After 29 years of loyal service and 55,000 births, Werribee Mercy Hospital (WMH) midwife Louise Thompson is hanging up her scrubs.
After 29 years of loyal service and 55,000 births, Werribee Mercy Hospital (WMH) midwife Louise Thompson is hanging up her scrubs.
She has witnessed the births of tens of thousands of Wyndham locals, but Louise says the magic of midwifery has never worn off.
“It is such a privilege to be with families at such a special time in their lives. I’ve felt that every time, at every birth I have ever been at, that I am in a very privileged position to be able to witness that new baby coming into the world,” Louise says.
For more than 40 years, Louise has been a devoted and valued healthcare professional in Melbourne’s west, starting out as a graduate nurse in 1979 before retraining as a midwife in 1981. She joined WMH in 1994, where she now finishes her career as Midwifery Nurse Unit Manager.
Serving the Wyndham community is a part of my DNA – it has been my home for my whole life.”
Louise Thompson
A born-and-bred Wyndham local, Louise has seen firsthand how the City of Wyndham has grown from a small country town to what is now one of Victoria’s fastest-growing communities; growth she says is no more evident than in the WMH nurseries.
“Back when we first opened our birth suites in June ‘94, we only had around 600 births a year — now we are nudging 4,000 births a year,” Louise says.
“The growth of Werribee Mercy has been phenomenal, to the point where we are outgrowing our infrastructure.”
WMH General Manager Maree Pane says Louise has been a trusted healthcare professional for Wyndham families over the past 40 years.
“Louise has always been a strong advocate for midwifery and our maternity service here at WMH and played a significant part in the growth of the service that has occurred over the years,” Maree says.
Louise as a young midwife in 1997.
After almost three decades in maternity services at WMH, Louise explains that there have been several serendipitous encounters.
“I am now seeing the children I delivered come back to the hospital to have babies of their own. It is a very special feeling.”
Recently, Louise’s career came full-circle when midwife Ann-Maree Arrendondo, who she helped birth 24 years ago, joined the WMH team.
“Honestly, it makes me feel a bit old hearing that!” Louise says with a laugh.
The reality of working alongside Louise at the hospital she was born at has taken some time to sink in for Ann-Maree.
“It is still surreal… having Louise as a manager has always meant a friendly hello and heaps of support,” Ann-Maree says.
Louise says the teams around her have distinguished her time at WMH and she leaves the hospital in excellent hands with skilled and compassionate staff like Ann-Maree.
Louise with graduate midwife Ann-Maree Arrendondo.
“I have been very fortunate for all the incredible mentors in my career and it has been very important for me to be able to guide and mentor new graduates coming into the profession. I have really enjoyed seeing the graduate midwives grow in their own careers and become clinical midwife specialists and nurse unit managers.”
As for aspiring midwives, Louise has some heartening words of wisdom.
“Midwifery is such a wonderful career and there are so many different roles you can take on — embrace every opportunity that comes to you.”
Last reviewed April 4, 2023.