Live and Leave Well: Reflections of a Lifelong Nurse

In early 2023, Peter Rebbechi began searching for an author to help share reflections from her long career as a nurse. Having close ties to Fremantle due to her training at Fremantle Hospital in the 60s, she was directed to Family Tales founder and Fremantle local, Dr Christian Mauri. Live and Leave Well: Reflections of a Lifelong Nurse is the fruit of their collaboration.

Christian Mauri and book!

From June 2023 to April 2024, the retired nurse and the young sociologist would meet for lunch and long strolls by Lake Gwelup, to engage in lengthy conversation. The idea was to create a book to encourage nursing students to champion the art of holistic care. It had to be beautiful enough to inspire the imagination and short enough to read and return to, no matter how busy. Christian reached out to local artist Gina Blakemore for the cover art, which depicts the orange butterfly that alighted on Peter’s winder in the mornings following her late husband’s passing. The extensive interior art is provided by Kaylene Harris who, as Christian’s partner, was present for many of the conversations with Peter and often left filled with creative ideas.

The book itself is not a biography or a memoir. Peter already has a biography, A Girl Called Peter, which was published in 2021 and will feature alongside Live and Leave Well at the launch on 25 January 2025. Instead, Peter encouraged Christian, who is half Peter’s age, to interpret her stories in his own words. The result is a collection of reflections relevant to all of us who would give or receive care. These are presented in three parts:

1. Peter’s views on nursing as a vocation, informed by the changes and continuities she has observed over her long career in Australia.
2. Peter’s top 5 lessons on how to leave well, gathered from her time as a palliative care nurse.
3. Peter’s number 1 wish and how to fulfil it: For everyone to have an Advance Care Plan.

Don’t miss the launch Live and Leave Well: Reflections of a Lifelong Nurse will be launched at 11am, Saturday, 25 January 25, at the State Library of WA. Christian and Peter will present readings and copies will be available for purchase and signing. All welcome.

Oh, amd here’s where to RSVP and to discover where in the Library you will find the Launch!

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