THOUSANDS of nurses have trained and worked at the Launceston General Hospital over its 150-year history and it is fitting that its sesquicentenary celebrations start on International Nurses' Day.
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A breakfast for past and present nurses at the hospital on Sunday, May 12, will be followed by other activities including a church service at St Paul's Chapel, a lunch and tours of the hospital and nurses' home.
A special event will be an Evensong LGH dedication service at Holy Trinity Church in Cameron Street at 5.30pm with a staff procession in academic dress.
International Nurses' Day was established in 1965 and marks the birth of Florence Nightingale on May 12, 1820.
The famous English nurse and social reformer established a nursing school at London's St Thomas Hospital in 1860, which put nurse training on a professional footing.
After the Launceston General Hospital opened in May 1863, it sought to recruit London-trained nurses. It wasn't until 1879 that the first female nurse was appointed to the LGH staff.
The International Nurses' Day breakfast at the LGH is being organised by Deanna Ellis, Annabelle Williams and Tim Haas, who are the nursing representatives on the LGH Historical Committee.
Guest speaker will be Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Neroli Ellis.
The breakfast is being sponsored by the Professional Nursing Council and the Tasmanian branch of the ANF.
"The Professional Nursing Council was formed by the nursing service of the LGH in the early 1980s and now provides financial support for nursing staff in the Northern region for professional development and research," Ms Ellis said.
Cathy Austin, the LGH's acting executive director of nursing, will be the guest speaker at the International Nurses' Day lunch.
"A roast lunch provided by the LGH catering department will provide the opportunity for nurses to reflect on the changes in the catering service since their student days," Ms Ellis said.
Some of the attendees completed their training at the LGH in the 1930s and some in 1990, when nurse training at the hospital came to an end.
"A highlight of the day for many will be a tour of the hospital and the nurses' home, where memories of student nurse days will be relived," Ms Ellis said.
For further information and to register for the International Nurses' Day events, please contact Ms Ellis on 0417034048 or matrondeanna@ hotmail.com
