SRACA HISTORY

Sister Mary Andre Short Papers [Sr. Moira Walpole RSM]

WHO:  After completing her education at the Holy Cross Wooloowin, All Hallows’ and Star of the Sea, Southport, Sr Mary Andre trained as a nurse at the Mater Hospital Brisbane, gaining her registration prior to entering the Sisters of Mercy. She mainly worked in the theatre and in the ENT department, becoming a Nursing Supervisor in 1980.  After completing a Certificate course in Sterilising Technology in 1982, she become the Charge Nurse [later Manager] of the Mater Public Central Sterilisation and Disinfection Department, a positon she held until her retirement in 1991.

WHAT:  Sr Mary Andre was a foundation member of the Queensland Society of Sterilisation and Disinfection [QSSD], now known as SRACA Qld, Inc, [Sterilizing Research & Advisory Council of Australia, Queensland, Inc.] and was instrumental in the development of sterilizing standards.

She was involved in networking, committee structure, meetings, Constitution, workshops, conferences and helped develop the Certificate III Sterilizing Technology course in Queensland with the collaboration from many colleagues.  Secretary for many years, and also held the position of President and was made a Life Member of SRACA Qld Inc. in 1990 and continued to remain on the Committee until 1994.

Sr. Mary Andre acquired many friends, colleagues and representatives from many companies throughout her years of service, not only to her religious life but her life which included nursing and sterilization technology.

Sr. Mary Andre’s legacy is now recognised with the “Sr. Mary Andre Short Papers” at the SRACA Qld Inc. annual Conferences.  She was dedicated and a hard worker in raising sterilization standards, so let’s be inspired to share our knowledge and dedication with others by honouring her memory and continuing to raise these standards even higher.

WHY: 

  • Criteria for Novice Presenters from a Central Sterilising Department [CSD] or Reprocessing Area from many settings to share a quality / research activity from your department,
  • Please take advantage of submitting a Short Paper at this year’s conference in Brisbane, Eagle Farm Racecourse, to be held from 25 – 28th August, 2022.  First Prize $500, papers to be no longer than 10mins and can be supported with visual aids eg. PowerPoint.
  • This experience will professionally change the individual,
  • And who knows where this will lead your professional journey?

References:

*Mercies Link- January/February, 2004,

*Sr Mary Andre Obituary, 21/01/2004,

*SRACA Qld Inc. President, Maria Anderson, 2010,

*Updated Elinor V. Radke, SRACA Qld Inc. Past President, 2017.