Sandy Kirkman - Lifetime achievement award
Many midwives in Australia will remember Sandy Kirkman, one of the most popular speakers we’ve ever hosted on our regular Future Birth seminar tours.
Sandy has had a very distinguished career in midwifery, working in many capacities in England, Scotland and Wales. Her final post, before her retirement last year, was as Principal Lecturer in the School of Care Sciences in the University of Glamorgan in Cardiff where she completely re-wrote the Doctoral Degree, and mentored many students. Sandy also served on the Editorial Board of MIDIRS and The Practising Midwife magazine. She wrote about many issues dear to her heart and was an outspoken advocate for women and midwives.
One of Sandy’s greatest claims to fame is as a speaker at Conferences and especially in an “after dinner” role. Her anecdotes, stories (often told against herself) and her wry take on the many foibles of human beings have kept hundreds of people entertained, while her witty tales cleverly cloaked important messages about midwifery, childbirth and life in general. Many have commented that she should have taken up a career as a stand up comic, but if she had, many more would have missed out on her unique approach to midwifery education, which was always one her greatest achievements.
The Welsh Assembly has now recognised Sandy’s contribution by bestowing on her a LIfetime Achievement Award for her services to Midwifery. This will be presented to her at a special function on December 10, when Polly Ferguson, the Midwifery Advisor to the Welsh Assembly will present the accolade.
I am sure this will be a wodnerful occasion, and one that will provide even more material for Sandy’s accute observations and incisive wit. I am sorry that I will not be there to take part in thefun.
However, there will be an opportunity for Australian midwives to reconnect with Sandy as she is part of the speaking team at the forthcoming Future Birth tour in March 2009. The full details and registration form for this event is now on our website.
I am looking forward to welcoming Sandy to our shores once again, and to spending some time with her as we laugh our way around the country.