BY DI SNEDDON
Major Ann Martin first came to Singleton Military Base in 1975 as a nurse in the Army Reserve.
It was only a four-week stint supporting a cadet camp on base. Never in a million years did she think it would be the beginning of an Army nursing career that would span 45 years.
Her last position before she retires in December is manager of Singleton Health Centre, the place that has been the beginning and the end of her vast nursing career.
It’s been a career that has brought her so much joy, so many experiences, but most importantly so many talented work colleagues who have become close friends.
“It has been a privilege to look after the service men and women, their families and working with contracted staff, there have been many characters I have met during my service,” MAJ Martin said.
“I have been very blessed and I would not change one thing.”
MAJ Martin had aspirations to be a nurse as a small child. She had an uncle in the Army who she loved and admired so after doing her nursing training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, she couldn’t refuse his suggestion that she join the Citizen Military Forces (Army Reserve).
After a request to do some full time service at 3 Camp Hospital at Puckapunyal, she thought why not, it’s only for a year.
CMF part time went to full time and in 1980 she joined the regular Army and never left.
She followed the career of her husband Joe who was in the Armoured Corps, and when he was posted, there was always a medical unit in the area so there was always work for her.
Together, they served throughout Australia, and she was lucky to accompany him on overseas postings with the United Nations in both Israel and Syria, Staff College in Pakistan and with the Defence Attaché posting to the Australian Embassy in Washington
She has worked in a range of Defence facilities as both a Charge Nurse and Health Centre Manager.
Later, working in welfare with the Army Community Services, she became even more aware of the needs of soldiers once they had returned from overseas duties and closer to home, and the support required for families as they transition from one location to the next.
When the Defence Community Organisation was established, MAJ Martin became the first Military Liaison Officer in Canberra. She has spent the later part of her career working within garrison Joint Health Command units, supporting the health of service men and women with in the brigades and now in the training environment.
Given her care and compassion, it comes as no surprise that she intends to continue her good work as president of the Defence Nurses RSL Sub Branch of Queensland on retirement.
“It is time I retire but I feel I want to continue to give back to say thank you to those who serve our country and do what I can,” she said.
“This has been a wonderful last posting, the CO and RSM of the school of Infantry have been very supportive of the health centre, which makes our job easier. And of course the staff of the Singleton Health Centre for making my last posting so memorable, their professional skill and dedication in looking after the medical needs of the trainees at the School of Infantry is amazing.”
“They are a wonderful, quirky, great team and I am very blessed to be spending my last days at work with them.”
