4 January 2020
Aileen Monck was an incredible nurse and who provided leadership and inspiration within the nursing profession over decades of outstanding service.
Since graduating as a Registered General Nurse and a Registered Midwife in in the mid-1950s, she filled many roles in both clinical nursing and administration in Adelaide, Sydney and the UK.
In 1967 she was a member of a South Australian surgical team which worked in Vietnam for six months. It was only last year when that service was recognised for accessing health services as ex-service personnel despite the fact that Aileen was exposed to the toxic substance Agent Orange during her time in Vietnam.
In 1975 Aileen was appointed the first Director of Nursing at the Flinders Medical Centre, a position which she occupied until her retirement in 1991.
In 1992, Mock was awarded an Order of Australia for service to nursing, particularly in the field of education and administration.
Aileen was a Life Member of the ANMF (SA Branch) in recognition of her service particular in the career structure developments of the 1980s. We can also thank her for her active participation in the campaign to eliminate the nurses caps under the leadership of the RAH Director of Nursing Pam Spry during her long service at that hospital.
She will be missed.