laurie maddison

Fleeing Malaya when the Japanese invade in WWII Evelyn and her mother live in Perth Western Australia. Her father is captured, survives the death camps and re-unites with his family in 1945. They move to England where Evelyn meets eccentric family members, tries to reconcile her idyllic Australian life to one of discipline at boarding school when her parents return to Malaya. On finishing school she enters nursing, marries, has a son. Determined he will enjoy the freedom of life she knew in Australia the family migrate. She returns to nursing first at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital then moves to specialist areas at Royal Perth. Next comes community nursing, followed by a degree course at University, Mental health nursing , and finally as a university lecturer. Throughout, interactions with parents, family, friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, patients and dogs are told with humour and pathos that will awaken memories for different generations and enlighten the new.