Friendships forged by Training Together

They all met for the first time at the Melbourne School of Nursing in 1953.

Photographer unknown, Student Nurses, circa 1954, Melbourne School of Nursing, Mayfield Ave, Toorak, Victoria, Australia.[T346]  From Left: Back Row Barbara Lancombe, Louise Hamilton; Front Row: Judy Todman, Wendy Dolling, June Mar, Phyllis Walker.

In 1956 after three years of study, they successfully graduated together from The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Associated Hospitals School of Nursing after successfully sitting their final exam on the 29 & 30 June.

Photographer unknown, Graduating Nursing Students from Melbourne School of Nursing, August 1956, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [T348] From the Left: Wendy Dolling, June Mark, Barbara Lancombe, Phyllis Walker, Judy Todman, Louise Hamilton

After three years of training together, they had forged friendships that would last a lifetime. Their first get together was soon after training before Judy travelled to New Zealand for an eight-month working holiday.

Photographer unknown, Catching up with Nursing friends, 1957, Hotel Elizabeth, 321 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria Australia (From left to right: July Todman, June Mark, Barbara Lancomb, Louise Hamilton, Wendy Dolling and Phyllis Walker.) [T316]

Over time they have shared their life journeys with each other. Indelible bonds were formed during those early years of intensive nurse training, that has lasted a lifetime.

Photographer unknown, 50th-year Anniversary lunch at Barb's place, 2003 (From left to right: Barb, Louise, Phyl, Wendy, & Judy) [T344]

There are not many people who can claim to have maintained 50 years of friendship and shared memories based on their early work experiences.

This Blogpost is an expansion of an early one I wrote entitled A Dinner Party Reunion