Lutheran nurses honoured

Enrolled Nurse Karen Bates of Angaston in South Australia’s Barossa Valley has been named the 2024 Lutheran Nurse of the Year.

Karen’s award was announced by the Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia (LNAA) on 12 May, which is also International Nurses Day. Sue Morrison, a retired nurse from Warrnambool in Victoria, was awarded a Certificate of Meritorious Service by LNAA.

Karen works at the Angaston Hospital, caring for patients in theatre, medical and surgical wards, as well as in palliative care and paediatrics. Those who nominated her for the award referred to her versatility, her compassion when dealing with patients and their families at their saddest times, and her eagerness to continue learning.

Karen is also one of five Pastoral Assistants at the Angaston Lutheran church, as well as a regular organist at funerals and Sunday services. Her pastor, Rob Borgas, said: ‘Karen works holistically, professionally caring for her patients’ physical needs, and also their emotional and spiritual needs, which is evident by the many comments that I have received from her patients when visiting them during or after their stay at hospital.’

A colleague at the Angaston Hospital said working with Karen ‘makes you want to strive to be a better nurse and maintain the standard of care that she gives’.

Sue Morrison said she ‘always wanted to be a nurse’ and began her nursing career at Warrnambool Base Hospital in 1968, completing her training there in 1971.

By 1985, Sue’s nursing career had taken on a management focus as she was appointed to the role of unit manager of the children’s ward and by 1989, she was working in senior nurse management roles. By 1998, she had completed a Master of Health Administration degree and a Master of Business Administration degree. In 1997, Sue was appointed Director of Nursing at Warrnambool South-West Healthcare.

She has served as secretary of the Warrnambool Lutheran parish, and treasurer of the Hawkesdale Lutheran congregation. In 2016 she was appointed to the District Church Council of the Lutheran church in Victoria. She has also served as a board member of Eventide Lutheran Home in Hamilton and Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village in Horsham, both in Victoria.

Pastor Bob Wiebusch is the editor of the Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia’s In Touch publication and a former editor of The Lutheran.