Introducing the NZNO Board of Directors

Back row:  Denise McGurk (Top of South), Justin Moore (College/ Section), Brenda Close (Te Runanga), Billy Stewart (Tai
Tokerau), Marguerite Neilson (NSU), Jennie Rae (Central), Kyle Webster (West Coast), Bernadette Heaphy (College/ Section),
Nigel Barr (Southern), Marie Habowska (Greater Wellington), Val Scott (BOP/ Tairawhiti), Des Canterbury (Te Runanga)

Front row:  Anne McNicol (Midlands), Marion Guy (President), Jan Smith (Greater Auckland), Cheryl Hanham (Canterbury),
Jo West (NMAC), Kerri Nuku (Hawkes Bay)

Ask the President
(Discussion Forum)

MarionG@nzno.org.nz
(Email)

Vendors - please do not use this email address for cold calling or sales.

My role as president of NZNO over the last 18 months has had its highs and lows but has been an amazing experience.

I have worked in Primary Health Care as a practice nurse for the last 12 years and also in the emergency department for the last 8 years. I am a board member of one of the PHO’s in our area and also a member of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

I am hoping to complete my post graduate diploma in health science at the end of this year.

We have a poodle called Edward, who follows me around like shadow when I am at home.

My hobbies include playing golf, walking and cooking.

March, 2007

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I joined NZNO during student days at Wellington Polytechnic but not till the start of my career with Wellington Hospital did I make the connection of the wider responsibilities a nurse has to the public. During the ‘Nurses are Worth More’ campaign I became genuinely aware of the extent of this responsibility and felt proud that nurses were concerned enough to unite and exert professional leverage in a public forum.

During the early 90s I was in Whangarei and the turbulent era of the Employment Contracts Act made an impact with me. This time I engaged in the NZNO delegate structure and by the mid 90s was in Auckland where my husband Lee was a naval officer. I focused my career in Cardiothoracic ICU where I undertook Clinical Charge and Nurse Educator roles before moving to Charge Nurse of the Cardiothoracic Ward in early 2000 where I stayed till the birth of our son Jackson 20 months ago. Presently I’m a Project Manager with ADHB and am completing my Masters. Currently I Chair NMAC with past contributions to nursing negotiations with the first National MECA.

I’m a qualified Les Mills aerobics instructor - a great balance with work and being a Mum. While I have strong connections through family, friends and experiences to Whangarei and Auckland, I’m a Wellingtonian by birth and so still support the Hurricanes – home town rugby ties you just can’t shake.

April, 2007

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I currently work at Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department as a Clinical Nurse Co-ordinator (titles may change soon) having been there for the last six years. Prior to that, I had a lengthy stretch in the Paediatric Department also at Christchurch Hospital.

In 2005 I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of the Margaret May Blackwell Travelling Fellowship. I have completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing through Otago University.

I am married to Michelle and have an 11 year old girl and a 9 year old boy. My spare time is taken up with the usual household stuff, swimming and I have recently taken up cycling due to the knees no longer able to cope with pounding the pavement.

April, 2007

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I am Canterbury born and bred. I trained for my Nursing diploma at the Christchurch Polytechnic and sat my exams in 1983. Since then I have worked in a variety of areas including Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Intensive care in Dunedin Hospital and for the last 13 years in Neonatal Intensive Care first at Waikato 2 years and now Christchurch 11 years and counting. During that time I have completed courses through the hospitals on Intensive Care nursing at Otago and Neonatal nursing at Waikato. In 2004 I completed a post graduate certificate in Advanced Nursing, Specialty Child and Family Health. In 2005 I passed a paper at Canterbury University on Early Intervention Theory (Child). My aim this year is to finish my Diploma in Management through CPIT, I have 3 papers to go.

My NZNO involvement was initially as delegate and for the last 3 years as worksite convenor. I am a member of New Zealand Association of Neonatal Nurses and to Children and young persons Aotearoa. I have been a BOD member since October 2005 and have learnt a lot about our organisation and NZNO’s role in nursing leadership.

