Inaugural Tasmanian Palliative Care Honour Roll

The Tasmanian Palliative Care Honour Roll recognises excellence in our sector, putting a spotlight on those people who have gone above and beyond their roles. These are the people that not only provide wonderful support to their patients, carers, families and friends, but also actively contribute to the development and growth of their communities and our sector.

The Tasmanian Palliative Care Honour Roll recognises contributions to the sector from those that may not otherwise be noted.

As the annual Tasmanian Palliative Care Awards continues to gain momentum, more and more nominations have been made about outstanding contributions that we just had to recognise.

This year we are honoured to recognise two inductees to the Honour Roll.

Traci – Lea Crole

It was 2007 when Traci Crole started working as an Enrolled Nurse on the Gibson Unit at St John’s Hospital in South Hobart. Traci had always wanted to work in Mental Health and had started her nursing career working in Aged Care and Mental Health at Mary’s Grange and Roy Fagan respectively. These early positions gave her great experiences that were fundamental to her ability to connect with patients, especially those receiving palliative care.

Working on the Gibson Unit – across both Oncology and Palliative Care – can often be challenging and stressful, and it isn’t for everyone. But Traci didn’t simply find her feet – she took to it like a duck to water and Sandra Brown, who was working on Gibson as a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, quickly spotted this enthusiasm and took Traci under her wing. Traci’s wealth of knowledge became legendary throughout St John’s Hospital, to the point that she became known as “Professor Crole”. And, just as Sandra Brown had supported her, Traci came

to see her role as that of an educator, taking all the new nurses, and a few old nurses too, under her wing with a “Come with me and I will show you how it is done.” It was no surprise that in 2009 she was presented with a Spirit of Calvary Award for her work on Gibson an award she was incredibly proud of. Even after Traci moved on to work in Community Care in New Norfolk, Community Options, and finally with the Salvation Army Housing service Common Ground, she continued to share her enormous knowledge and compassion.

Traci was diagnosed with cancer, but she continued to turn up to work, regardless of how much pain she was in, caring for other patients with cancer before hobbling off for her own radiotherapy appointment. Even when her disease became advanced earlier this year, she told Deb Foster “I don’t have time to die yet, I still have so much to give. My patients need me.” Such was her dedication to nursing, she was still updating her own online training and helping junior nurses with their assignments two months before she died.

For Traci, nursing was more than a profession; it was truly a vocation. Job satisfaction wasn’t about pay cheques or career progression. What gave Traci satisfaction was being able to comfort, love and nurture her patients and their families. It was all about making a difference to the emotional and physical pain surrounding death and dying.

Her compassion and empathy were matched by her infectious sense of humour and cheekiness, all dealt out in equal measure regardless of whether it was to a patient, family member, colleague, even the visiting doctors. But this larrikinism was possibly her greatest strength – she could be relied on to get patients and those around them to confide in her, and she was a fierce advocate for them because underneath it all, she wanted the best possible outcome for those in her care. A caring, vivacious spirit with a raucous laugh, admired and loved by so many, she is greatly missed by all those whose lives she blessed.

Dr David Saner

David worked with the North West Specialist Palliative Care Service for over 10 years providing wonderful care and support to palliative patients in the region. David planned to retire early in 2020 however delayed his retirement until mid-year to assist during the North West COVID-19 outbreak.

David’s approach was person centered through and through, he was an advocate for patients and their families first and foremost. He has also been a strong advocate for palliative care across the North West. David excelled in his ability to engage people, he encouraged healthcare workers to think and question. David was a great teacher, mentor and role model and is already missed by many in the North West.

David will always be highly regarded for his genuine commitment to his patients, clients and colleagues alike.

He embodies kindness, compassion and excellence and is a worthy addition to the Tasmanian Palliative Care Honour Roll