SONM

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Published November 2020 by Western Sydney University
© 2020 Western Sydney University

A History of Nursing
at Hawkesbury

by Mavis Bickerton

Contents

Foreward – Emeritus Professor G Swain AM 6

Preface – Mavis Bickerton 8

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbuy 12

Introduction 13
The “Beginnings” 13
Culture shock 15
The Journey to Richmond 15
Nurse Education on the Move 18
Old for New 19
A Course with a Difference 22
Opposition to progress 22
Diploma Course Promotion 23
Some Student Reflections 25
Developing an Identity (Uniforms) 25
An Introduction to Hawkesbury / Orientation 26
Start of the New Course 28
Formal Recognition 31
Clinical Placements 32
A Time of Change 33
Graduation 36

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 4

Establishment of the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury 38
Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) Conversion Course 38
International Relationships 40
Development of the first Bachelor of Nursing Course
at the University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury 45
Community Relationships – Open Days 46
Community Relationships – Local Emergency, Bush Fires 48
Epilogue – Deb. Griffith 50
Tributes
A Tribute to the late Dr Caroline Wright 53
A Tribute to the late Craig Roberson (Scooter) 53
Acknowledgements 54

Appendices
1. Student Stories 57
2. Staff Stories 72
3. Photo Gallery 78

5 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Foreward

Emeritus Professor G Swain AM

Principal (1972-1988) (HAC)
CEO Hawkesbury Campus and
Deputy Vice Chancellor (1989-1993), UWS Hawkesbury

7 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Preface

Mavis Bickerton

In 2018 at the Western Sydney University
(WSU), Hawkesbury Campus Alumni annual
lunch the Chancellor, Professor Peter Shergold
alerted me to the lack of information in the
archives on the development of nursing at
Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC).
The question “how did nursing come to an
agricultural college?” is often asked.

I was approached on the day of the lunch by
Dr. Stacy Blythe and asked if I would consider
writing this much-needed History of Nursing
at HAC, going back to before the transfer of
nursing from hospital based training to the tertiary sector.

Following discussions with Professor Graham Swain, Professor Paul Baumgartner,
Brian Lindsay and Kevin Rozzoli, all of whom were part of the development of nursing
at Hawkesbury, I decided to accept the challenge.

This whole experience has been special for me, as I have very happy memories of
my time at HAC. The project has provided me with the opportunity to meet up with
previous colleagues and to bring together a large number of students who enrolled in
1985 and 1986 in the first two intakes of the Diploma of Applied Science Nursing,
Hawkesbury.

This nursing history covers the period 1978 to 1993 and during this period of time
Hawkesbury Agricultural College faced many challenges and changes, all of which
influenced the direction of the first nursing courses at HAC and then from 1989 at the
University of Western Sydney (UWS) Hawkesbury.

This story is not just about HAC but also about the students and staff who made
Hawkesbury Agricultural College a special place. HAC’s involvement with the local
community is also included in this nursing history.

I would like to give a very special thank you to all the staff at Western Sydney
University especially the University Archivist, Cathie Lester and fellow Records &
Archives Management Services (RAMS) staff, who searched the archives for photos
hidden away and forgotten.

9 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

This history would not have been possible without the wonderful students who
came forward to assist me following an editorial in the Hawkesbury Gazette about
the proposed history and the need for their stories to be heard. They came from local
areas, from interstate and from Cambodia. All had wonderful stories to share.

I have appreciated the support and encouragement from Ana Smith, Robyn
Moroney, Bashir Sumar and many others who were willing to contribute to this
much-needed history.

I would like to make extra special mention of Professor Graham Swain for his
unfailing support every step of the way. I would also like to pay tribute to those staff
members who participated in the development of nursing at HAC and who are no
longer with us. Unfortunately they are not able to enjoy the success of their input,
demonstrated by the success of WSU School of Nursing and Midwifery in 2019.

Special thanks should also go to Jan Bell from Concord Hospital who gave her time
to write about their partnership with HAC and the journey to Richmond. Without
this relationship HAC would not be part of a History of Nursing at Hawkesbury. Jan
still works to this day in the archives at Concord Repatriation Hospital.

I would like to express gratitude for the assistance given to me by my husband Terry
who has shared this journey with me by typing and editing the draft document.

Many thanks must go to the Chancellor for initially identifying the need for a
concise History of Nursing at Hawkesbury and to the Vice Chancellor, Professor
Barney Glover for offering to arrange the publishing and printing. Thanks also to
Professor Deborah Hatcher for her assistance in the final editing.
Mavis Bickerton
Inaugural Head of the School of Nursing at Hawkesbury Agricultural College
(HAC), Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Community Studies at HAC,
Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Health, Humanities and Social Ecology,
UWS Hawkesbury, Dean of International Affairs and Business Development,
UWS Hawkesbury
Retired 2000

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 10



A History of Nursing
at Hawkesbury

Introduction
In 2017 the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University, “WSU”,
was rated number one in Nursing Schools in Australia, and number four in the world
by The Centre for World University Rankings. What an achievement this was for such
a new University! The number currently enrolled in nursing in WSU is 4804 in total
and this is spread over four campuses. In 2019 Hawkesbury campus at Richmond had
1,315 students and an academic staff of 98 including sessional staff.

The question has often been asked as to why Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)
first became involved in developing nurse education and how it became responsible
for developing a modern professional nursing course so removed from the traditional
male dominated agricultural courses offered by HAC in the past. This story attempts
to answer these questions and to share the development and the journey leading to
what is now in 2019, one of the present four campuses in the School of Nursing and
Midwifery at Western Sydney University (WSU).

Hawkesbury Agricultural College was established in 1891 and rapidly developed
as one of the leading centres of agricultural education in Australia. It was formally
gazetted under the provisions of the NSW Higher Education Act as a College of
Advanced Education from 1 January 1972. On 19 March 1976 HAC became a
corporate, self-governing Agricultural College of Advanced Education and in 1989
HAC became a Foundation, Federated Member of the newly established University
of Western Sydney.
The “Beginnings”
Nurse education at Hawkesbury first began to receive serious attention in 1978 when
Hawkesbury Agricultural College senior staff were contacted by Kevin Rozzoli, the
then Local State Member of Parliament and the late Rosalie Wells, the Director of
Nursing at Hawkesbury District Hospital. Rosalie had contacted Kevin as a result of
her becoming increasingly disillusioned by the nursing education being afforded to the
then hospital trained nurses by doctors. Her hospital was having difficulty recruiting

13 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

doctors to provide suitable lectures. She had been encouraged, like other Directors
of Nursing, to forge links with Colleges of Advanced Education to discuss how the
two areas could work together. Kevin Rozzoli was committed to the development
of HAC and recognised that working with the hospital was a good opportunity for
both institutions. A meeting was arranged with Dr. Graham Swain, Principal of
Hawkesbury Agricultural College who also wanted to diversify into other teaching
areas. Sadly, before the proposed meeting could be held Rosalie Wells was killed in a
tragic motor accident, and as a result further discussions were abandoned.

