5min read
RM Heather
13 years midwifery experience
Delivering a child and a rocket launch have some things in common: they involve counting, require delicate care, and take months of preparation.
For RM Heather, she can proudly say that she has seen both.
So how does a midwife with over 13 years of experience find herself at the site of not only a space launch, but the Aurora Australis too? Have a read of her out-of-this-world adventures below.
1. How was your time at Ceduna District Health and Port Lincoln Hospital?
Port Lincoln was my first contract. I enjoyed my time there. We spent my days off exploring the Port Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay, and fishing! Incredible beaches, abundance of wildlife and sooo many dolphin encounters!
Ceduna has so far been a family favorite. A beautiful little seaside town. We were really welcomed by the community. So much amazing fishing to be done! The hospital team were fabulous. Great Doctors, Midwives and Nurses.
We were lucky enough to catch the Aurora Australis near Ceduna. Absolutely incredible!
2. Did you get up to anything interesting in South Australia?
We spent longer in South Australia than we expected and loved every minute. The fishing was great, the beaches beautiful. We spent a weekend exploring the Gawlers Ranges, went swimming with the sea lions and dolphins, and explored many caves along the coast. We loved visiting the different rock formations such as Murphy’s Haystacks and Pildappa rock.
We were also incredibly lucky to witness the successful launch of the HyImpulse SR-75 rocket.
A German engineered rocket, the 11.5 metre SR-75 is the first of its kind to be launched from Southern Launch’s test range at Koonibba, South Australia.
The launch was to test HyImpulse’s unique propulsion technology, which combines paraffin wax and liquid oxygen. It offers a greener alternative to traditional rocket fuels and is said to be a potential game changer for the space industry.
We had been following the rockets journey from Germany and had hoped to be in the area for the launch. The conditions had to be just right, so the launch date had shifted several times that week.
Luckily, no babies wanted to arrive on the day of launch, so we made our way to the viewing area in Koonibba.
The Southern Launch team had been in Ceduna over the last week, and we had the opportunity to chat with them while having dinner at the sailing club. They were super friendly and made the experience at the viewing area memorable, a Welcome to Country, followed by calling about T minus 15 minutes…T minus 2 minutes…T minus 20 seconds…
It was the world’s first launch of a rocket of this kind. It was really, really, really cool to witness.
3. What do you enjoy most about the travel contracting lifestyle?
It’s been great seeing how other facilities run, and how each state does something a bit different. Working and traveling means we are stopped in one location for longer than usual which means we get way more time to fully explore the area and return to places we love.
4. You are currently about to begin your 4th placement with us – what has been the highlight of working with Affinity so far?
I’ve been lucky to have a great consultant, Josh – his communication has been outstanding. It can be nerve wracking at times waiting to hear about the next contract placement and Josh has always kept me updated.
5. Do you have a favourite photo from your travels? What’s the story behind it?
Hard to pick a favorite!
The photo attached was taken at Pildappa rock in South Australia. It was at the end of a 3-day camping adventure at the Gawlers Ranges and we were all absolutely filthy!
Pildappa Rock is an inselberg and is approximately 1500 million years old. Pildappa Rock sits at approximately 100m above the ground at its tallest point. You can climb the rock and enjoy 360° views of the surroundings, including the Gawler Ranges (which were a result of volcanic eruptions around 1600 million years ago). On top of the rock are many rock holes which were a permanent water supply for the Aboriginal people through the dry months, and nowadays, the flora and fauna of the area benefit from the water collected after the rains.
6. What advice would you give to other nurses and midwives who want to do travel contracting?
If you have a few years clinical experience under your belt, then DO IT! You need to be flexible and prepared to adapt to situations you’ve not experienced before
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! A car isn’t always necessary, but we are glad we have had ours as it allows so much more exploring and ease of getting around.
Travel nursing and midwifery can get you to places you’d never dream of. Countless adventures, pleasant surprises, and the perfect work-life balance awaits you. Register with Affinity today!
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