment used in the ICU.
“I work closely with iProc and procurement ordering and receiving goods and with engineering to fix a lot of problems and do maintenance. I help educate new staff on our equipment and I’m always chasing up deliveries that don’t arrive,” she said.
Before her current stint as a bit of an all-rounder, Ruth worked with us as a Registered Nurse, starting in the old APEX ward.
“Then I went over to maternity, and I was in charge of the general nursery,” she said.
“After I had my first child I then went and spent 20 odd years on night shift, where I had two more kids, before I picked up my current role.”
While we might be celebrating 40 years of Ruth at Monash Health, she’s already knocked over more than 50 years in the nursing profession.
“I did 12 years of nursing in both Victoria and South Australia, starting in 1971, before I came to Monash Health,” Ruth said.
During her time with us, Ruth has been able to help pioneer many technological innovations and new equipment at our health service.
“I’ve been involved in the rollout of quite a bit, like new monitors and ventilators over the years,” she said.
“The hardest two years any of us have ever worked was during COVID-19 where we set up another ICU over in the Acute Assessment Unit, and that involved a lot of work.”
Sometimes, Ruth even steps outside of her role and has become a pivotal support to upset families in the ICU.
“Because I’m not always involved with patients, I can be a support to their families, and sometimes they just need someone to make them a cup of tea and sit with them while their loved ones are going through a hard time,” she said.
While Ruth may now be transitioning to retirement, she said she’s not quite finished yet.
“I think I’ll really miss it, and some of us in the ICU have been working together for a long, long time.”
Charito Kelly, Associate Unit Nurse Manager, Community Residential Withdrawal Unit
Charito Kelly, affectionately known as “Cherry”, has dedicated four decades to Monash Health, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to patient-centred care and
radiating warmth and compassion.
Cherry embarked on her career as a registered nurse at the Austin Hospital but discovered her true calling at Monash Health’s Dandenong Hospital, where she has spent over 35 remarkable years. Cherry spent most of her tenure working as an Associate Nurse Unit Manager (ANUM) in various departments, encompassing general medical, surgical, Hospital in the Home, and the acute assessment unit.
When asked about her career highlights, Cherry focused on her patients: “My patients are always number one. My biggest achievement is helping my patients improve and get better.”
For the past five years, Cherry has worked as an ANUM in the Community Residential Withdrawal Unit. Here, she provides vital care and support to voluntary clients on their journey to recovery.
“I can sit down and have one-on-one time with my patients, reassure them, support their mental health and help them get better.”
Cherry appreciates Monash Health’s supportive environment, emphasising the focus on learning and professional development.
“I learn every day. There have been many changes over 40 years, and there are always new technologies and methodologies to learn. I’m not at the finish line yet!”
Beyond her professional life, Cherry takes immense pride in her children’s achievements and extends her loving and approachable nature to family and friends.
Her impact on people’s lives is exemplified by a chance encounter with a grateful former patient, who yelled across a shopping centre, “She’s the one who saved my life!”, a moment she cherishes.
“I’ll never forget that. I have to pat myself on the back for that one. I felt very proud in that moment.”
Cherry’s infectious positivity and easy-going nature have made her a beloved figure wherever she goes. Patients often exclaim, “Our favourite nurse is here!”. She says, “I treat them as if I was in their shoes and think how I would like to be treated; sometimes, I even cry with them.”
Outside of work, she is no different, “I treat everybody the same, and I get along with everyone. I walk into a quiet room, and it’s like ‘the star of the day is here’,” she laughs.
Despite all her achievements, Cherry remains humble and focused on her mission to provide the best care possible.
“I am very passionate about my profession, and that’s why I am still working here 40 years later. I could retire anytime now, but I still contribute a lot. It helps to keep me feeling young… helping others.”
Loretta Bull, Clinical Education Coordinator, NAMES
While Loretta Bull says it was never part of her plan to stick around at Monash Health for 40 years, she’d now not have it any other way.
“I was working as a midwife at the Queen Victoria Hospital; it was a lovely small hospital,” she said. Loretta then moved to the new site at Monash Medical Centre when it first opened in 1997.
“Prior to that, I was a critical care nurse at Prince Henry’s Hospital, having originally trained at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“When Monash Medical Centre opened and it was just the single site, I moved across, and have remained here ever since while the hospital grew into a monolith.”