In 1980 the Director of Nursing from Blacktown Hospital, Erella Macauley
approached Principal Dr. Graham Swain and the Head of the School of Food Sciences,
Paul Baumgartner, with a proposal that HAC obtain some preliminary experience with
nurse education by conducting education programs for Blacktown Hospital nurses on
the Hawkesbury campus. It was argued that this would enable HAC to gain some
preliminary experience with “nurse education” prior to any full-time programs being
conducted at the College. At a second meeting, the late Cliff Buchanan, Director
of Nursing and the late Ann Curtis, Principal Nurse Educator from the Concord
Repatriation Hospital also indicated a keen interest in joining the proposed program.
Concord Hospital held discussions with the NSW College of Nursing and having
explored the educational philosophy of other Colleges of Advanced Education, reached
the conclusion that Hawkesbury Agricultural College best suited its aspirations as a
future partner.

Contracts with both Blacktown and Concord Hospitals were agreed to by HAC.
There was however considerable opposition to this initiative from within HAC. The
HAC Governing Council was concerned that nursing education would make too
many demands on the College’s resources. Despite this early opposition, a proposed
contractual arrangement between HAC and Blacktown and Concord Hospitals was
eventually signed. Erella Macauley continued to have a major involvement with
nursing at HAC and served as a member of the College’s Governing Council.

A joint Education / Nursing Committee was established to identify the needs of
hospital training and to determine how both groups could share the responsibility.
It was agreed that once the course subjects were identified they would be offered
to both Blacktown and Concord Hospital’s nursing students on the Hawkesbury
Campus at Richmond. Mavis Bickerton, a Lecturer in Environmental Health was
asked to act as Nursing Consultant to these groups and Paul Baumgartner, Head
of Food Sciences appointed Diane Benson to coordinate nursing lectures. Esme
Parker was appointed as Nursing Coordinator of the contractual arrangement. The
subjects selected were, microbiology (infection control), chemistry, behavioral science,
nutrition and community health. A teaching plan was established and the agreements
signed and approved by the NSW Nurses Registration Board who viewed this as a

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 14

pathway to the future of nursing education. The Nurse Educators at Blacktown and
Concord Hospitals were involved in all stages of this initiative. It was also agreed that
Blacktown Hospital nursing students would make their own way to Richmond for the
two days that they would be on campus. Concord nurses would be transported from
the hospital to Richmond by a hospital bus.
Culture shock
What a shock this was for the hospital based nursing students but it was even worse
for the agricultural students. The agricultural students were worried that nurses would
“take over” the college. When the first nurses arrived they came in their uniforms,
which only heightened the anxiety of the traditional male agricultural students with
their ingrained traditions one of which was that “nobody walked across the hallowed
rugby oval”. One of the contractual arrangements was that nurses were to use the
existing buildings on campus as there was no financial provision for additional/new
accommodation. Once again this caused unease amongst the existing agriculture
based HAC students. It was later decided that “visiting” students would not wear
their hospital uniforms on campus so they would not be so conspicuous. Dr. Graham
Swain recalls that within twenty minutes of the nurses arriving at HAC the “Old
Boys” visited the office of the Principal demanding that they be removed from campus!
The Journey to Richmond
Jan Bell RN, a Senior Nurse Educator at Concord Repatriation Hospital has herewith
described her memories regarding the relationship between Concord Hospital and
HAC. “Prior to the 1987 conclusion of hospital based nursing education in NSW,
Schools of Nursing (SONs) were advised to form contractual arrangements with
Colleges of Advanced Education (CAEECs). Repatriation General Hospital Concord
(RGHC) had been training general nurses since 1948 and had a very committed
group of Nurse Educators who had produced excellent results. Curricula were under
ongoing review in both basic and post-basic nursing courses. Most Nurse Educators
(NEs) held at least the Diploma of Nurse Education (DNE) and many were achieving
or undertaking university degrees, some at Masters level. We were fortunate to have a
very progressive Director of Nursing (DON), Cliff Buchanan and equally progressive
Head of School (HOS), Anne Curtis who approached some CAEs only to be told that
Concord is “too hard”, as it was not a state hospital but a Commonwealth one.

“We did have a few sympathetic friends particularly Ms. Kathleen Mathews,
Principal of the NSW College of Nursing (NSWCoN) and Ms. Cecily Harte of the
Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) which was Concord’s industrial union.

15 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

RANF had its headquarters on site at NSWCON at Glebe. Each year on the evening
prior to NSWCONs annual Oration and Investiture of Fellows and Members,
a function to welcome the Orator was held at the NSWCON and in 1982 Cliff
Buchanan, Anne Curtis, Diane Watson and I (and probably others from Concord)
were greeted on arrival by Cecily Harte telling us, “I’ve got someone you must meet,
Mavis Bickerton from HAC who’d like to talk to you about taking Concord’s nurses
to Hawkesbury Agricultural College.” The rest is history!

“This was followed by formal arrangements, Board of Management, Curricula
Committee, and many meetings mostly I think at HAC where we’d all turn up in
Commonwealth cars. As I was the Coordinator of the Preliminary Training School
(PTS) for beginning nurses, I was given the job of organising and timetabling the first
group of nurses to travel to HAC for the period of their first study block. Organising
covered such things as travel arrangements, shared subjects and timetabling. In terms
of travel, a bus was acquired from our Repatriation section at Rozelle Hospital. It was
a somewhat dilapidated, aged chariot and legend has it, the bus had at some stage
been driven by a patient under a low underpass causing the roof to be damaged. It
had been repaired, however it was never really waterproof and I recall times when
the rear section would leak badly necessitating all of the occupants to crowd into the
front. Also the bus was somewhat mechanically challenged and would often break
down either on the way to Richmond or on the way home. It was driven by a hospital
orderly Bob, a delightful young man in his mid-thirties who was much admired by
his nursing passengers. Indeed, they designed and produced T shirts which they and
Bob wore with the wording ‘become a nurse and Bob’s your uncle’, along with the
hospital logo.

“Another amusing memory was witnessing the different reactions of the nurses
observing the goings-on of Motts (MOTT means member of the team) orientation
activities at HAC. We were having lunch seated next to the sacred football oval which
we’d been told no-one was to walk upon, when a number of excited and shrieking
young women came rushing across the oval pursued by young men upon horseback
wielding whips. I assured my charges, when they asked, that they were not expected
to join in! Needless to say everything eventually settled down and the HAC-Concord
experiment worked extremely well until 1987. The Concord students even requested
that an HAC bar be attached to their hospital training badge. Some of the original
Curriculum Committee members from RGHC were Tony Azzopardi (sadly deceased),
Geraldine Burton, Rod Sloman, Betty Hughes, Diane Watson, the late Anne Curtis
and Jan Bell. It was a truly wonderful collegial arrangement between two seemingly
odd bedfellows, a then Agricultural College and a Veterans Hospital. There was no
blueprint so I guess we made our own. It broadened the horizons of not only our
students but also our hospital based Nurse Educators. I’d like to believe that it’s what

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 16

Concord Repatriation Hospital badge

modern health teaching is all about. At the time we all felt as though it had been
thrust upon us, but thank goodness it was and I certainly feel proud to have played
some small part in it. I know Diane would echo these words. I wouldn’t have missed
it for quids.”

Professor Deborah Hatcher, the now Dean of Nursing and Midwifery at Western
Sydney University, a former Concord nursing student, describes her journey from
Concord to Richmond as, “a learning experience. The journey was long and on more
than one occasion the bus broke down leaving us on the side of the road”. She also states
that “the teaching at HAC was very different to what I had previously experienced as
I was taught how to think and not just what to think. We were used to learning in a
very clinical environment, a classroom in a suburban hospital, whilst most classes at
HAC were conducted in buildings that made us feel comfortable”.

