on the frontline Whether her uniform is army green or navy blue, Annette Robinson’s skills as a nurse have seen her excel in extreme situations both at home and overseas, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. By William Vallely - Photography by Kate Monotti Annette Robinson’s desire to help people has taken her across the globe, from working in field hospitals in Iraq to delivering humanitarian aid in Tonga. The associate nurse unit manager at Bendigo Health’s Intensive Care Unit has successfully balanced her nursing and Australian Defence Force careers for almost 15 years. Annette believes the two dovetail, providing 56
complementary skills that have helped her excel in both fields. Problem solving, adaptability and resilience are some of the traits she’s developed. In 2017, Annette made four trips to Iraq, working in field hospitals near Mosul. “We went to offer healthcare to people who hadn’t had access to it for a number of years. The field hospitals were set up ready
to take in casualties,” she says. “I’ve seen a lot of things I wouldn’t wish upon a lot of people.” Earlier this year, on her most recent ADF deployment, Annette was delivering humanitarian aid following the Tongan volcano eruption. Working and living under extreme circumstances has prepared Annette for
