The Rotary
Club of Durban Thekwini
Vocational Service
Vocational Service Month In October the month will be observed by inviting
educationists to address the club on changing occupational patterns within society. They
will be asked to explain how their specific educational sector is adapting to these
changes.
Vocational Service Award The committee intends to honour a suitable recipient
for this prestigious award. Club members have been asked to submit their nominations to
the committee.
- The 1998/99 recipient: Sister
Joan Wake. On Wednesday
27 January 1999 Sister Joan was honoured for her life long dedication to nursing and
patient care. The award recognised her for excellence in her chosen career and for so
willingly going beyond the call of duty. Sister Joan retired in 1993 as sister in charge
of the Cancer ward at Parklands Hospital. Her experience left her feeling that she was not
doing enough for cancer patients and that counselling facilities should be available. On
her retirement, she organised a support group from home. This has grown to become "We
Help You Cope" a group programme open to both in and out patients at Parklands. For
those patients who are uncomfortable in a group set-up, Sister Joan offers one on one
counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Another aim of Sister Joan is to get a breast
cancer help-line project off the ground. The pleasures of retirement pale in comparison to
the fulfillment that comes from caring for cancer patients. "All my years of nursing
now count for something. It truly makes my life worthwhile" (Sister Joan Wake).
Adult Functional Literacy The most ambitious project will be the introduction
of an Adult Functional Literacy programme for police personnel at the Mayville Police
Station. This will begin with a Zulu course for non-Zulu speakers and hopefully develop
into an English course for non-English speakers.
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of Service