One of the Blacktown nurses recalled the long drive out along the Richmond Road
in winter in her car which did not have a working heater or demister. Michelle Coy
and her fellow nursing student Lynne would rug up with blankets, windows down
and the cold air blowing through the car. She remembers buying fresh honey and
produce and walking through the paddocks looking at the animals and the big cold
wooden classroom. “I loved the open space of the college grounds and felt proud that
I was going to college.”

This contractual arrangement continued until it was resolved by the NSW State
Government that CAEs including HAC would provide full-time, fully-funded nurse
education programs. In 1983, 130 students had participated in this contractual
agreement with Concord Repatriation Hospital and Blacktown Hospital and

17 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

arrangements were made by the hospitals for a “Hawkesbury Badge” to hang below
their traditional hospital badge award, at hospital graduation ceremonies.
Nurse Education on the Move
It was as a result of the success of the hospitals contractual arrangement that HAC was
invited to be one of the 14 Colleges of Advanced Education in NSW to submit a proposal
for a Diploma of Applied Science Nursing Course, for the consideration of the Higher
Education Board and Nurses Education Board of NSW, for commencement in 1985.

Hawkesbury Agricultural College quickly responded to this challenge. It was agreed
that with HAC’s experience with the hospital’s contractual arrangement, the School of
Food Science within HAC would be the appropriate school to write the Diploma. This
was agreed to by the School Board of Studies and the Academic Board of the College.
The establishment of an “advisory committee” commenced, with representatives
from a wide range of disciplines. This gave the academic staff and nurse educators the
opportunity to work together to share ideas and develop a course which would meet
the changing “health needs” in the community.

Newspaper article

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 18

Following an announcement by the NSW Minister of Health in 1983 that nursing
was to be transferred to the tertiary sector, a new department of Nursing Studies was
to be created in 1984 on the HAC campus within the School of Food Sciences, to
take responsibility for the proposed nursing course. Plans for the evolution of this
department into a separate school with its own board of studies were prepared for the
College Council and approved in1985. Mavis Bickerton was appointed as the first
Head of School and Mrs. Kaye Pirie was appointed as the School Secretary. Kaye was
a much valued member of the nursing team for many years. The College Council later
approved plans for the establishment of a separate unit to be known as the “Faculty”
from the commencement of 1986.

The development of nurse education at HAC was underway, and a curriculum team
was established comprising of the Head of School together with new staff members the
late Caroline Wright and Judith Bihl-Hulme. Practical and community experience were
the key words for the first year of the program and the “Hawkesbury Program” would
provide a wide experience of community services as part of the practical segment in
the first year. The second year would focus on hospital care and care for individuals. A
wide range of hospitals, both private and public, were to be used for hands-on clinical
experience including St John of God, Baulkham Hills Private Hospital, Hawkesbury
District Hospital, Marsden Hospital, Cumberland Hospital, Lottie Stewart Hospital,
Governor Phillip Hospital, Blacktown Hospital and Concord Repatriation Hospital.
Traditionally, hospital nursing courses had been “illness centred”. The HAC course
would show how to keep people healthy and how to be able to care for them when they
become sick using the “Health to Illness Continuum Model”. The valuable experience
previously gained from teaching Community Health and Primary Health Care to
hospital nurses at HAC, fitted well into the proposed new curriculum. This was an
exciting and busy time for all those involved in this initial stage of development.
Nurse Educators from Blacktown and Concord Hospitals were seconded to assist
with the proposed curriculum. In May 1984 the Diploma of Nursing at Hawkesbury
Agricultural College of Advanced Education was accredited by the Higher Education
board of NSW.
Old for New
The number of equivalent full-time students (EFTSUs) allocated to HAC for this new
course was 100. This was lower than for most other CAEs but this was a start, and
Hawkesbury CAE already had extra students on campus at Richmond. It was “a good
starting point”. As part of the transfer the Australian Federal Government insisted
that the states provide to all involved CAEs, the facilities or the necessary funding for
nursing education. The initial funding provided for the project of $125,000 was not

19 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Cows in milking parlour Milking parlour

Old milking sheds

however adequate to erect new buildings but the College Bursar, Brian Lindsay came
up with a great idea for renovating a number of old disused buildings on the Richmond
campus. The former dairy cattle feed lots, were to be converted into staff offices.
Each staff member was to have one feed stall, whilst the Head of School was to have
two. All the new offices were to open up onto a central corridor where the cows had
previously entered the old building. The names of the cows allocated to each stall were

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 20

Mavis in the cowshed

New office building, renovated from cowsheds

sadly lost during renovations. The disused milking parlours at the rear of this building
were to become the first Nursing Laboratory. The building that had housed the bacon
factory for dairy technology was to provide lecture rooms and seminar rooms for the
nurses thereby maintaining the historical links with the College. These new teaching
and office facilities were unrecognisable from their previous agricultural use.

21 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

The nursing staff were happy with the proposed renovated accommodation but it
was believed that the Higher Education Board did not feel that such accommodation
was appropriate for “nursing academics”. These buildings made a great “Centre of
Nursing”, to start the “Diploma of Nursing Course with a difference”. Later as part of
the College accommodation arrangements, a three-story nurses’ home at Blacktown
Hospital was transferred to the college. Again the Bursar accepted this accommodation
challenge at the hospital and proceeded to convert the top floor into lecture and
tutorial facilities and the other floors for residential use.
A Course with a Difference
Regular meetings were held with the Nurses Education Board of NSW, the NSW
Nurses Registration Board and representatives from Higher Education. All Heads
of Schools were asked to present their curriculum to other CAEs for discussion and
consideration. It was at this time that the proposed nursing course at HAC was
considered “different” but viewed with interest by all, as it still met the requirements
for nursing accreditation and registration. In addition to the Diploma course having
been accredited in 1984, a proposed Conversion course was also accredited, to be
offered to those persons holding a certificate in General Nursing and/or Psychiatric
or Mental Retardation Nursing, to enable their award to be converted to a UG 2
Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing).

Once the Diploma course was approved HAC was now in a position to promote it
and to start the recruitment of students for 1985. Once again this was a whole new
experience for Hawkesbury Agricultural College as it was the first time it had tried to
recruit students for “professional registration”.

