Sr Eileen Pollard RSM OAM
(11 June 1926 – 5 June 2010)
“I began nursing at Mater on Friday 13 January 1942, when Mater Hill was covered in grass, there was a fish pond, and seats, overhung with branches and vines.”
Sr Eileen Pollard.
Sister Eileen Pollard started her nursing training at Mater at age 15 and later took her vows as a Sister of Mercy. Her religious name was Sister Mary Gerada.
Sister Eileen spent more than 60 years living and working within the Mater community. She was a devoted nurse, radiographer, nurse educator, the co-ordinator of the first accreditation of the Mater hospitals and recipient of many awards including the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2006.
Sister Eileen’s pupils, the nurses, were always her main concern; she made it her business to know them personally and to give them support and friendship.
In 1986, Sister Eileen was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her experience led her to become aware of the personal stories and experiences of her fellow sufferers and their families. With true compassion she visited cancer patients in hospital and at home and worked tirelessly to raise funds for the Cancer Council.
A special endowment fund will be set up at Mater Foundation in her name to assist oncology nurses with ongoing education needs. For enquiries about contributing to the fund, please contact Development Manager Jackie North on 07 3163 8000.