When nursing student Sarah Edgecumbe lost everything in the devastating Queensland floods in January she was determined not to let it stop her from continuing her studies and graduating from The University of Queensland (UQ) today (18 July).
The 28-year-old Ipswich resident was in her final year of the UQ Bachelor of Nursing program when two metres of water inundated the lower level of the unit complex where she and her fiancé Chris were living.
“The floods took just about everything including my clothes and the uniforms I needed for prac,” Ms Edgecumbe said.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy start to the year, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.”
While studying Ms Edgecumbe was based at the UQ Holy Spirit Northside Hospital Clinical School and worked as a Nurse’s Assistant at the Holy Spirit Hospital Northside.
“When the floods came I was working at the hospital, so I couldn’t get home to save anything,” she said.
After working as a teacher for four years, Ms Edgecumbe decided to study nursing while looking for medical programs online for her fiancé.
“I had no intention of changing careers, but within the hour I had submitted my application; two days before the QTAC cutoff date,” she said.
“I fast tracked my program and now I’ll be supporting my finance through medical school.
“I’m really excited to be finally graduating, I’m almost as excited about our wedding, all the hard work has paid off.”
Ms Edgecumbe has a graduate position at the Ipswich Hospital where her finance Chris will undertake his clinical placement as a medical student.
A high achiever during her degree, Ms Edgecumbe was awarded Dean’s Commendation from Semester 1, 2009, Semester 2, 2009, Semester 1, 2010, and Semester 2, 2010.
Media: Lya McTaggart, 07 3365 5084, lya.mctaggart@uq.edu.au
