Goya Dmytryshchak
Williamstown Hospital’s longest-serving employee, Toni Powell, was last week farewelled with a “face guard of honour” to mark her retirement after half a century.
Mrs Powell has worked virtually everywhere inside the hospital, including X-ray, pathology, medical records, stores, finance and switchboard, and has spent the past 20 years admitting patients.
“I’ve really enjoyed the last 20 years in admissions because that’s my forte – talking,” she said.
“The last few years in theatre reception were the best, I think.
“When patients would come in, in the morning, if there were two or three of them together, I’d say to them, ‘Oh, who’s the lucky person today?’
“They would say, ‘Why am I lucky?’ and I’d say, ‘Because you’re here at Williamstown’.”
She started at Williamstown a few months before the West Gate Bridge collapsed, and was at work when it happened.
Her husband (then boyfriend) Rob, a painter, was working two blocks from the bridge when it fell.
Mrs Powell has never worked a day anywhere else and even married Rob at the hospital in 1981 so her friends could attend even if they were “on duty”.
She calls herself the “director of first impressions” and jokes that her retirement is her “Wexit”.
“Britan had their Brexit from the union, Meghan and Harry had their Megxit, and I call this my Wexit – my Western Health exit,” Mrs Powell said.
“I’ll just settle into a relaxed way of life now. My hubby and I play golf and are walking each day or riding our bikes – it’s lovely.”
Colleagues last Wednesday lined the hospital corridors wearing surgical masks, due to of COVID-19, to say goodbye.
