LOCAL LIFE
HAWKESBURY ’ S FINEST ...
by Greg Martin
“ Back just before I left school as a 16-year-old in 1973 , there certainly were not the career options open to girls as there are these days ,” said Kerry Barry .
Kerry Barry has worked at the Hawkesbury Hospital for forty years . Kerry , and her husband Wayne have devoted much of their lives to looking after the health of their fellow citizens .
“ I always had an inkling from around six or so that nursing could be a work choice , but it wasn ’ t until just before I finished school that becoming a nurse became a priority .
“ I was in a ward at an inner Sydney hospital just following abdominal surgery when I had a terrible experience with a nurse .
“ She was a nasty piece of work – not an ounce of compassion shown for an obviously sick young girl , and I decided at the time that I would become a nurse and a much better one than her !”
Kerry spent a year working as a receptionist at a financial investment company before she could commence training to become another woman of whom Florence Nightingale could be proud .
Kerry recently celebrated 40 years of looking to the needs of patients at St John of God Hawkesbury Hospital .
She joined Hawkesbury Hospital in 1981 , five years after commencing her threeyear training to become a Registered Nurse at St Vincent ’ s in Darlinghurst .
Her skills set in the
profession increased markedly over the ensuing couple of years .
“ I spent a year in the Renal Unit at St Vincent ’ s before relocating to Royal North Shore where I received further training in midwifery and neo-natal care ,” Kerry explained .
The catalyst for Kerry ’ s 40-year career at Hawkesbury Hospital was a micro-sleep .
“ In 1980 we had moved out to an acreage at Glossodia , and I was working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the new Westmead Hospital ,” Kerry said .
“ A year after moving here I had just finished my shift and was driving home late at night when I had that micro sleep .
“ Fortunately , I woke up before getting into any trouble and to me , that was the wake-up call I needed . A few days later I walked into the old Windsor Hospital and enquired about a job .
“ The wonderful , Matron Lyn O ’ Malley , asked me about my qualifications and was delighted to hear about my work at Westmead in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit .
“ Matron told me that hospital ’ s pediatric charge nurse was going on a year-long leave , and she offered me the job .”
Down the two score years since , Kerry has worked across all departments and is currently the much-admired and respected After-Hours Nurse Manager .
To say Kerry Barry has a passion for nursing and Hawkesbury Hospital is to say Florence Nightingale carried a lamp !
“ The minute I walked through those historic and ornate double doors at the old Windsor Hospital I knew I was in a
special place ,” Kerry said .
“ There is such a sense of community , family , caring and respect and a healthy dollop of fun .
“ I loved that all departments in the hospital work as a team which ensures our patients receive the best possible care .
“ That was how it was back then , and it still rings true to this day .
“ Hawkesbury Hospital really is a hidden gem in an overburdened hospital system .
“ I count myself so very fortunate to have had such a rewarding career with the Hawkesbury District Health Service .”
Kerry grew up in Riverwood and ended her schooldays with the School Certificate , a mended tummy and a powerful desire to pursue a career in nursing .
She was also a wiz behind a microphone and was the lead singer in an all-girls band called Remedy .
“ We were all around 15 or 16 years of age , but we were permitted to play in licensed clubs and at private functions ,” the songbird recalled .
“ We played a gig at Tempe Bowling Club and during a break , I went to the bar and asked the young part-time barman for a lemonade with a dash of beer – a reverse shandy .
“ He laughed , introduced himself as Wayne Barry and , well , one thing led to another and a year later we became engaged and then we became husband and wife in January 1977 .”
And that of course led to them having three daughters , Belinda , Samantha and
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6 ISSUE 144 // MAY 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT