Patricia McPherson (Part 2) – Becoming Sister Pat
In 1966, Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia had the highest Indigenous infant mortality rate in the entire state, as well as a signifiant number of hospital admissions of Indigenous peoples. Patricia McPherson, a young nurse, was tasked with reducing this rate.
Extraordinarily, within 3 years, she succeeded in almost eliminating Indigenous infant mortality in the region.
Pat did this by driving daily out to the Indigenous camps attached to the vast cattle stations and treating people from the tailgate of her car.
Pat pioneered and established the Itinerant Child Care Service in the West Kimberley. It became a template for public health nursing services to other remote areas of Western Australia.
In 1970, Patricia McPherson received the British Empire Medal for her pioneering work in the Fitzroy River region.