Tommy Senden announced she was retiring last year from her decorated nursing career, where she pioneered Indigenous programs, travelled across the region and educated communities through health talks.
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Ms Senden served the Cloncurry and Mount Isa region for over 30 years and was instrumental in setting up foundation programs for Indigenous Health.
Ms Senden reflected on her esteemed career saying it all began as an assistant nurse after she left school in 1966.
"I studied in Mount Isa for four years starting in 1968 and graduated in 1972," she said.
This was a feat in itself, because back then the four-year course was done by correspondence, information was mailed out, and there was no support system like students have today.
She secured employment with the Blue Nurses but in 1977 she helped set up the Aboriginal Health Program in Cloncurry in conjunction with Mount Isa Aboriginal Health.
The program targeted Indigenous children.
"Full health checks screenings were part of the program along with assisting parents in education. If they had any concerns we would try to help them manage their child's illness.
During this time, Ms Senden commenced further training and was appointed a Public Health Nurse.
"I stayed with them for eight years and in that time saw a difference in the hospitalisation of Indigenous children and a decrease in the admission of croup and gastroenteritis," Ms Senden said.
"We conducted home visits, full screenings and also travelled to Duchess, and other regional schools to do health talks with the students."
"We engaged the children in how to wash hands, and clean their teeth and skin," she said.
North West Hospital and Health Service, Professor Sabina Knight said Tommy Senden is a quiet achiever but has been one of those career nurses who have had a significant impact on other people's careers.
"She has worked in the public service and private enterprise, and education was always important to her," Prof Knight said.
"She's a modern hero in health and often it is the nurses in the bush who have these amazing untold stories that have significant impacts."
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