Page 4 - QARANC Vol 18 No 1 2020

2 The Gazette QARANC Association
President’s Foreword
Welcome to the Spring edition of The Gazette. As I write this in late March 2020, we are mid the COVID Pandemic where many of us are involved in either contingency planning, delivery of care, looking after our friends, families and neighbours or trying to maintain the background ‘business as usual’ work which keeps everything going. Many of our members are living in self- isolation conditions, and we are all having to adapt to different working practices including distancing ourselves whether through PPE in the clinical environment, by remote working either from home, or providing telephone/skype clinical consultations. For an organisation which is founded on team work, it is a huge step change in our daily practice, but one we have very quickly adapted to. The arrival of this Gazette publication will come at the perfect time to link us to each other’s activities, and the following pages are a great selection of articles from Regular and Reserve units and the Association Branches about how we celebrated the latter
half of our 70thAnniversary year. It has been very fitting that our 70th Anniversary in 2019 leads us into another 70th celebration for our Corps; the first soldier enlisted into the QARANC in 1950. So another date to remember this year as internationally, we join our colleagues in commemorating the bi centenary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
In the Gazette amongst our nursing colleagues we remember, we celebrate the careers of Brigadier Jan Cook and Maj Huw (Taff) Jones and the huge contribution they have each made to nursing which continues to impact and influence across wider Defence.
Last year also saw the changeover in Chief Nursing Officer, and I am grateful to Colonel Alison McCourt for her handover and subsequent advice. Despite her busy Commander Medical Role at 3 (UK) Div whilst concurrently being the Chief Nursing Officer, she has led the Corps in delivering excellence across the piece.
As you read through this Gazette,
Colonel Alison Farmer
please think about capturing what you are doing to share the experience in our next edition. We have had to cancel most of our Branch and Corps events, so I will join you in looking forward to reading how we individually marked Corps Day this year, from comments I have heard, it sounds like you have been very enterprising! Watch this space....
Colonel Alison Farmer Chief Nursing Officer (Army)
Report from the Chair
Hopefully the winter is ending, and when you read this spring will have sprung providing a pleasant background to your reading.
As mentioned in the last issue the Board continues with the work following the review by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. We have recruited an Office Manager – Sarah Young – who comes with nine years’ experience working with the RA Association. I am confident that the central office is now staffed correctly thus enabling the Association to have the foundation that will make us fit for purpose and the challenges of the coming years. Our thanks go to Sue and Alison who have weathered the past pressures.
We have recruited a specialist trustee(finance) – Alisa Lakeman- Ford – some of you may remember Alisa, she was a QA who undertook a career change and now works in the financial sector. A serendipitous find,
a financial specialist who understands our mindset! We have now formed the finance sub-committee and are reviewing our financial situation across the whole of the Association – that will include the branches.
Retiring from the Board are Moira Dixson and Phillip Saunders. Respectively they have given seven and eight years’ service as trustees. We thank them both for their long and valued service, wise counsel and dedication; they will not be lost as they will continue working within their branches.
We now have four vacant posts for trustees: are you interested? Do you have the time to spare? If you do please e-mail Sarah – manager@ qarancassociation.org.uk and she will send you an application form and job description; should you wish to discuss what is involved/have queries I will speak with you over the ‘phone.
Last but not least on behalf of the
Colonel (Retd) John Quinn Chair of the Association
board I would like to thank Colonel Alison McCourt, outgoing CNO, for her work as the Association President and welcome Colonel Alison Farmer CNO on taking up the post as President.
Colonel (Retd) John Quinn Chair