In 1981 Noleen Annette Stewart took up a six week replacement contract at the Wauchope District Memorial Hospital.
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She ended up forging out a 25 year career.
Annette passed away on March 26, 2017. She was aged just 71 years.
During Annette’s time at the hospital she was involved in many projects from the maternity ward to theatre, eventually becoming nursing unit manager and duty matron.
She was destined for a career in the medical profession.
Annette was born July 30, 1945 to Daphne and Norman Farnsworth, the eldest of four children.
Growing up in Menangle Park, she attended St John’s Primary School Campbelltown, boarded at St Mary’s Liverpool before completing her schooling at Santa Sabina Strathfield.
She regularly got a lift to school with her dad in what the children referred to as poppy’s truck: it was an ambulance.
After completing her nurses training at St Joseph’s Hospital, Annette attended a friendly tennis match in November 1964. There she met her future husband, Bernie.
The couple married on March 30, 1968 and raised four children, Mark, Robyn, Jeffrey and Irene. The family now boasts eight grandchildren, Olivia, Ryan, Tom, Kaitlynn, Lily, Stacey, Matthew and Amy.
Annette completed her midwifery training at Blacktown Hospital in the late 1970s but the family were eyeing a move to the country. They eventually purchased a property at Brombin in 1976 and four years later work commenced on the home.
That was the catalyst for her move to the Wauchope hospital where she eventually retired in 2004.
Her nursing career also meant that medical dramas on television were put under significant scrutiny while she was often the first port of call for neighbours who had suffered an injury.
Annette joined the board of Holiday Coast Credit Union in the late 1980s where she enjoyed the insights of the world of finance.
She was a keen knitter – when the weather was right – and enjoyed the occasional reunion with former work colleagues in Sydney.
Annette also cared for Bernie until his passing in December 2011 and the travelling continued with Healing Touch.
Annette Stewart will be remembered as an honest, genuine, kind-hearted person.