Page 4 - QARANC Vol 15 No 1 2017

2 QARANC THE GAZETTE
President’s Foreword
It seems like only a few weeks ago that I sat at the desk to write the last foreword to the Gazette and here we are well into 2017, and to be honest Christmas now seems like a distant memory. Since taking over as Chief Nursing Officer last year, the pace of work has been relentless and looking forward I see yet another challenging year of change ahead both for the Corps and the QARANC Association.
You will all have been aware that we have been without a Regimental Secretary since last June and I must thank you for your patience with us during this time, as we have tried to keep on top of the RHQ and Association duties as well as those of the day job. None more so than our Chairman, Col Sue Bush, without whom we just could not have managed. I’m sure that on occasion Col Sue must have thought she had taken on a full time job, she has been so busy. The good news is that our new Regimental Secretary will soon be in post and will hopefully be able to join us in celebrating Corps Day in Aldershot on Sat 25 March 17.
I have managed to escape the desk in Army Headquarters on a few occasions since the last edition, which has allowed me to spend valuable time with nurses and healthcare assistants both Regular and Reserve. Believe meitisoneofthejoysofthejoband, wherever I go, I am impressed by the care, compassion and professionalism
shown by all. Having been fortunate enough to be invited to a few passing out parades, I have met both soldiers and officers at the very start of their careers as Army nurses or healthcare assistants. On each occasion I have been so impressed by the sheer enthusiasm and commitment shown by all; suffice to say it is not only their parents who have been bursting with pride. As a Corps we must not only ensure we continue to attract such high calibre individuals, but we have a responsibility to develop and nurture them for the future.
In an effort to do just that, we held another study period at Sandhurst in November. Unfortunately lack of availability meant we were restricted by the size of the venue, so we were unable to accommodate all who
applied to attend, which was a great disappointment. However, it provided an opportunity to share some of the issues that have been occupying my time since taking over, as well as some of the changes that have impacted on the Corps since the disestablishment of the Army Medical Directorate. We were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Wessex, who very kindly agreed to join us to unveil the painting “What Matters Most”, commissioned by the Association to commemorate Operation GRITROCK. Prior to the unveiling itself, the audience were enthralled by the presentations given by some of those who had served there. They each gave a very personal account of their experiences, providing us with a real insight into the human story of deployment. Afterwards Her Royal Highness made time to talk to those involved in Operation GRITROCK and had the opportunity to hear of their experiences first hand. The painting presents a very powerful and moving image of care and compassion in extreme circumstances; it is now hanging in Robertson House, the home of our RHQ.
We have much to look forward to over the coming year as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the QARANC Association. I am sure Corps Day on 25 March will again be a great success. I have to confess to being slightly nervous about returning to the Royal Pavilion, the site of the QA Training Centre, but I’m sure it will bring back memories for many of us. The Symposium is due to take place 4 & 5 May and planning has been underway for some time; as we return to Churchill Hall in Sandhurst, the restriction on numbers will not apply. The programme is shaping up well and the team has secured some very high profile speakers from the nursing world, so I anticipate a stimulating two days for all.
With regard to the CNO(A) appointment and the ongoing leadership of the Corps, the liability that underpins the post continues to be used elsewhere and although work continues to address this situation, as yet no enduring solution has been identified.
Col Karen Irvine RRC QHN L/ QARANC
President
Countess of Wessex Challenge Cup 2016
As well as being Colonel in Chief of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) The Countess of Wessex is The Royal Colonel of 5th Battalion The Rifles; Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Wittering; Colonel in Chief of the Corps of Army Music and sponsor of HMS Daring. The annual ‘Countess of Wessex Cup’ poses a mixture of physical and mental challenges and for the last 6 years Armed Forces personnel from all four Services, that the Countess has honorary military appointments, have pitted themselves against each other, but up to now this has not included the QARANC.
On 4 October, a willing team of QAs and supporters arrived at RAF Wittering. The aim of the competition is to allow the respective units to participate in a competitive environment while developing bonds of friendship and mutual understanding. It is also the ideal vehicle for The Countess of Wessex to catch up with all her Unit Commanding Officers and meet members of the Units together.
Competitors this year came from RAF Wittering, HMS Daring, 5th Battalion The Rifles, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, The Corps of Army Music & The Lincoln & Welland Regiment, (a regiment of the Canadian Army) who all faced a mixture of physical and mental challenges during the day in which our QA team came 6th.