These students were to be our future Registered Nurses who would be predominantly
female. HAC had entered into its next stage of development. Nursing was now
recognised as an academic profession alongside such professions as Speech Pathology,
Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and other health courses. Cumberland College
of Advanced Education was by this time well established and experienced in teaching
health related subjects to students and was also trialling one of the first Nurse Diploma
courses before the transfer of nursing to the tertiary sector. The help they provided to
HAC was greatly appreciated by the HAC academic nursing staff.
Opposition to progress
Not everyone was happy about the progression of nursing training to the tertiary
sector. The wider community in general disapproved of removing student nurses from
their “service role at the bed side”. Comments were often heard like “Care would

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 22

never be the same. Who would do the menial tasks if the “carers” would all be RNs?”.
Many hospital nursing staff were reluctant to accept the change and made it known
that they thought that their previous hospital training was far superior and why did
it have to change? At the time they were not able to accept that “health care” was
changing, and that nurses must move with the times. There was a need to move away
from just basic skills to encompass “clinical thinking”. Representation was made by
some of these nurses to the NSW Minister of Health that all nursing education should
return to the hospitals. This idea was not however acceptable to the majority of nurses
in NSW who had worked long and hard for this opportunity to undertake academic
study, and at this point over 100 nurses, mostly from the states hospitals, marched
to Parliament House chanting “College education for nurses, when do we want it,
now”. As a result of this demonstration of solidarity, the Health Minister withdrew
his recommendation to consider withdrawing nursing from the tertiary sector. HAC
could now go ahead as planned.
Diploma Course Promotion
With the assistance of the HAC Publicity Officers, firstly Annette Minchin and later
Fiona Childs, a strategic plan for promotion was developed and a budget allocated.
There was a need to go into action immediately as the team were aware that we
had thirteen other colleges competing for the same pool of potential students. The
publicity team were conscious that the physical remoteness of the college could be
a problem for nursing students who had traditionally trained in city hospitals and
lived in nurses homes adjacent to their place of work. Transport to the college from
the city was long and slow on the single-line electric train service to Richmond and
then a long walk up the main campus drive. It was however strongly believed that
HACs beautiful campus was the place to study nursing. It was further decided that a
large poster should be produced with the slogans “Campus Life is Great” and “Come
Nursing at Hawkesbury”. At this time there were no nursing students on campus so
it was necessary to invite other students to act as nurses for the photographer. Some
copies of this poster, which have survived for 36 years, are still available and one was
used for producing the front cover of this history. This poster, along with coloured
brochures was a great promotional success, and the brochures were circulated to all
the local high schools and TAFE institutions.

The nursing staff gave talks in local schools and attended career exhibitions. No
opportunity was missed to promote our “Course with a difference”. Academic
staff also offered a personal advisory service for would-be nurses. The Hawkesbury
Agricultural College Journal in October 1984 gave front-page news to “Nursing
Education at HAC”. The lead article provided the college community with details of

23 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

the nursing course structure and of the exciting clinical placements being arranged by
the late Caroline Wright, the Clinical Coordinator. It also said that HAC would be
able to provide students in the nurse education program with “unique and valuable
experiences”.

Some concern was expressed that our new /potential students may not all reach the
NSWHSC aggregate mark that was deemed by the Academic Board of the College,
to indicate potential for successful completion of the course as indicated in the newly
accredited Diploma. Staff were also aware that the Commonwealth Tertiary Education
Commission in 1983 recommended that tertiary education institutions make special
efforts to attract those social groups at present under-represented in higher education.
It was agreed by Academic Board that the School of Nursing and Community Studies
should work towards assisting both school leavers and mature-aged students to gain
admission to their chosen career. Bridging courses, particularly in the sciences, were
developed thanks to the cooperation of staff in the School of Food Sciences. Students
unable to pass an arithmetic competency test were to be offered a remedial study
program. HAC was keen to attract mature-aged students from the local area into
the nursing program and special admission was to be considered for applicants who
could produce evidence that they had a reasonable prospect of success. All students
would be selected “on interview” so giving them the opportunity to interact with the
staff and to ask any questions they could have. A number of past graduates who have
contributed to this history, have commented on the “personal approach” of the staff
and their feeling of being made welcome on the Campus.

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 24

The method of selection of students was non-traditional at the time but it resulted in
a successful outcome with a cross section of HSC school leavers, mature-aged students
and enrolled nurses being offered places in the new Diploma course. In February
1985 the School welcomed 81 students onto the Hawkesbury campus somewhat less
than the hoped for 100 places. Some colleges in NSW enrolled less than 30% of
their targets. Hawkesbury’s performance in filling 81% of its quota was outstanding
given the prior specialist flavour of the college. Hawkesbury’s performance placed it
in a group of only three or four colleges who had come close to meeting their targets
(HAC’s Annual Report 1985).
Some Student Reflections
Many of these students have now shared their stories of how they felt on arriving at
HAC and how “supported” they felt. One graduate stated that, arriving at the college
on the day of the interview, “I was astounded by the location and atmosphere of HAC.
To be completely honest it was not the post-HSC dream I had. I had hoped to go to a
university in the city. However, during the interview, I was pleasantly surprised by the
friendly nature of the discussions which alleviated my fears of what might come next.
This was the first event that made HAC stand out for me. There were a few things I
had to do before I started, including bridging courses in chemistry and physics.”

Another graduate reflected that, “I was an Enrolled Nurse and was given credit in
some areas of study for prior learning so was accepted not as a mature-aged student or a
student with HSC but as a special entry student. HAC was agreeable and flexible from
the outset and throughout they ensured measures were in place to come alongside each
student no matter what was their situation, to ensure the best outcome”. A mature-
aged student describes how she was pushed out of her comfort zone very often but that
her years at HAC were the happiest of her life. (See Appendix 2 for additional student
reflections).
Developing an Identity (Uniforms)
The uniforms to be worn by the HAC students in the clinical areas was discussed with
those staff working in the clinical area and the School’s academic staff. It was agreed
that there was a need for the student nurses to be readily recognised as HAC students
and it was decided that their uniforms would represent the colours traditionally
used at Hawkesbury. It was to be white dresses for the females and white shirts and
trousers for the males. The traditional Blood and Mustard (maroon and gold) would
be visible on the maroon vests to be embroidered with the HAC crest. The epaulettes
depicting the student’s particular year at college would also be maroon and gold. No

25 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

more aprons and cloaks, these to be replaced by Hawkesbury Sloppy Joes for cooler
days (see photos). Another radical change was made as college students would wear
white shoes when working in the clinical areas. White shoes had previously only been
worn by Registered Nurses. Yet another hurdle to overcome! At this time the late
Dr. Owen Carter, the Deputy Principal of HAC who had been very supportive of
nursing, recommended that we should decide on the future graduation academic dress
for nurses so planning could commence. The outcome was that the nurse graduates
would wear the traditional Hawkesbury gown with a white satin stole attached. The
wearing of trenchers on graduation could not be fully resolved at this time as diploma
graduates did not wear trenchers. It was decided to leave this decision to nearer
graduation. So pleased we did!
An Introduction to Hawkesbury / Orientation
Prior to commencement of the course incoming students were invited to participate
in orientation week. This was a new experience for both students and new academic
staff. In 1985 the college was still undergoing change particularly in the number of
female students enrolling. Orientation had been reviewed by Justice Woodward in
1983 and guidelines were issued for certain activities. Concern was expressed by the
students that HAC was losing it traditions. A ruling was made that orientation was
not compulsory.

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 26

27 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Students at a practical demonstration

Within the School in 1985 the first group of students appeared to keep together
and support each other. As the years progressed the nursing students became more
involved in a modified version of orientation known as “Tees and Torrs” (previously
known as “Motts”).

