'The last 60 years have gone very quickly'

In 1964, the world was a different place. The Beatles had taken America by storm, President of the United States of America Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, and Cassius Clay became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world before changing his name to Muhammad Ali.

It was also the year a young Margaret Sims started working at Epworth Richmond. And Margie, as she likes to be known, is still at the Melbourne private hospital today.

She was recently honoured for 60 years of service at Epworth HealthCare's 2024 Length of Service ceremony.

"I've been at Epworth for 60 years – I don't believe it myself, but that's what it is," said Margie, who was one of 598 of the group's staff recognised for a combined 9,455 years of employment.

"I saw an ad in the paper in Tasmania for a mothercraft nurse in the new children's ward that they built there."

After 40 years working as a nurse, Margie has been Richmond's oncology ward receptionist for the past two decades.

Her early years were spent under the watchful eye of Epworth's longest-serving matron, Marjorie Holding, and she lived on-site in the nurses' quarters.

"The nurses' home was where the Cato Wing is now; I lived there for about 15 years," Margie said.

"It was a different setup altogether because you had to report in and out. You had to be in by 10pm, or there was trouble!

"We also had picture nights down in the hall, stalls, picnics and all sorts of things."

When Margie started work, Epworth Richmond had about 100 beds. Now, the hospital has 700 beds and is the flagship facility of the group's multiple sites across Melbourne and Geelong.

"So many talented surgeons and physicians from Melbourne worked here," Margie said.

"It was mostly surgical procedures but there was also some radiotherapy, physiotherapy, psychiatry, gynaecology, and we had a midwifery ward.

"There's been so many changes and the last 60 years have gone very quickly."

Margie said she still enjoyed interacting with patients.

"I like to go down and collect them from the front door and greet them," she said.

"I think that's a good way of learning about each patient, their diet, and asking questions and things like that.

"I have very good memories of Edward 'Weary' Dunlop and all the famous doctors that practiced here many years ago.

"One of the current doctors at Epworth Richmond is an oncologist, and I knew his father."

Margie said the one word she used to sum up Epworth was "exemplary".

"It has all changed a lot, but I've experienced it all, and I've loved it all," she said.

"It's helped me as a person."

Read more: Special gifts for Epworth's 'centenary babies'

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