Meeting a ‘heroic’ dementia sufferer
For Central Queensland (CQ) University nursing student, Louise Sutton, winning a ‘Christine Bryden’ scholarship meant much more than a certificate and a trip to a conference on the Gold Coast.
For Central Queensland (CQ) University nursing student, Louise Sutton, winning a ‘Christine Bryden’ scholarship meant much more than a certificate and a trip to a conference on the Gold Coast.
The ultimate honour for Ms Sutton, and no doubt the other award winners too, was meeting Christine (pictured with husband) in person.
“The reason it was such a privilege to be given an award in Christine’s name and why she is such a hero is the courage she has shown since her dementia diagnosis,” Ms Sutton said.
“The wisdom I have gleaned from her in relation to dementia sufferers and their plight for a better outcome and the positive difference care givers can make with awareness, will be life long.”
Ms Sutton was one of three CQ University nursing students who won a Christine Bryden scholarship, enabling their attendance at the Nursing in Management Aged Care (NIMAC) conference in early July. The others were Kirsten Wick and Heidi Hodges.
The Scholarship is awarded as part of NIMAC’s (Nurses in Management – Aged Care) quest to raise awareness of the aged care industry and to enhance professional interaction with colleagues as a means of networking.
The awards were named the ‘Christine Bryden Awards’ in recognition of the contribution that Ms Bryden has made to raising care workers’ awareness of the needs of people with degenerative brain disease including dementia.
She was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 46 (in 1995) having held the position of First Assistant Secretary of the Science and Technology Division of the Prime Minister’s department. Ms Bryden, herself, presented the students with their certificates at the opening of the conference.