For this history the participating students were asked if they attended orientation.
From their responses it would appear that only the residential students fully
participated, a number attended for a short time, “I gave it a couple of hours but
it wasn’t for me. I spent the week looking for a part-time job”, another, “I attended
orientation week. Not the whole week though” One residential student said “it was
fun avoiding the rowdy crowds in stable square (survival instincts)”. Students still
remember their “Mott” names after so many years and some of the activities in which
they participated.
Start of the New Course
In February 1985 the new semester commenced. The first day of the new course
had arrived. The Department of Nursing now became a School of Nursing and
Community Studies with a permanent Head of School and a developing academic
team. Due to a delay to the completion of the staff offices, the Nursing School was
allocated a single-storey cottage near to the proposed new teaching area. When Robyn

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 28

Students practising CPR on “Mrs Bedford”

Moroney arrived at HAC in 1985 to teach the Concord nurses she recalls that “the
cottage was full. The Head of School was in the front room, Judith Bihl-Hume was in
the other front room, Caroline Wright had an office off the main lounge room. Mary
Hamilton was in the small room off the kitchen and Robyn shared the lounge room
with Ian Hutchinson and Michael Woods. Jeff Wilson was in another room off the
kitchen. It was very cramped but the team functioned”.

The School of Food Science had arranged that in the first semester science teaching
would be offered with other Hawkesbury students to provide nursing students with the
opportunity to gain experience of teaching and learning science and related subjects.

Later this did not prove to be a satisfactory arrangement due to the excessively
large number of students who were studying “science” subjects in the School of Food
Science. A number of nursing students brought up the issue that “sciences seemed to
be what people found hard, especially physics and chemistry, and that there was no
input from nursing in the content of the science curriculum”. Another student has
reflected that “some attempt was made to make existing courses fit nursing – it must
have been difficult for the lecturers who had no nursing background and had these
new people in their courses”.

Bashir Sumar, who joined the School of Agriculture in 1982 and was later stationed
in the School of Food Science, has recalled that, “following a deputation from the
nursing students to the Head of the School of Nursing, regarding difficulties with the

29 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

teaching of science, it was decided that the only way that the nursing science curriculum
could be made relevant to nursing would be to have a science lecturer as a member of
the teaching staff of the School of Nursing”. It was agreed that Bashir Sumar would be
invited to move to be a permanent member of the School of Nursing and this would
allow him to follow nursing students on clinical placements to see where science was
“happening” in healthcare settings that nursing students encountered. It also provided
the opportunity to begin auditing the science lectures to see where they could be
made more relevant to nursing studies. The introduction of simple experiments and
demonstrations into the curriculum would prove to be an important teaching aid.

The first students were welcomed into buildings that were not fully completed.
Nursing students required a practical area where they could learn and practice skills
in a safe environment. The nursing lab at HAC in the renovated “milking parlour-
bails” was designed to be a simulated ward experience. Unfortunately, funding did not
provide the luxury of a fully- equipped nursing laboratory at this stage. It was therefore
necessary to beg and borrow equipment from our local hospitals. The first hospital
bed was acquired from a small private hospital which was closing down and having
been notified that the hospital was closed, a number of staff, complete with a van,
visited the hospital and acquired not only suitable beds but other essential equipment
and utensils which were used to open the first nursing laboratory on Hawkesbury
campus. Many of the nursing graduates recall learning their initial skills in this “safe
environment” despite the need to improvise. The school was able to purchase two
mannequins, known as “Mr. and Mrs. Bedford” and six new sphygmomanometers
and there was always clean linen. Each month the facilities improved as more funding
became available.

The “meet and greet” held on the first day of the semester gave the students the
opportunity to ask questions. One student recalled that at this session the Head of
School stated that “she was the only Head of School on campus who could offer
a 100% chance of employment at completion of their course”. The informality of
these sessions formed a strong foundation for future relationships between staff and
students.

These were not easy days for the newly developed School and the nursing students.
When the hospital based nurses first arrived on campus in 1983 it was expected that
their arrival would be upsetting for the agricultural students. Little did we know that
in 1985 the resistance still existed. The new cohort of college based students arrived
when HAC was in the midst of a whole range of social change. It was recorded that
when nursing commenced there was substantial hostility from both non-nursing staff
and the agricultural students (Aggies). The nurses were accused of crowding the lecture
theatres and taking valuable teaching space. The nursing students were not readily
accepted into the social network of HAC. A number of students have described some

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 30

of the difficulties they had experienced, particularly the male students (see Appendix
2 on students reflections).

Dr. Francis Parker from the School of Agriculture described how in 1985 the
contentious issue of changing the name of HAC to Hawkesbury College of Advanced
Education was being debated and finally voted on by the College Council. It appears
that 99% of the nursing students were in favour of leaving the name as HAC. Following
this support for the HAC name the perception of the nurses changed and they were
accepted. In another story it was reported that when the traditional students started to
make friends with the nurses they learned more about the content of their course and
when they realised that they were studying physics and chemistry and not just giving
out bedpans, they became more acceptable.
Formal Recognition
In September 1985 the School of Nursing and Community Studies was officially
opened by Mr. Ronald Parry from the Department of Higher Education. The buildings
at this time were nearing completion and the nurses were settling into the new course.
Dr. Graham Swain, the HAC Principal was interviewed by the Hawkesbury Gazette
and this resulted in front page headlines stating, “Nursing Studies Course to boost

Mavis Bickerton with Mr Ronald Parry from Dept. of Higher Education

31 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

College role in the west”. Dr. Swain said that, “nurse education was an active part of
the college’s organisational structure and that the transfer of nursing had been smooth
and successful given that it had been done under restricted financial conditions and
had to be done quickly”.
Clinical Placements
Throughout the course students were given the opportunity to choose their placements.
Staff presented the options and explained that they would have a facilitator who would
assist their learning. There was a strong emphasis on education and health promotion
as well as the need to understand group and family dynamics. Throughout the course
there would be a strong emphasis on persons with disabilities, aged persons and
those with mental health problems in society and their special needs. Block practical
experience was provided throughout the three years giving the students a wide range
of experiences moving from health in the community setting to complex dysfunction
and specialist needs.

The clinical placements were a major focus of the HAC program throughout the
three years. HAC was fortunate to have established a good relationship with many
government and non-government organisations willing to take the students to observe
the service and to practice their newly acquired skills under supervision. This was
not an easy time as all concerned were developing new relationships and the students
were supernumerary to the hospital employed nurses. In the first year not all students
appreciated the importance of observing well people through the life span. One
student approached the Dean and asked when he would be doing proper nursing
as his family and friends wanted to know when he would give his first injection, go
into the operating theatre and also see a cadaver. He still remembers being told by
the Head of School that he wanted to do brain surgery in the first year and if he was
patient he would do more exciting things later in the course. Thankfully he did not
withdraw and is doing great things.

It was the belief of the HAC nursing academics that pregnancy was a healthy
experience and should be included in the health component of the course. Thanks to
the excellent relationship between HAC and Blacktown Hospital a number of students
gained access to the maternity ward for clinical experience. This was coordinated by
Ana Smith, the Deputy Principal Midwifery Educator at Blacktown Hospital, and at
all times they were with a qualified clinical facilitator. Ana loved working with the
students and subsequently joined the HAC School staff. This was the first time that
nursing students had been allowed to witness deliveries and assist in the care of the
mothers and babies. The experiences proved to be an amazing success and wonderful
feedback from students both male and female thirty-five years later indicates that it

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 32

is still very fresh in their memories. A large percentage of these students went into
midwifery and community health on graduation. One male student said, “loved midi
placement, it gave me the confidence to keep going”. Another student said, “did my
first practice at the Maternity at Blacktown, loved being with the babies in the special
care nursery, little did I know then that it would be where I would spend nearly all my
professional career”. One student now working in Queensland still remembers well
her placement at Blacktown and went on to undertake her midwifery qualification.

