New articleQueen’s Birthday Honours: Margaret McMillan

WHEN Margaret McMillan first found out she had been nominated for an an Order of Australia medal, the pioneer for nurse education thought she was the victim of an elaborate practical joke.

“I received a letter in the mail on April 1 asking me if I would accept the nomination, but I thought it must have been an April Fool joke,” Dr McMillan, of Bateau Bay, said laughing.

“But it looked authentic and once I sat down and read it carefully I realised it was real and I felt honoured.”

It’s easy to see why the mother of three and grandmother of two was nominated - Dr McMillan is one of Australia’s leading nurse educators.

“I was among the first to push for nursing to move to the tertiary sector,” Dr McMillan said.

The highly respected professional started her nursing career in 1965 at Lismore where she completed her training and started working in nurse education.

After marrying her husband, John, who was a school principal, the couple moved around the state, but despite the frequent changes of scenery, Dr McMillan continued to dedicate her time and services to further developing medical education, through a range of academic and executive roles.

“I was president of the NSW College of Nursing and I have served on a variety of committees and held a number of advisory and mentor roles,” Dr McMillan said.

“I still sit on the Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Advisory Council and the Australian Learning and Teaching Council and I’m still involved with advisory committees with universities across Australia."

15 Jun 10 by Alicia McCumstie
from Express Advocate