**
The prestigious Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing
Development Scholarship is offered competitively
each year to fund a study program at a centre of
excellence overseas.
**
The skills and experience gained by the successful
recipient will be shared with The Royal Children's
Hospital colleagues and enhance the delivery of
nursing care to RCH patients and families.
**
The annual scholarship of $50,000 is provided by
fundraising efforts of the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Annual Luncheon and The Royal Children's Hospital
Auxiliaries.
**
Three of our Charli's Angels Auxiliary members had
the absolute pleasure and honour of attending this
memorable day.
**
(L-R Peta, Ornella, Susan)
**
Held on Level 17 of the RACV Club on Bourke Street,
Susan, Ornella and Peta enjoyed a magnificant luncheon
and listened in awe as The Honourable Justice Betty King QC
held the audience captive with her lively and animated accounts
of her rise to fame from a small country town to the first female
Prosecutor for the Queen for the State of Victoria in 1986 and
then the first Prosecutor for the Queen for the Commonwealth
of Australia. In 1992 Justice Betty King was appointed one of
Her Majesty's Councel. In 2000, Justice King was appointed
judge of the County Court before accepting her current role.
**
Justice King is an amazingly, inspirational woman, who left
every woman in the room knowing that in a male dominated
environment if you put your heart, mind and sole into it, anything
is possible and achievable for a woman.
**
(The HonourableJustice Betty King QC)
**
The 2009 recipient of the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing
Scholarship, Sharon Downes gave a brilliant presentation on
the research and treatment of babies born with the very rare
Pierre Robin Sequence. This condition causes an abnormally
small jaw bone at birth, often requiring delicate surgery.
Babies undergoing this procdure at the RCH receive improved
pain management treatment, thanks to the specialist
knowledge Sharon gained through her scholarship.
**
Pursuit of the world's best paediatric care took Sharon to the
USA and the UK to observe pioneering medical techniques
first-hand.
**
Sharon is based at the RCH as a Research Nurse in the Neonatal
Unit. Every day, in many ways, hospital staff and patients
benefit from her personal and professional development, clinical
leadership skills, and exposure to new ideas.
**
(Mrs. Sharon Downes - 2009 Scholarship recipient)
**
Events such as this are very proudly supported and attended by
some incredibly prominent and very high profile people in our
community, people that we often feel are unobtainable and out of
our reach.
Charli's Angels were welcomed with open arms and made to feel
a part of this elite group of people, who as it turns out, are truly
human and down to earth and all working towards the one goal -
MAKING SICK KIDS BETTER
**
(L-R Susan, Lillian Frank, Peta, Ornella)