Loretta’s stint as a midwife was short-lived, however, as she discovered her true passion for education and learning while on the job. Completing further studies in clinical teaching Loretta went on to complete her masters qualification in 2004.
Having done various education roles across Monash Health in the past 38 years, her current role as a Clinical Education Coordinator sees her responsible for the education of teams across a number of programs including perioperative, renal, residential, subacute, community, hospital in the home and more.
Loretta’s goal has always been to make a real impact on the quality of care and the training of our nurses and midwives.
“It’s the best way to improve outcomes for our patients, and I really want to make a difference, so they get the best care,” Loretta said.
One of her proudest achievements was working on the implementation of the Graduate Nurse Program, where she was the coordinator for the program for many years.
“Watching that grow was really special, and there are some DCO’s who I interviewed for the program back in the day who I recruited into the organisation, and they like to remind me of it every time!
“I’m really proud of them, and I’ve really loved seeing how far they’ve grown.”
Loretta, who has three children, was also one of the first people to give birth at Monash Medical Centre when it originally opened.
“It was a very exciting time, the hospital was beautiful, and I knew all of the staff that had come over from the Queen Victoria Hospital, so it was really special,” she said.
Loretta is one of over 1,400 people being recognised for their outstanding length of service to Monash Health in 2023.
Congratulations to Loretta for her significant achievement of 40 years of service, and we hope to support her passion for education for many years to come.
Jennine Harbrow, Director Clinical Services, Jessie McPherson Private Hospital
Jennine’s illustrious 40-year career at Monash Health is a testament to her dedication and passion for nursing, a childhood dream evident in a cherished photograph of her donning a nurse’s uniform at six years old.
Embarking on her hospital-based nurse training at Prince Henry’s Hospital in 1983 while residing in the mandatory Nurses Home, the formidable challenge of “leaving the nest and living in the city” swiftly forged enduring friendships with fellow nurses who shared the same experience.
Jennine’s journey continued at Prince Henry’s Hospital, where she later completed her coronary care certification before witnessing the relocation of services from Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital and Prince Henry’s Hospital to the Monash Medical Centre Clayton campus.
Over 16 years, she dedicated herself to the coronary care unit, eventually becoming the Nurse Unit Manager for the last nine years of her tenure.
Life-changing events in 2004 and 2005 prompted Jennine to reflect on her career.
“It gave me a very different perspective on life, and I was able to re-evaluate, leading me to seize a new opportunity as the inaugural Access Manager at Dandenong Hospital in 2005”.
In 2007, Jennine won Senior Nurse of the Year at Southern Health, her biggest personal achievement yet, and in the same year completed a Master of Management at Monash University and was awarded Dean’s Commendation for her academic excellence.
Her leadership extended to the role of Acting Operations Director/Director of Nursing, overseeing 900+ nurses.
In 2012, Jennine transitioned to Monash Health Community as the Director of Hospital in the Community, achieving significant reforms and transformations. Notably, she led the growth of the Hospital in the Home program to become the largest in Australia. Jennine also spearheaded the redesign of Residential in Reach, providing innovative 24/7 care for people in aged care facilities.
“I’m most proud of working with individuals and communities to enhance their health independence and wellbeing of the community.
“I always say, ‘Home is where the heart is.’ People want to be at home; they don’t live their lives in hospitals.”
Jennine excelled in this role, with her team winning two Victorian Public Healthcare Awards for optimising and improving integration of care, as well as being highly commended in a third award for their work in the Residential in Reach program.
During her Community tenure, she humorously credits herself with coining the term ‘Monash@Home’, solidifying her reputation as a trailblazer in the field.
Currently, as the Director Clinical Services for Jessie McPherson Private Hospital (JMPH), Jennine continues to inspire through her dedication and resilience, particularly during the pandemic. Leading the hospital’s rapid response, she successfully led the charge by transforming Level 3 at JMPH into a COVID-19 admission ward within just five days.
Jennine’s leadership philosophy revolves around trust and honesty, acknowledging that even managers don’t have all the answers. “We are a big work family, and I am so grateful that they are always working for our patients, each other, and the organisation.”
Approved by David Bloxham, General Manager, Communication and Engagement