There are many people who give up their Christmas lunch to help others. We speak with a firefighter, nurse and counsellor who work on 25 December
Warning: this article mentions suicide. If you need someone to talk to, call Lifeline 13 11 14
NSW FIRE AND RESCUE: FIREFIGHTER
The crew at Crows Nest Fire Station always makes an effort to cook a Christmas lunch and enjoy it together at the station as a ‘work family’ – but it doesn’t always go to plan.
Firefighter Tristan Conn has been on duty during Christmas many times in his 19 years at the brigade, and says often lunch has to wait as the bells go off at the station.
“Christmas is often the time of bushfires and there’s been plenty of Christmases – I know for myself and a lot of other firies – (where) our Christmas lunch is a sandwich, sitting next to the truck in a gutter somewhere,” says Tristan, who is station officer of ‘A’ platoon at Crows Nest.
“That’s the thing about this job. You show up (on Christmas) morning, put your uniform on and have absolutely no idea what’s going to come through those bells,” he explains. “Is it going to be hot and dry? Will it be bushfire weather? Will it be wet and someone’s burnt their Christmas dinner and set fire to their house?”
Tristan finds the season can be a hard time for many. “We certainly see the extremes of the whole spectrum – you see the joy and you see the people who are just getting by.”
He says bushfires, kitchen fires, house fires, car accidents and suicides are regular calls around this time. Lithium battery fires are on the rise, and with new e-bikes and e-scooters on many wish lists, Tristan says once a battery is charged, it should be taken off the charger.
But with the sadness, comes the joy, with Tristan and the crew dressing the fire truck up with tinsel and bells, picking up Santa, and taking a drive to local pre-schools and other community events for ‘Santa runs’ in December.
Mary Separovich at RNSH
As for his own family, Tristan’s two daughters will be waiting patiently for him to return home from his Christmas Eve shift this year, which finishes at 10am on Christmas morning – well that’s the plan! “They’ll be desperately waiting for me to arrive home to open their gifts,” he says.
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ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL: EMERGENCY NURSE
By Tamara Spray
Making Christmas special for the emergency department (ED) staff, patients and their families is something Mary Sparovich has been doing for more than 49 years. As the nurse unit manager of the ED at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH), Mary estimates she’s spent 25 Christmases on the job, tending to the sick and injured.
“Christmas day’s an emotional day,” Mary says. “So it means a lot to the staff. It means a lot to the patients.”
Mary and her staff brighten up the department with decorations and a tree, and they often dress up in scrubs with Christmas patterns on them. “We also have presents donated to us from Smiles to You,” she says explaining that the charity delivers wrapped Christmas presents for the children.
Members of the community turn up with gifts for children as well – and the nurses. “People will drop off boxes of chocolates for staff and beautiful cards,” Mary says.
The workers on duty share a grazing table in the staffroom, and participate in kris kringle gift sharing to celebrate.
“The patients presenting on Christmas day, it’s hard for them. Children have fallen over, broken an arm, cut themselves, injured themselves,” Mary explains. “We do tend to have an increase in mental health presentation. People are depressed or suicidal or really missing their families.”
Over the festive season Mary says she also sees an increase in gastrointestinal cases, with people indulging over Christmas.
Overall, she says patients are ‘very thankful for you being there on the day,’ and the staff make it a good day too. “You make it fun for one another because you’re all working together,” she says.
Mary is working Christmas and Boxing Day this year, and so will celebrate with her own family after 26 December. “It’s beautiful to be able to see everyone together and I have great joy in my grandson joining us,” she says.