Our History

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NSW OTA Quilt

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Judith Cornell Tribute

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Mair Jones OAM 2012

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History Slideshow

Click the link below to view the slideshow of the 2007 Dinner 50th Anniversary.

Past President's Slideshow

Highlights from Pat Solomon’s speech (given on 4th March 2017):

~ nursing from the country to Darlinghurst

~ The affect war had on perioperative nursing - seeing what the US military hospitals had in the field – red lined hospital tents in the desert to reflect the heat away.

~ The impact Johnson & Johnson Medical had on perioperative nursing & the provision of scholarships. Hence - Sister Felix (a colleague in the order) went to US, to see how the US did things. Sister Felix came back from US, and taught Sister Mary Gabriel the new ways of working in the perioperative field.

~ Re-using gloves & patching gloves, & patching the patches. Working in the glove washing, powdering & wrapping room

~ Washing drapes, and gowns & wrapping.

~ When J & J came & assisted with visits to other hospitals: Sr Gabriel (Pat) wore white in theatre, and heavy black serge when visiting other theatres & met other Theatre managers. It was very, very hot. These Theatre Managers had great courage in working in the evolving realm of the theatre nurse.

~ Today we have come Full circle.

~ We have to use what we can, even Mr Robot.

Eleanor Lambersten wrote a dissertation on ''the purpose of team nursing”. Dr. Lambertsen wrote in her dissertation, ''that the purpose of her paper is to blend different kinds of nurses into the working unit whose core is the patient and his individual nursing needs.'' Her dissertation spelled out her idea of team nursing, and it was published as a book by Teachers College Press under the title ''Nursing Team Organization and Functioning.'' The dissertation led to a demonstration project at Francis Delafield Hospital, a cancer hospital in Manhattan.

~ We need to keep to these principles. We need to keep the patient the focus.
~ We are travelling this same journey again now - in changes to our perioperative environment, as did those before us.

~ Vivian Bullwinkel: showed Sr Gabriel multiple bayonet wounds on her back. Vivian was so very sick when they took her out of the sea, as the sole survivor of the 1942 Banka Island massacre. Sr Bullwinkel, even as a POW ensured that the nurses were respected in their passing. The nurses wore uniform for burial of their peers. When uniforms were not available, they were able to procure Chinese dresses to wear when paying their respect. This stunned Japanese when fully uniformed nurses buried there peers.

~ We need to be very understanding, & accepting of our people, & colleagues. Hardship is a reality of life. Hardship in physical sense, emotionally & psychologically.

~ It is necessary to persist & get through.

~ To help every theatre nurse to help the patient.


~ I have had 2 surgical experiences of recent times. Discussed with anaesthetist the old ways of surgery before induction. And then they thought better to proceed, as the discussion was making the other staff uncomfortable!

~ Important to know what's happening in your patients care; important to understand our patients; to care & love our patients.

~ We never know what's ahead of us. Only God knows.

~ When I relinquished my driving licence – I lost my identity.  I have lost my passport, my birth certificate. But I found my abridged birth certificate. I have had less than happy experiences with Centrelink! Who does an elderly lady see to get some decent customer service & an ID card, when treated in a less than kindly manner?

~ There were issues with ID during the war of displaced personnel, especially the Jewish. Hence that relevance of identification of all people & patients transcends all eras.

~ Teach the nurses to look at your patient, and put the patient first.


~ And, remember, I love you all.

Sister Mary Gabriel – Pat Solomon.

Pat Solomon & Jenny Cubitt: 11th April 2007.

Pat Solomon & Jenny Cubitt: 17th October 2013.

Pat Solomon at the Sydney Masonic Centre on 4th March 2017.

Vale Patricia Solomon

It is with great sadness that I write to advise you of the passing of our first President for NSW OTA, Patricia Solomon.

Patricia was born in Burwood NSW in 1927. She entered the convent of St Vincent’s when she was 16.5 years old. In 1946/7 she entered the Sisters of Charity as Sister Mary Gabriel taking her final vows in 1949. Completing her training at St Vincent’s hospital Darlinghurst in 1952, Sister Mary Gabriel worked in the Surgical ward at St Vincent’s in Lismore 1952-1954.  She returned to Sydney to work for a short time in the Radiology department at St Vincent’s Darlinghurst and in 1956 she went to work in the operating theatres at St Vincent’s and she was trained and mentored in theatre work by the supervisor at the time Sister Dominica.  In 1956 – 1963 Sister Mary Gabriel became the charge sister of the operating theatres at St Vincent’s Darlinghurst.

It was in 1957 until December 1958 that Sister Mary Gabriel became the first president of the NSW Operating Theatre Association. She was part of the original group of theatre supervisors whose vision and commitment was to offer support and educational opportunities for perioperative nurses

In 1963 she was sent to Melbourne and worked in theatres there. In 1966 she helped setup the Casualty Operating theatres at St Vincent’s with Sister Mary Felix. In 1978 she worked at Concord Repatriation Hospital first as an educator in the operating suite and later as an evening ADON.

Patricia worked as a senior nurse in both NSW & Victoria and played a pivotal role in the training and supervising of young nurses in all the institutions where she worked. Ros Berryman helped reconnect the NSW OTA and Patricia. Patricia was present for our 50^th birthday celebrations and she has presented at our conferences over the past 10years. She shared her recollections of the challenges that were faced and the early days of perioperative nurse. Patricia was a very entertaining presenter. She has continued to be an inspiration and mentor to a number of perioperative nurses and she was willing to share her knowledge. Patricia was a beautiful, kind, caring and generous lady and she will be missed.