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- 20 Years Of Care In The Country
20 years of care in the country
Jude & Bronnie, McGrath Cancer Care Nurses
Over the last 20 years, McGrath Cancer Care Nurses have been a lifeline in regional and rural Australia, providing expert care, hope, and support to families during their toughest times.
Jude Peterkin was the McGrath Foundation’s very first McGrath Cancer Care Nurse located in Albury-Wodonga. “We were swamped with patients from day one. I felt very special and privileged, but the need was immediate.”
As Jude got to work, the community responded and awareness of the McGrath Foundation grew, alongside the support Jude was providing. That was 20 years ago. Since then, rural and regional nurses like Jude have become the heartbeat of the McGrath Foundation, delivering care right across Australia.
“The aim from the beginning was to balance clinical support with psychosocial support, and the impact was felt from the start. 20 years on, I feel very proud.”
- Jude Peterkin
Bronnie Taylor, a former McGrath Cancer Care Nurse-turned-politician, became a fierce advocate for rural health, dedicating her career to providing better healthcare in rural and regional communities. In 2021, she became the first Regional Health Minister in NSW before retiring in 2024.
“The reason I got into politics is I didn’t feel regional health care was where it needed to be,” says Bronnie. “I talked about the McGrath Foundation in my maiden speech. The way it’s set up so that everyone has high quality care – for free – is Australia at its best.”
“The McGrath Model of Care has moved cancer nursing so far forward...It’s driven innovation and public awareness and allowed Australian society to care.”
- Bronnie Taylor
At the heart of the McGrath Foundation’s extraordinary journey is Kerry Patford, one of the original McGrath Cancer Care Nurses who has since risen to become the Foundation’s Chief Nurse.
For Emily Quinlan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 25, having a voice meant having someone she could turn to - someone who was always in her corner.
20 years ago, Tracy Bevan sat beside her best friend, Jane McGrath, sharing tears, laughter, and what felt like an impossible dream.
More than 20 years ago, Alison Szwajcer met Jane McGrath. Alison was Jane’s breast care nurse, a humble but unforgettable presence who entered Jane’s life when her cancer returned and metastasised in 2006.