Former repatriation nurse returns to Fairview 32 years on

For former Bellbowrie resident Annette, choosing a retirement village was more than a lifestyle decision. It was a homecoming, returning to the site where she spent more than a decade caring for veterans as a nurse at the former Repatriation Hospital.

Now home to Bolton Clarke’s Fairview community, Annette says she knew her search for a retirement village was over the moment she drove through the gates.

“When my daughter and I drove into the front gate, I just thought it was like coming home again,” Annette said.

“I hadn’t been back since the hospital closed in 1994 and it was just a wonderful feeling to be back.

“I immediately looked at my daughter and said, ‘Sam, I’ve got to come here’,” she said.

This September marks 81 years since the official opening of the Repatriation Sanatorium Hospital which was originally built for ex-servicemen recovering from tuberculosis and continued to serve the veteran community after World War II. For Annette, caring for the ex-servicemen and hearing their stories left a lasting impression.  

“I don’t think I ever had a day that I didn’t love coming to work because it was such a joy for me to work with the men.

“That was the most special part because my father had been a pilot and he didn’t come home after the war.

“I met some really great blokes and although a lot didn’t talk about their war experiences, they did talk about friendship and mateship.”

Annette worked at the hospital for 14 years until its closer in 1994. Wanting to preserve its history, she later wrote a book, The Country Club, documenting the hospital’s story and the experiences of many of the veterans who lived there.

“We knew the closure was coming but it was still pretty sad when we finally heard the news so the staff decided to have a big celebration together to honour the hospital.

“On that very last day, we were all asking each other what we will be doing next and I said ‘I think I’m going to write a book’.

“Everyone looked at me as if I was stupid, but I did – I wrote it and finished it.

“A lot of people told me my book helped them understand why their fathers were sent here when they had tuberculosis and it gave families the opportunity to understand it.”

While Annette has only called Fairview retirement village home for just over a month, she said returning to a place that holds such an important chapter of her life has been incredibly special.  

“I think my daughter thought I was mad that I wanted to come back to a place where I used to work but I just knew I had to come here.”