News

Deb Morden retires from Kyabram Regional Clinic after 39 years

By Jared Prestwidge

Jul 31, 2020

KYABRAM Regional Clinic practice manager Deb Morden has retired after 39 years.

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Considered by her fellow staff as the ‘backbone’ of the clinic, Mrs Morden has come a long way since she was recommended by a friend for a reception position all those decades ago.

Now that she’s done with the grind of full-time work, Mrs Morden said she planned to focus her time out on the golf course at Rich River in Echuca.

“I haven’t been able to go to mid-week tournaments and go away with the girls on trips. That’s something that I’ve got planned as well as just being at home,” she said.

“I’m not sure how I will go, it will be interesting. I live at a lovely place out on the river and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy that.”

As the practice manager, Mrs Morden was responsible for overseeing the running of the clinic.

She has been there for several key moments in the clinic’s lifetime — namely the transition to digital over 20 years ago as well as its major renovation.

“I learnt things every day. I never stopped learning,” Mrs Morden said.

“There were always really good challenges because we were always trying to make the practice better. We saw an absolute need in increasing our number of GPs just to fulfill the needs of the community.”

Mrs Morden said the decision to retire was incredibly hard, especially considering how close she was with everyone on the staff.

“There always are reservations, it’s been a big part of my life,” she said

“I was planning on going earlier but stayed to help everyone out with COVID-19.”

But Mrs Morden said the one thing she was more than happy to see the back of was her 90-minute daily commute from her home in Wharparilla.

Kyabram Regional Clinic principal doctor Robert Brun said Mrs Morden’s work ethic and kind demeanour would be sorely missed.

“I would say Deb has been the backbone of the clinic for just short of 40 years. She’s a person with an amazing work ethic,” he said.

“I think it’s an amazing effort for somebody who doesn’t live in Kyabram to have been supporting this community, as well as the clinic, for such an awful long time. Not only the town and the community, but also the doctors and staff owe her a debt of gratitude.

“She’s going to be sorely missed but deserves her time off with her husband.”