In my spare time I am a parent to Mathew 18 years who has just finished school and having a year off study and working fulltime in the retail sector and Megan nearly 8 year who is in Year 3 and growing fast. I have a husband Peter who works in the Audiovisual industry. We live in Belfast a northern suburb in Christchurch and Peter’s parents live close - just 20 minutes walk away. We also have 4 cats and a border collie to round out our household.

March, 2007

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I joined the Board of Directors in September 2006 and have been a member of NZNO since I commenced nursing training in 1979(!)

I completed a Diploma of Nursing at Wellington Polytechnic in 1981 and worked in general surgery, paediatrics and neonates at Wellington Hospital from 1982 to 1988. From 1989 through to 2002 I studied at Victoria (Bachelor of Nursing) and Massey Universities (Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health) and worked in health policy for the Department of Health and New Zealand Fire Service. I particularly enjoyed contact with people 'working in the field' and learning about how best to match a policy or procedure to the work that is done (ie implementing occupational health and safety requirements in inherently unsafe environments). During this period I also worked 'as my own boss' in a health and safety consultancy business.

I returned to hospital based nursing practice in 1997 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Wellington Hospital and am a member of the Flight Team for our Unit.

I was nominated as an NZNO delegate in 2002. Delegate work complements my clinical practice - it helps me to step back and problem solve with members to achieve improvements for all of us.

Children, extended family, travel, language study, music, dance and walking (I'm a car-free Wellingtonian) occupy my non-work time.

April, 2007

I have been a registered nurse for eight years having graduated in Dunedin in 1999. Before that I held various positions in the health service and have previously been a union member of the PSA and the National Union of Public Employees. I come from an activist back ground and became involved in the NZNO when a student in Dunedin campaigning in the Student Unit against clinical access fees. I am influenced by socialist politics and have been a member of Socialist Worker since 1995. I have variously worked as a staff nurse in Christchurch, Reefton, Greymouth, Mt Isa and Thursday Island. I have lived in the swamp and sawdust at Camerons since 2003 and enjoy amateur animal husbandry and clearing gorse. Presently I am working in the medical ward at Grey Base Hospital and completing papers towards a graduate certificate in nursing.I am an on-line correspondent for the trade union news website Labourstart and a member of the diabetes section. I also enjoy a good game of chess.

June, 2007

Born in Ngaruawahia where I still live along side the mighty Waikato River. I live in the family homestead which like myself is falling apart, however rustically beautiful. My current house mates are Stalin and Rommel (Cats) Daisy the famous Muscovy duck, Barry White and Michael Jackson, roosters and Tina, Diana, Eartha, Aretha, Gladys and the Pips Hens and Chickens. I am never lonely as I have whanau coming and going all year round and I have the Soiree Sisters.

I enjoy fine wine, food and good company including the “supervision sessions” with the Soiree Sisters, the common denominator being we are all civil servants. Gardening is a passion however I have not been up to it for some time now, therefore reading “House and Garden” has taken precedence.

I am the youngest in a family I would describe as trade unionists, academics and politically active, however, entertaining individuals who I love dearly, warts and all. I am blessed to be surrounded by lots of mokopuna who bring me much joy and hope for the future.

It is from my family and in particular my parents that I learnt the value of “Justice and equity for all” and the worth of accepting who you are and your whole ancestry. Maybe a little of that Catholic school upbringing played a role in my attitude as well, Holy Mother of God! Yes I do have a wicked sense of humour.

I am very active member of NZNO both in my workplace and within Midlands Region as a whole. Finally and no less importantly, I work in Hamilton City as a Public Health Nurse working with children, families and communities. I find this field of work invigorating and perhaps what keeps me alive, I therefore see myself staying in this field of work for some time.

May, 2007

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I moved back to Nelson from Christchurch 3 years ago (I had completed my nursing training here in 1979).  I became a NZNO member in 1994 while working at Christchurch Hospital and have been an active workplace delegate and representative at Regional Council level in both Canterbury and The Top of the South during this time.  I am married with two sons who are studying at University. I am presently working permanent night duty shifts in the Emergency Department at Nelson Hospital.  My off duty time is well utilised with a good book, a good film and great times exploring the beautiful Top of the South Region.

September, 2007

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