News

Local EGHS Nurse features in The Age

6th October, 2010

Local EGHS nurse Suzanna Rice, is one of 23 people from regional Victoria, selected to participate in a Feature Article in The Age called ‘Where We Live'.

Suzanna was very surprised when The Age contacted her about doing an article about her life and where she lives. "I just got this call out of the blue asking me if I would like to have a story about my life, I was just so surprised why they picked me" she said.

Suzanna moved to Ararat from her family farm in Coleambally west of Wagga in June 2009. "It was really easy to settle in here quickly, because all the people are so warm and welcoming. It is an extremely friendly community and being only two-hour drive from Melbourne, you can still get back at night to feed the dogs. I moved here to be with my partner and live on his family property in Tatyoon" she said.

The major challenges from moving to Ararat mainly revolve around farm life, which has a high level of unpredictability and uncertainty. Suzanna reflected that "Even though I don't work directly on the farm, the everyday challenges from the farm impact everybody around me which ultimately affects me. I changed my career path after moving to Ararat from being an Intensive Care Nurse which was quite hectic, to being a Clinical Teacher, which I am finding to be very rewarding".

Suzanna has always found working in country hospitals extremely rewarding and satisfying. She states that she is "just so passionate about nursing and the East Grampians Health Service has given me the platform to teach young student nurses all about nursing in my role as a Clinical Teacher".

Suzanna looks forward to teaching, guiding and helping all the student nurses at the Health Service. She also loves fitting into the role of a ‘Farmers Wife' making scones and yummy beef casseroles.