Grace General Hospital - Our Days of Grace Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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VALEDICTORY ADDRESS Mr. Chairman, Major Thornhill, Honoured Guests, Classmates. Little Sisters, Moms and Dads. In the year of Canada ' s Centennial we began, and in the year of Manitoba ' s Centennial, we finish. During these three years we have grown; here we are tonight, Beating 70 . Do you remember September 19, 1967 ? With ambivalent feelings we have left our homes to spend the next three years as Student nurses . We received first impressions at the wel¬ come tea. These changed as we got to know each other by the probie party at Bruce Park and by initiation. As we studied through the long months of probie block, it seemed worthwhile, for it brought a cherished cap. However, a cap did not change our experiences on wards; some funny, some upsetting moments. As the months went by we figured out our problems, but at the same time literally developed figure problems. Somehow Mrs. Miller knew what she was talking about when she kept saying, only on doughnut! Residence life was always fun; celebrating birthdays in various ways ; making flowers and more flowers for the Winter Wonderland Tea; and never-ending gossip sessions - if the walls could speak we never would again! Yes, we did get to know each other very well. Ask your room-mate -- she will tell you! Now we begin our Intermediate year. Obstetrics seemed especially fascinating to all of us - a chance to be involved in the begin¬ ning and the joy of life. In the nursery, we always had fun at baby viewing time. Now let me see, which one is yours? , as the excited parents stood peering through the window. Affiliating, beginning at Children ' s Hospital, represented cute kids who had so much theory in their little bodies to learn and study. This occupied ten weeks of books, books, and more books ! Of course, if you ever got TIRED of being a nurse, you could try being a play lady . In the operating room within a few short weeks, we unbelievably graduated from, putting a little water in a basin here and there , to seeing our names written in as scrub nurse . Then came Selkirk - the motto there being, a change is as good as a rest -- or maybe both! It seemed strange at first, but then we adjusted well and decided to forget it and go to a party! It was in intensive care that we began to appreciate how the presence of a nurse could be of such great comfort to a patient. Casualty was a very exciting area. It was not always busy, but be prepared . One had to be ready to meet all ages and ailments. 22

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OUR BIG SISTERS Mrs. Linda Anderson (Addy) - Holy Cross, Calgary Rose Lynn Bartel - Steinbach Susan Bartel - Anna Marie Berg - Winnipeg Mrs. Betty Fraser (Black) - Grace Hospital Mrs. Audrey Kemp (Braun) - Holy Cross, Calgary Elizabeth Burden - Grace Hospital June Burnett - Grace Hospital Maureen Colbert - Deer Lodge, Wpg. Shirley Craig - Holy Cross, Calgary Brenda Ericson - Grace Hospital Roslyn Exchange - St. Boniface Margaret Fraser - Morden General Hospital Anne Marie Frieson - Brandon General Hospital Christine Gorrie - Grace Hospital Marilyn Hill - Holy Cross, Calgary Valerie Jakeman - St. Boniface Ann Koop - Flin Flon Mrs. Judy Roths (LaRocque) - Grace Hospital Mrs. Margaret Jalser (MacDougal) - Denmark Carol Macfarlane - Women ' s Pavilion, Wpg. Lynn McDowell - Grace Hospital Carolyn McIntyre - Deer Lodge Hospital, Wpg. Jean McKibbon - Grace Hospital Mrs. Cathie Fownes - Wpg. General Hospital Mrs. Pat Roberts - (Meda) - Children ' s Hospital Dorothy Myhal - Grace Hospital Gladys Nickel - Morden General Hospital Mrs. Barbara Ivison (Palmer) - Grace Hospital Edna Penner - Flin Flon Margaret Smith - St. Boniface Mrs. Laureen Gibson (Stefanson) - Grace Hospital Norma Strong - Wpg. General Hospital Mrs. Joyce Ginter (Suderman) - Brandon Hospital Mrs. Lynn Thomas (Wiezel) - Grace Hospital Edith Wutke - Grace Hospital 21

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In diet kitchen we wrote up ulcer diets, day 1, 2, 50, 65 as we developed them ourselves. Better take a break ! Somewhere in that year we took time out fo r our half way party and celebrated at the Town and Country. We started our Senior Year by adding a single black band to our caps. Somehow, we seemed more secure and confident. Many evenings were spent singing to guitars, reminiscing how we met, and what it would be like to graduate. Meanwhile, just settle for being a Balleri¬ na -- encore anyone? Before long it was 7 8 way through , and again we got together as a class. While some of the class were finishing specialties, another specialty that wa, i ' ttle slow getting started, suddenly happened. Guess who ' s engaged? Now the student days at Grace are over. Throughout this time I am sure we have all felt that the things that are impossible with men are possible with God . However, these days have been influenced by many people. Little Sisters, you represent many memories; helping us to see that not long ago, we ex¬ perienced many of the same hardships and feelings as you. Now may you see in your Big Sister, that someone, who has travelled the same road ahead of you. You can do it too. During the past two years, you were thought of much more than you were seen. So, may you always remember, you are a very special person. Mom and Dad, who were always so thoughtful --a letter, a care package, a phone call, a ride or a ticket to come home -- always at the right time. Who were always so patient -- may not always have understood the complex mind of their daughter, but did a great job. For all your support, encouragement and love; thank you Mom and Dad for always being there . Thank you to our patients, who have taught us more than any nursing book could have done. Most of all, they have taught us that we can be proud of our profession. Words of thank you and appreciation for our success go to many people at Grace; to Colonel Everett, who was administrator of our hospital during our first two years, and also to Major Thornhill, the present Administrator. Both always had smiles to take the place of many words. To the doctors, who lectured us in classes, and for their teaching, guidance, and patience in the hospital area. To Miss Seeman and all the instructors, for their interest, support and encouragement -- helping us to achieve our goal every step of the way. To Brigadier Wagner, hospital Chaplain and Mrs. Wagner, our house parents, for their help in making residence like home. To our housemothers, who must be the most patient wo¬ men in the world, as they faced the changing moods of students day by day. To Dr. McMillan and Mrs. Dojack, for meeting all our health needs -- big ones and little ones ! Thank you classmates for the honour of being Valedictorian. I am a part of all that I have met . Indeed, this is true. Each member of Class 70 has given to each other in many ways; perhaps a new outlook on other faiths, stimulated laughter in quiet ones, taught others to appreciate silence and how important it is to listen; to share and experience someone ' s happiness, to understand and support another in sad times; to encourage or boost another ' s spirits; to receive words of encouragement. Thank you each of the Class ' 70 for being you . May you have delightful memories -- many of them; good fortunes -- loads of them; and happy days -- all of them. This can be done by taking a moment out of each day to simply re¬ call that, People need people -- Yes, we really do! Barbara Pedersen 23