I have been asked many times why I took up nursing and each time I say "I don't know". I believe that when I do fathom out the reason it is time for me to look for something new.  This is because I am still enjoying what I would consider as an 'opportunity of chance'.

Born in beautiful Singapore years after the conclusion of the second world war, I had what I would consider a enjoyable childhood with my family, friends, school-mates and a favourable time of growth in my life Music and photography were my means of relaxation.

Bitten by the travel bug I found myself  setting foot on English soil at 10 pm on 31st October 1968. I knew then that my dream was just beginning. Little did I know where it would take me or what it would enable me to become. I was in the land of Shakespeare, Hardy, Herriot and Wordsworth - the hero's and enlightenment of my school years. Little did I dream that I would enjoy the sights and sounds of London, Manchester, Radlett (where?) or enjoy the tranquil surroundings of Oxford, Cambridge, the Isle of Wight as well as the beautiful city of Paris. It was here that I cultivated my interest in the theatre and travelling.

My nursing career took me on a journey of a lifetime. I started out as a Psychiatric Nurse at Shenley Hospital, Radlett after which I undertook my General Nurse Training at Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge. It was there that I had my first taste of the world of Intensive Care. Spurred on by a far-sighted manager, I proceeded to the Royal Brompton Hospital to undertake Cardiothoracic Nursing where I stayed for seven years.

It was during this period of growth that I met with many interesting and brilliant nurses, physicians, surgeons and anaesthetists who would have a great personal and professional influence in my life. This was my first foray into the world of teaching post registration cardiothoracic nursing. It was also at this time that I had the pleasure of meeting the late Princess of Wales (the then Lady Diana Spencer).

Learning was my passion. I undertook the Certificate in Education at Garnet College after which I taught student nurses at Northwick Park Hospital. As the world was beginning to awake to life-saving procedures like heart transplantation, I went to Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire. Moving along in my career, I undertook a position as Senior Tutor at the School of Nursing at Ealing Hospital which later amalgamated with other education centres to offer nursing courses under the umbrella of Thames Valley University.

As I have often said, I found my calendar after 24 years in England and decided that I would return to Singapore. My time at Gleneagles Hospital was an enjoyable three years in which I was involved with the Singapore Nurses Association and the Private Hospitals Education Group. I was also involved in preparing senior Indonesian nurses to undertake teaching and managerial responsibilities in co-operative new joint ventures between Singapore and Indonesia.

All too soon the study bug was biting and I now have the opportunity to experience teaching at the University of Southern Queensland in beautiful Toowoomba while planning for my future studies.