I started at Caboolture Hospital in 1994, about seven months after it opened.
I was employed as the HBCIS Trainer which quickly evolved into becoming the HBCIS and software helpdesk person as well.
Back then Caboolture Hospital looked so different, inside and out.
Where the Private Hospital, Regis, Specialist Outpatients and the housing estate now exist, was a landscape of long grass and bush, which staff nicknamed “The Swamp” and which kangaroos and snakes called home.
One big snake became hot gossip one afternoon when it was almost stepped on by a nurse getting into her car.
It must have come up via the engine and was sitting between the pedals and the seat.
After much deliberation and advice from many staff, the car doors were left open for the snake to escape.
I lived about 10 minutes from the hospital and we regularly had kangaroos stop at our place too, as you can see in this photo of me wearing the admin uniform in 1995.
Inside, the hospital departments were so much smaller back then.
Our IT office was a demountable building with two desks, and a narrow back room for storage.
The Computer Room was a tiny room outside the main Executive offices which were on level 3 where 3B is now.
The original Emergency Department was where medical imaging is now.
The Medical Records Department (now HIS) sat where The Common Good Café is.
Our Allied Health staff – one social worker and one physiotherapist – worked out of a tiny two-person office that is now a corridor.
When the new Maternity Ward opened, I trained all the new midwives in 1995 and implemented the Maternity HBCIS module.
Training Days were fun! Our fake HBCIS Training Account patients had the most horrible ailments and fun names that made us all laugh. Laughter encouraged learning because no one liked HBCIS.
The hospital felt like a magical happy place with a small-town atmosphere.
Everyone knew everyone, they knew your partner and children’s names, sometimes even your pets.
The Friday afternoon social club had barbecues and drinks until late, which were amazing!
As I was on a contract, I had to leave Caboolture Hospital and for a permanent role in IT at the PA Hospital.
I got to come back here to give birth to my two daughters.
My first daughter was born in 1996 in a room where the Paediatric Ward is now, which was originally the Maternity Ward.
My second daughter was born in 1999 in the newly opened Maternity Unit, the same one that is there today.
Both times I was treated to amazing care by every single staff member.
A few years, later I came back to Caboolture Hospital as a casual Administration Officer and it was as if I never left.
Today, I work in the ANDAS, Antenatal and SOPD clinics.
The number of faces who were here 30 years ago are slowly dwindling, but the staff atmosphere is the same.
There are so many hardworking people here, giving their all to help this community.
It’s a pleasure to work with you all.
Have you got a story to share? Email ckw-engage@health.qld.gov.au.