At this year’s annual Thanksgiving Lunch, St Vincent’s Curran Foundation welcomed Marea Reading OAM, a retired cardiothoracic nurse from
St Vincent’s Hospital, as the guest speaker. Over her 40-year career, Marea made significant contributions to nursing and nurse education and shared insights into her inspiring journey, the evolution of nursing, and her dedication to supporting the next generation of nurses.
Marea’s connection with St Vincent’s began in 1964 as a registered nurse with certificates in general nursing and midwifery. Her attraction to
St Vincent’s was to pursue postgraduate nurse training in the operating theatres.
At the time, tuberculosis posed a significant health threat, leading to Marea’s assignment to thoracic nurse training in the Cameron Wing, a 100-bed tuberculosis unit that later became a cardiothoracic ward, playing a key role in fighting tuberculosis through community outreach programs.
By 1975, Marea discovered her calling as a nurse educator and was invited to coordinate the Cardiothoracic Nursing Course, sharing her knowledge and passion with trainees. She also worked closely with renowned heart surgeon Dr Victor Chang AC, delivering cardiothoracic training to hospitals in South-East Asia.
During Marea’s time at St Vincent’s, nurses were paid to attend classes and pursue specialty courses – unlike today, when nurses often bear the cost of their education and struggle to find time for further study. For this reason, Marea has personally supported students’ studies and donated to nursing education programs at St Vincent’s.
“Before the establishment of St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, we had to run raffles, cake stalls, walk-a-thons and a telethon to support what was needed for the hospital, such as equipment, teaching aids and patient programs. We were so passionate about post graduate nurse education that we gladly came in on our days off to fundraise.
“I feel so grateful to the Foundation for their support of nursing education. I feel excited to know that the 30 years I spent developing nursing education here at St Vincent’s, specifically in cardiothoracic medicine, will continue to support others,” said Marea.
The exceptional calibre of our nurses is a key factor that sets St Vincent’s apart. Through St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, we offer a wide range of nursing and education opportunities across both our Public and Private Hospitals. In 2024, thanks to the generosity of our donors and benefactors, over 150 senior nurses participated in coaching/leadership programs; 60 mid-career nurses received leadership training; and 32 nurses successfully completed post-graduate nursing courses.
“My passion for nurse education, my gratitude and affection for the Sisters of Charity, and my connection to St Vincent’s Curran Foundation have motivated me to include a gift in my Will. I want nursing education to be well supported int the future,” said Marea. “You can’t expect to have better outcomes for patients if you don’t have staff with specialty expertise.”
In honour of Marea’s extraordinary service and dedication, St Vincent’s has established the Marea Reading Award for Clinical Cardiothoracic Nursing, which recognises a student who has consistently demonstrated exceptional clinical development throughout the St Vincent’s Hospital Cardiothoracic and Heart Lung Transplant Nursing Postgraduate Clinical Course. In the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her inspiring influence on the field of cardiothoracic nursing in postgraduate students.
We are incredibly grateful to Marea for her service, dedication and support of St Vincent’s.
If you are interested in learning how to include a legacy gift in your Will that has the power to change the future of healthcare at St Vincent’s, we would love to have a confidential conversation to discuss the impact you wish to make.
In partnership with SafeWill, we are pleased to offer you an easy way to write your Will online. Until December 16, you can write your Will for FREE (usually $160).