It’s a long way from the South African bush to Bairnsdale, but Mary-Jane “MJ” Gate and her family have made a success of their transition to East Gippsland life.
And MJ has recently made a transition of her own – from volunteer with BRHS to employee.
MJ, from Durban, her husband Dr Kelly Gate (now a senior physician in the BRHS Emergency Department) and their two children arrived in Bairnsdale from South Africa 14 months ago.
MJ met Kelly in 2007 on her first day at the hospital in Ubombo, in the remote northern region of the KwaZulu-Natal province, where he worked and she had just arrived on a 12-month community service placement as a dietitian after her university studies.
They ended up spending about 12 years together in Ubombo in total, with a stint in Durban in the middle.
Ubombo locals speak Zulu as their first language. Both MJ and Kelly learned Zulu, and their children understand it. “If you reprimand them in Zulu, they listen,” she laughed.
MJ built a dietetics practice that gave her great experience in rural and remote healthcare and working with people with limited access to healthcare.
“Being in a very remote area, you become a jack of all trades. We had both ends of the spectrum – lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension, and we had malnutrition, a massive HIV problem, tuberculosis and all the consequences,” she said.
MJ and Kelly were back in Durban in 2020 when MJ’s mother, who was in Australia visiting MJ’s sister in Ballarat, contracted pneumonia. She was treated by a South African doctor at Ballarat Hospital who, two weeks later, also treated MJ’s nephew for a minor injury.
While chatting, the doctor said he also had connections to Bairnsdale and offered to help Kelly come to Victoria. So, he and MJ took a chance. It took a while, but the Gates arrived in Bairnsdale in March 2022.
BAIRNSDALE BOUND
“(East Gippsland) looked really beautiful. We saw advertising for Lakes Entrance and Mount Hotham and the beautiful scenery around the area. We thought it was perfect,” she said.
“The kids could explore and see a bit of the culture, live in a different culture and see something different.”
MJ said she is enjoying learning about Australian culture too. “Coming from a country that has 11 official languages, I saw the other day that somebody has mapped all the Aboriginal clans and their languages. There are just so many, so that’s very interesting. Australia is multicultural, but very different from what I knew,” she said.
MJ said as a woman, she feels safer going for a run and is pleased that her son and daughter will have equal access to opportunities in Australia. She said the children have settled well into school and are loving their new life.
“They have felt welcome from day one. They are learning violin, and drums, and Japanese. They get to school and they’re bouncing out of the car,” she said. “It’s been wonderful to open those doors for them.”
VOLUNTEERING
MJ began volunteering at BRHS a year ago. She was willing to help wherever she was needed, including supporting the dietetics team on a project to assess the nutritional value of patient meals.
That kept her in the healthcare world, introduced her to the hospital and to the Australian health practices as she studied to re-qualify as an accredited dietitian for Australian work.
She said as a volunteer, a staff member, the BRHS team and East Gippsland has greeted her warmly.
“It’s been really lovely coming here, knowing nothing, and finding people so hospitable and helpful. You feel a bit silly asking lots of questions, but everyone will help or direct you to the right person. You feel incorporated. You feel welcome,” she said.
“Susan (Wharfe, BRHS’ volunteer coordinator) is so warm and the dietetics team was amazing as well. Someone is always there to help you.”
MJ said she recommends volunteering at BRHS as a great way for people of all ages to keep busy, stay active, help their communities and, especially for the young, explore potential career options.
”It’s a really lovely system. Susan makes you feel at ease. It’s so flexible. There are always things to get involved in, and there are volunteers across the age spectrum. For younger people, it can help you see what your interests are and what it means to be a radiographer or a nurse. It develops relationships and gives you different experiences.”
ACTIVE FAMILY
The family enjoys trail running, cycling, swimming, camping and birdwatching. “We’re very outdoorsy people. It’s great here to go out, grab a coffee and explore the area,” she said.
The Gates are in East Gippsland for the long term, MJ said.
“We want to show our kids new things. We’re enjoying finding our feet. It’s such a lovely area, I don’t see why we would need to move. Just going down to Lakes Entrance is such a treat. Twenty minutes and you get to see all that beautiful scenery,” she said.
“Bairnsdale has most things you need. You have all these wonderful spots around you, so it’s not a tough life. It’s pretty good.”
Thinking of volunteering at BRHS? Find out more about our host of volunteer roles at https://brhs.com.au/about/our-people/volunteers/, phone volunteer coordinator Susan Wharfe on 5150 3346 or email volunteers@brhs.com.au.