Another nursing student recalls that, “clinical placements were what I really enjoyed.
We first learned related theory and practices which started out in the nursing laboratory.
Then we went out into actual workplaces and both observed and practiced our new
skills and knowledge. In the first year we had community placements, maternity and
aged care facilities. Second year we ventured into general hospitals and third year
into mental health. I remembered being terrified especially in mental health, but it
was so good to see where our studies were actually leading. At the end of the third
year we got to choose an elective. I chose Emergency and was placed at Mt. Druitt
Hospital, this is where I would end up starting my career as a newly graduated nurse
the following year. We were allocated a mentor (a working Registered Nurse) who
guided us through our placement. Whatever shift they worked we worked, even night
shift. It was terrific experience. By the end of third year it began to feel like things
weren’t going to end. We were all very tired and time was beginning to slow down.
I can remember thinking I just wanted things to hurry up, I just wanted to work...
but then I blinked and it was all over. We were graduating and registering as nurses
in December 1987. We were actually nurses. We did it!!!. Learning has never stopped,
not even thirty-one years later. I continue to learn every day and when I look back, one
of my biggest skills I learned at HAC was how to learn, simple as that. When I have
students allocated to me now, even to this day, I tell them that. A lot of folks thought
we would fail. But we didn’t. We made it and we’re still here”.
A Time of Change
From 1984 onwards was a time of upheaval and radical changes at HAC, related to
the future of Colleges of Advanced Education. Between 1984 and 1987 the staff of
the School of Nursing and Community Studies had grown from one to twenty-six.
The Faculty was created and the academic position of Principal Lecturer to head up
the new Faculty was widely advertised and filled by Mavis Bickerton with Kaye Pirie
as Faculty Secretary. In order to prepare themselves for the changes to come the staff
were undertaking further qualifications and enrolled in post-graduate studies.

In December 1987 a green paper was issued by the Federal Minister for Employment,
Education and Training, the Hon. J. S. Dawkins. This paper contained a wide range of

33 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

A happy Christmas clinical placement
A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 34

proposals for the future of higher education. One proposal was for the binary system of
separate CAEs and universities to be abolished. Another significant recommendation
related to the number of EFTUs to be increased to 8000 as the minimum number for
a university. Institutions below this number would become part of TAFE or be closed
down. This had major ramifications for HAC as the numbers presently on campus
did not meet the new requirements. In an article in the HAC Journal dated 19 July
1988, Dr. Owen Carter explained to the College community the present situation
and that extensive discussions were being held at HAC which involved the Governing
Council, students, Academic Board and all staff and community representatives about
the future for HAC. The result of these discussions made it clear that HAC was
determined to be recognised as a member of the new unified system. It was further
decided that HAC would need to be associated within an existing University or a new
university in the future. This was a traumatic time for all the senior management and
the student body at HAC.

Discussions were held with other established institutions including the University
of New England, Macquarie University and the University of NSW to explore the
possibility of an association of HAC with a campus in Western Sydney. The College
also made a submission to become a campus of a new university in Western Sydney.
Concern was expressed that there were plans for the development of a University in
Western Sydney which would be initially a College of Sydney University to be known
as Chifley University College at a site at Werrington and this would not include HAC
and Nepean CAE.

A great deal has been written on the development of Western Sydney University and
all concerned should be happy at the outcome in 1989. It is well accepted that had it
not been for the perseverance of Dr. Graham Swain and our political friends such as
Kevin Rozzoli and John Aqualina and other members of Parliament, nursing would
never have continued at Hawkesbury. The newly established School of Nursing and
Community Studies at Hawkesbury was in many ways protected from all the trauma
and discussions of the time as its priorities were to increase its student numbers and
try to ensure that nursing at HAC would be part of any new university. The nursing
profession was also adjusting to change and its loss of some traditions dating back to
the time of Florence Nightingale.

There were also changes occurring in the NSW Health Care System which had to
be accommodated in the new school curriculum and to the change to nurses being a
part of the college environment. The existing nursing profession was also on a steep
learning curve on how to deal with a new breed of nursing students in the workforce
who were there to learn, not to just provide care as part of the workforce.

The nursing students supported their fellow HAC students in action to retain the
HAC campus and agricultural identity and were very proud to be seen as HAC

35 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

students in the community and hospitals where they undertook their clinical practice.
The opportunity to be part of a new multi institutional university was an extra bonus.
The coming together as a university with Nepean and Macarthur CAEs, both of
which offered nursing courses, was not seen as a threat. The HAC nursing course was
still seen as “a course with a difference” and all three institutions had very different
curricula. Nepean had a nursing course with an emphasis on acute care. They also had
the advantage of close proximity to Westmead Hospital to undertake their clinical
work. Macarthur adopted a problem solving approach under the direction of the
late Betty Anderson. HAC continued to promote primary health care and health
promotion whilst providing clinical experience in a wide range of health agencies both
public and private.
Graduation
On Saturday 26 March 1988 the first HAC Diploma nursing graduates were presented
by Mrs. Mavis Bickerton R.N., H.V., Dip.A.N. (Manchester), Dip.Ed.Std. (SCAE)
Dip. C.H.N., M.H.P.Ed. (NSW), F.C.N.A., F.C.N., to receive their diplomas from
the Chairman of HAC Council Mr. R. A. Lamond, F.C.A., A.A.S.A., C.P.A., and The
Principal of HAC Dr. Graham Swain BSc.Agr (Hons1), PhD, FAIAS. The graduation
address was delivered by Ms. Gillian Biscoe, RN, M.Sc., B. Hlth. Admin., CCU
Cert., ICU Cert.

This was an exciting day for both the students and the Faculty staff as this was
“a first for all”. The graduates wore formal black gowns with a white stole and with
maroon strips on their shoulders. Approval had been granted for them to wear the
trencher. It had been worth waiting for! The graduation ceremony took place in the
open air on the HAC campus and was attended by a large number of family and
friends. Many of the hospital and community staff involved in their education were
present to share this special day. This graduation recognised not only the success of the
students but also the achievements of all the staff involved in the development of the
Diploma course and those who had been responsible for teaching and supporting the
students for three years in both the college and the clinical areas.

At this graduation ceremony three students graduated with distinction, Iain
Alexander Bennet, Deborah Joan Bush (Benefactors Prize for Best Overall Student)
and Julie Louise Inglis (Benefactors Prize for Best Final Year Student – shared). Iain
recalls that he “was very excited to be graduating and wanted to start work”. He said
he “didn’t expect to graduate with distinction so it was a major surprise”.

The team had worked well together and although there may have been challenges
at times, nothing stopped their commitment to produce the best nursing graduates.
As one staff member remarked “we made it”. Many of the graduates involved with

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 36

Nursing graduation class with Dr Graham Swain and nursing staff
Hawkesbury nursing staff and student

37 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

this history have made the same comments in their own stories. The 1988 graduating
students developed and printed a booklet entitled “Ad Nauseum et Vomitus the
beginning of an era, March 1985–December 1987”.

