John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Several weeks ago I joined Bennelong health care professionals at Ryde Hospital to celebrate International Nurses and Midwives Day. Nurse May Wong has inspired her peers by providing the highest level of care to her patients for over 20 years and she was a very worthy recipient of the Ryde Hospital nurse of the year award. During the presentation director of nursing Shirley Castri-Crode read out the following poem and I would like to share it with the House:

You will never be bored, you will always be frustrated.

You will be surrounded by challenges, so much to do, so little time.

You will carry immense responsibility and very little authority.

You will step into people's lives for a moment and you will make a difference.

Some will bless you, some will curse you.

You will see people at their worst and at their best.

You will never cease to be amazed at people's capacity for love, courage and endurance.

You will see life begin and you will see life end.

You will experience resounding triumphs and devastating failures.

You will cry a lot, you will laugh a lot,

and you will know what it is to be human and to be humane.

To all the nurses and midwives across Bennelong and around the country, we thank you for your selflessness, your love and your caring spirit.