Born to be a nurse

PATSY Lyons, who was matron at Dandenong Hospital for 10 years, devoted her life to caring for others.
Patsy was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 9 December 1925, the only daughter of Elizabeth and Patrick Lyons.
When she was about 18, Patsy followed in her mother’s footsteps and left Dublin for England where she trained to be a nurse – the beginning of a 40 year career.
When she completed her general training, Patsy returned to Dublin and undertook maternity training.
Delivering the eulogy at Patsy’s funeral, her brother Bernard recalled a neighbour in Dublin who called her new daughter ‘Patsy’ because of the wonderful help offered by Patsy during the birth.
Bernard emigrated to Australia and in 1952 persuaded his sister to join him.
Patsy nursed at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, the Warracknabeal and Myrtleford hospitals, before returning to Ireland in 1954.
In the late 1960s, she again moved to Australia, this time with her mother and two other brothers.
She was immediately employed as a charge sister at Dandenong Hospital.
Patsy subsequently became deputy matron and then director of nursing.
During her tenure she saw the hospital grow from around 90 patients to 350.
“She loved the hospital and its staff,” Bernard said.
“She always emphasised that she was a nurse and that the patient was of paramount importance.
“She used to tell the nurses that they should always remember that without the patients, they would not be needed.
“She loved her staff and made sure that she maintained a very close rapport with them, a bond, which lasted in many cases, for the rest of her life.”
In her retirement, Patsy was awarded a life membership of Rotary for her work at the hospital.
Patsy loved the outdoors and enjoyed annual trips to Binna Burra in the Hinterland of the Gold Coast. She loved Australia and travelled extensively, particularly in the outback.
In later life Patsy suffered severe arthritis in both knees and spinal pain caused by 40 years of nursing.
Despite this, Bernard recalled many happy holidays the pair enjoyed together.
“She was very organised and on driving holidays would say, ‘Bernard you have been driving now for three hours, pull in to that roadside stop over there’.
“She would then produce a flask of boiling water, tea bags, sugar, milk and sandwiches from her esky which was termed her magic box.”
Several times a week, Patsy used to take her beloved dog ‘Skippy’ to the Springvale Cemetery to visit her mother’s grave. The grave was always easy to find because it was always decorated with flowers thanks to Patsy.
Patsy loved her religion and the church. She loved Noble Park and particularly St Anthony’s Catholic Church.
Patsy lived the last years of her life at a nursing home in Mount Waverley.
In her final days individual members of staff would come into her room frequently crying and expressing their love for her.
Pasty died on 8 June.
She was farewelled by a large congregation of family, friends and former colleagues and patients at St Anthony’s.