A year later on Saturday 15 April 1989, eighty-nine graduating students were
presented by Mavis Bickerton to Mr. R. A. Lamond, Chairman of College Council
who delivered the graduation address and to the Principal of HAC, Dr. Graham Swain.
Five students graduated with distinction, Belinda Jane Chaperlin, Dawn Elizabeth
Fahey, Brigid Patricia Llewelyn (Benefactors Prizes for Best Final Year Student and
Best Overall Student – Shared), Sharon Elizabeth Sinfield (Benefactors Prize for Best
Overall Student – Shared) and Lynden Young. Patricia Llewelyn recalls graduation
day as a very special day. Her whole family were present including her eighteen-month
old grandson, she said “I knew that I had done well but surprised at how well. I have
to admit that my little grandson stole the show for me, suffice to say I enjoyed the day
and the setting on campus”.

The graduating nursing numbers had increased and the success rate was also higher.
These numbers indicated that the Faculty had not only survived but “had got it right”.
The students who enrolled in 1986 and graduated in 1989 were still the pioneers of the
HAC nursing courses but did have the advantage of the stepping stones created by the
previous students. How proud the academic team were with the outcome.
Establishment of the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury
The 1989 graduation was the final graduation to be held on the campus of Hawkesbury
Agricultural College, since HAC became a College of Advanced Education and later
the University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury. From 1990 all ceremonies were to be
known as the University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury Graduation, and were to be
held at the Hills Centre, Castle Hill due to the increased numbers. This was “the end
of an era” for HAC but the nursing students were allowed to decide if they wished to
graduate from HAC or UWS in accordance with the WSU Act 1988. The Diploma
was the same and the graduates received two badges to wear on their uniforms.
Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) Conversion Course
During the period 1988–1989 it was recognised that there was a need to plan for the
future of nurse education within the new university status so the Faculty decided to
seek the approval of the Academic Board to introduce the Bachelor of Health Science
(Nursing) Conversion course in 1990. The introduction of this course would allow
our own diplomates who had gained the Diploma of Health Science (Nursing) to
upgrade their qualification to that of a Bachelor degree.

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 38

A Bachelor qualifying program for hospital trained Registered Nurses was also
proposed, to upgrade Registered Nurse qualifications to allow them to apply for entry
to the Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) Conversion course. The curriculum team
led by Margaret Barnes prepared the necessary documentation which was presented
to the School Board of Studies and then to the HAC Academic Board.

After extensive discussions the HAC Board approved the Bachelor of Health
Science (Nursing) Conversion course and the Bachelor qualifying program for RNs
for introduction in 1990. These courses were included in the University of Western
Sydney Hawkesbury Calendar in 1990. Our graduates from the Diploma now had a
pathway to the degree and to post-graduate studies. In time some of these graduates
achieved post-graduate qualifications and became members of staff within UWS.

39 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) Conversion Course

International Relationships
Following the successful accreditation of the Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing)
Conversion course, the future of nursing at HAC was established. Soon after the
accreditation, the Vice Chancellor of the newly established University of Western
Sydney (UWS), Professor Brian Smith was visited by Dr. Daniel Tse the Principal of
Hong Kong Baptist College in December 1989. Dr. Tse was interested in establishing
links between his college later to become Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)
and UWS. Professor Smith and Dr. Tse arranged a meeting with Professor Graham
Swain on the Hawkesbury campus to discuss the possibility of Hawkesbury and
HKBU working together in the area of nursing education. Registered Nurses in Hong
Kong were seeking the opportunity to upgrade their basic nursing certificate to a
degree qualification. Further discussions were held and it was agreed that the Dean
of Nursing, Professor Mavis Bickerton at UWS Hawkesbury would meet with Dr. C.
C. Wan, Dean of Continuing Education at HKBU to discuss a suitable agreement
between the two institutions.

In Hong Kong the basic hospital based training leading to registration was the same
as the Australian system, making it easier to assess the entry requirements for the
conversion program at Hawkesbury. Both courses were based on the United Kingdom
system of nurse education. A joint working party was established to consider the most
appropriate arrangements for meeting the initial needs of Hong Kong Registered

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 40

Nurses. Following extensive discussions between the HKBU and the academic
staff at Hawkesbury it was decided that the HKBU would send their students to
Hawkesbury for a year of full-time study leading to a Bachelor of Health Science
(Nursing) qualification. These students would be full fee paying students and enrolled
in the joint program and participate in classes with the Australian Registered Nurses.
They would be residential students at Hawkesbury. This program had its difficulties
for a number of students who had family responsibilities in Hong Kong and were
mostly female. Initially language was a problem but fortunately other students and
staff assisted with their English language and in making them welcome.

It was subsequently raised by our Hong Kong partners that recruitment was proving
difficult for those nurses who needed to work and study part time. It was decided
that in addition to the opportunity for students to study in Australia, the HKBU and
UWS Hawkesbury would offer a joint conversion course in Hong Kong. This was
the beginning of an exciting adventure and relationship with an overseas institution
which still exists in 2020. By 1994 Hawkesbury was graduating over 100 students a
year in Hong Kong.

It was agreed that the staff who taught the subjects in Australia would be given the
opportunity to travel to Hong Kong and teach in the School of Continuing Education
in HKBU using the same curriculum as in Australia. The Hawkesbury course still
had an emphasis on community health and primary health care and initially the
science subjects were taught by Hawkesbury staff but later by HKBU staff with the
necessary qualifications. The nursing subjects were shared between Hong Kong and
Hawkesbury Nurse Educators. Examinations were supervised by both partners and
the course taught in English. Recruitment of students was undertaken by staff from
both institutions and English language tests undertaken if they were considered
necessary. Staff in the Faculty readily agreed to participate in the venture. It was
now the beginning of a full fee paying initiative to bring funds into the Hawkesbury
campus of UWS. This proved to be a very popular course with Hong Kong Registered
Nurses and led to the development of post-graduate courses, including a Master of
Primary Health Care and a Master of Clinical Leadership. A course coordinator was
appointed at each of the partners and they worked very closely together to evaluate
every stage of the development. Regular visits were made to Hong Kong by senior staff
from the Faculty. Jan Smith, a lecturer at HAC was responsible for the Hawkesbury
part of this program for the first year in 1991 then Deborah Hatcher became the
coordinator in 1992. On completion of their degree Hong Kong students were allowed
to graduate from UWS in Hong Kong in front of their family and friends. They wore
the same academic dress as their Australian colleagues and academic and senior staff
from UWS and HKBU attended the ceremonies.

41 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

International student graduate

Recruitment in China with C. C. Wan and Professor Snow Barlow
A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 42

Chiang Mai Agreement signing

Phillip Dutton with international students and families
43 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Chancellor Sir Ian Turbott at Hong Kong Baptist University graduation

The late Sir Ian Turbott, Chancellor of UWS travelled to Hong Kong each year for
quite a number of years to present the degree awards. He was always very supportive
of this special relationship. Arrangements were also made for the UWS Mace to travel
to Hong Kong to accompany the staff. This was a wonderful time for all concerned in
the development of the Hong Kong agreement especially for Professor Graham Swain
AM who had fully supported this scheme from its infancy to its implementation
and beyond. This Nursing Conversion course continued until 2004 when the Hong
Kong Government provided funds for the HKBU to offer its own undergraduate
degree program in a newly created Division of Nursing. This strong relationship still
continues between WSU and HKBU in postgraduate degrees.

