When Kate Kelly's daughters were young, her mother told her she needed to get out more, so Kate went and got a job in the kitchen at Moree Hospital. Forty years on, and she hasn't left.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I started in 1979, when my girls [Pennie and Rachel] were only one and three - I had my son [Tim] after I started working here," Kate said.
"My mother said I needed to get out more, so I went to work and have been here 40 years.
"I love it."
READ ALSO:
This involves delivering meals to patients and office work.
She said she's seen a lot of changes over the years, particularly in regards to the patient load.
"We used to have hundreds of patients, but it's not like that anymore, they just don't stay as long," she said.
Another big change is going from fresh meals to pre-packaged.
"We've recently gone to the pod system, so instead of heating meals, we heat them in the pod, which goes into a docking station," Kate said.
"Trays go in the pod which heats up itself."
Some of the biggest changes are yet to come however, with the hospital to have a brand new kitchen by the end of the year, and a brand new hospital on the way.
Kate said the best part of her job is the interaction with patients and staff.
"Lots of the staff have been here nearly as long as I have, so we have a big friendship group," she said.
"We're friends out of work and have dinners once a week, and morning tea. We've joined the Evening View Club."
On Wednesday, June 19 - 40 years since her first day - Kate's colleagues organised a special surprise to celebrate her 40th anniversary.
"I was so surprised, I had no idea," Kate said.
"At lunch time in the dining room there was balloons and cake and presents, and staff from the whole hospital were there.
"David Quirk [Hunter New England Health Mehi sector general manager] did a phone hook-up and gave me a card, while Sharon Nash [clinical nurse consultant] said some lovely words."
Although she doesn't plan to retire anytime soon, Kate doubts she'll still be working by the time her 50th anniversary rolls around, as she wants to spend more time with her grandchildren Mackenna and Coehn.