Following the successful establishment of this close working relationship between
the HAC Nursing Faculty and HKBU, Susan O’Keefe from the Office of International
Education approached the Faculty to ask if HAC would consider offering its courses in
other countries. As a result of these discussions plans were then made to visit Thailand
to hold talks with nursing academics in Bangkok and Chiang Mai Universities. As a
follow on from these talks it was decided by the Faculty that Chiang Mai University
(CMU) was the institution that best fitted with its own philosophy, as CMU had a
strong commitment to Health Promotion. CMU were interested in sending their staff
members to HAC to undertake further post-graduate studies. Ongoing meetings were
held between the Dean of Nursing Professor Mavis Bickerton, Professor Dr. Wichit
Srisuphan, Associate Professor Wilawan Senaratana and Associate Professor Dr.
Wipada Kunaviktikul and the outcome from these meetings, held in both Thailand
and Australia, was an agreement that HAC would offer post-graduate courses to
suitably qualified CMU nurses to be undertaken at UWS.

A good working relationship was soon established and resulted in a number of staff
presenting papers at two International Conferences held in Chiang Mai on Health
Promotion, the first one held in January 2001 was called ‘Improving Life through
Health Promotion: Nurses making a difference’ and one was held in October 2004
entitled Health Promotion: Evidence, Practice and Policy. UWS was a co-sponsor
of both conferences and Professor Esther Chang was a member of the organising
committee for both conferences. This inter-university cooperation resulted in quite a
number of nurses, over the years, achieving their Master’s and PhD degrees from UWS.
Development of the First Bachelor of Nursing Course at The University
of Western Sydney Hawkesbury
The need to introduce the first Bachelor of Nursing course at UWS, leading to
Registration was inevitable and completed the Faculty’s suite of courses. The

45 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

importance of the degree was recognised by the professional groups who required
nursing graduates who could continue to adapt to the changing health care needs.
The preparation and introduction of the three-year Bachelor of Nursing degree was
a major milestone in the Faculty’s development from the first Diploma course which
commenced at HAC in 1985.
This was recognition of UWS Hawkesbury as a major provider of nursing
education in NSW.
Ana Smith recalls “the development of the degree course was a whole Faculty process.
Everybody came to meetings and all participated in preparing the document”. The
Faculty was courageous in once again adopting a
primary health care, social model as the framework
to inform the development of theoretical and practice
subjects. Ana was the Chair of all the meetings
including the External Advisory Committee (EAC)
accreditation meetings and the final accreditation
meeting. Ana and Maggie McLeod-Ellis were
responsible for preparing the final accreditation
document submitted by UWS Hawkesbury.
Ana further recalls, “it became evident at the
first External Advisory Committee meeting that
the then NSW Nurses Registration Board would
be monitoring the development of our Bachelor
Ana Smith

of Nursing curriculum closely, so different were its
frameworks to those traditionally at the forefront of thinking about nurse education.
To ensure effective communication about its curriculum intentions the Faculty
committed to additional regular meetings with the Registration Board representatives.
These meetings enabled the Faculty to explain in detail how a curriculum that included
subjects not usually taught in nursing programs could prepare graduates capable of
holistic, high-quality nursing care that kept patients safe”.
The final NSW Nurses Registration Board Accreditation Committee approved an
extraordinary ten-year accreditation of the first Hawkesbury, Bachelor of Nursing
course. This was a major achievement for the Faculty as many other Bachelor of
Nursing courses did not receive such recognition.

Community Relationships – Open Days

The HAC Open Days, one of Dr. Graham Swain’s initiatives introduced in 1972, was
a major highlight of the year for staff, students and the local community. This event
was held each year in August when the cherry blossom was in bloom and generally

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 46

the weather was good. It was a combined event from all sections of HAC to show the
local community that campus life is great. It was a true family day with newly-made
ice cream, local fruit and vegetables on sale, horse rides, animal exhibitions and many
special events organised by the Old Boys, students and staff. On several occasions
the Dairy Section arranged for visitors to witness the birth of a calf, an amazing
experience even for the nurses on campus.

This was the one time when all sections of the College were open for inspection and
showcased their courses and equipment. The nursing students saw this as a wonderful
opportunity to promote their course and to open the nursing lab and demonstrate
their skills. Visitors were invited to have their blood pressure taken by the students
under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. A number of raised blood pressures were
detected and after being checked again by the RNs the visitor was advised to visit
their GP. Not sure how many did! As the first-year students were learning to observe
and work with healthy people they were able to talk about healthy diets and to weigh
people and give advice on primary health care and health promotion.

One year a group of students dressed up in old fashioned nurses’ uniforms which
were borrowed from the archives at Prince Henry Hospital. Along with a group of
students in HAC uniforms they were taken around the campus on the back of a truck
much to the delight of the visitors, particularly the children. Many of the graduates
involved in the writing of this history remembered the open days and shared stories
with their children and grandchildren. Hawkesbury Campus was a special place!

47 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

HAC nurses in period uniforms

Local Emergency – Bush Fires
HAC has always been seen as part of the local community and in 1992 when the bush
fires ignited in the lower Blue Mountains and the Central Coast the College became
an “evacuation centre”. Permission was given by the newly-appointed Principal of
UWS Hawkesbury, Professor John Clark allowing the Dean of Nursing and her
husband to open the College residential accommodation to take in local families
needing emergency services. Other senior staff were either coping with the fires in the
Blue Mountains or held up when the fire jumped the main highway on the Central
Coast. The students were on vacation and most of the rooms were vacant. It was
a stressful time for Emergency Services as the wind was constantly changing and
the fires were difficult to control. The State Emergency Services were informed that
Hawkesbury College was ready to assist. The main area affected was the bush around
Bilpin and the plan was that Bilpin Primary School would be the evacuation centre
for the local children whose parents were fighting the fires. Little did they know that
the wind would change and the school became at risk. It was decided that the children
who had been sheltering at the school would be brought to the college by bus to
ensure their safety. As stated earlier the students were on holiday and very few staff
were available. Overseas nursing students who were undertaking an English language
course prior to their enrolment in the conversion course, along with their tutor, came
to assist and await the arrival of the children. When the children did arrive they were

A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury 48

dirty, frightened and tired. The rescue workers had written the full name of each child
on their forearms. The nursing students (who were all Registered Nurses in their own
country) received the children and showered them. Clean clothes and food appeared
from voluntary organisations such as the Salvation Army, community groups and
supermarkets. The overseas students initially had challenges with the language but
this was soon overcome and the children soon told their stories about the fire and
proudly showed them their names and introduced them to their siblings. Later they
were all very pleased to be reunited with their parents and to hear that the school had
been saved. In addition to the children, local residents were also evacuated to what
they knew as HAC. The campus was also opened to interstate firefighters who were
working with local firefighters to control the fires.

This relationship between the College and the local community helped to make
HAC what it is today and it is still viewed by the community with affection. The
graduates both male and female who provided stories, photographs and data for this
history remember the friendships made and the support provided during their course.
Like students before them there is still obvious affection for their time at HAC. In
fact, the records show that over time, many “Aggies” married HAC nurses despite
their initial opposition to the nurses coming onto the campus.
This History of Nursing at Hawkesbury serves to confirm the well-known 14th
Century English proverb.

“Mighty Oaks from little Acorns grow”
(Ref. Oxford Dictionary of Quotations)

49 A History of Nursing at Hawkesbury

Epilogue