Everybody has a story worth sharing. Everybody develops skills they can bring to the bowling club.
We had an inkling that Lesley Dunstall had an interesting story to recount - nurse educator; well travelled, etc.. And we could see her using some skills at the club.
But when we interviewed her we were astounded at the uniqueness of her story and the breadth of skills she developed over her adult life and now uses at the club.
Meet Lesley Dunstall:
I understand you were a highly qualified nurse educator. What types of assignments did you undertake?
Emergency Medicine has always been my passion which led me to taking on a position as Educator within the Accident & Emergency Department at Flinders Medical Centre.
At the time, a small group interactive scenario/simulated course developed by the American College of Surgeons and designed to provide skills for doctors of all specialties to identify and treat life threatening and potential life-threatening injuries was then introduced into Australia.
We were given permission to adapt the course to our conditions and call it EMST (Early Management of Severe Trauma).
Because of my interest in trauma, I was asked to set up the first courses in Adelaide.
I was quite naïve as to what I was agreeing to, but the opportunity to be part of this course was the beginning of the most exciting path in my working life.
Having worked for many years in Accident & Emergency, at last I was involved in an educational endeavour that was going to change the management of trauma patients for the better.
As these courses were held over weekends, I was able to continue to be involved in a volunteer basis when I took on a lecturer position at the University of South Australia.
I was able to also integrate the course content into my teaching to the nursing students and develop a Masters in Trauma Management post-graduate course.
This involvement continued when I joined the teaching team at SA Ambulance Service.
My workload from the growing number of courses being conducted on a voluntary basis led me to make the difficult decision to leave my current position to take on a fulltime position at the College of Surgeons to solely concentrate on the EMST course.
I was able to develop a workforce of fellow coordinators to provide educational support for courses in a wide variety of environments across Australia and New Zealand.
My involvement with EMST spanned over 30 years until my retirement, and I can say there were no regrets, only beautiful memories.
I understand you travelled the world with your work. What countries did you visit and for what work?
The success of this course was noted not only in Australia but on a global basis and at present the course is taught to doctors and nurses in over 80 countries. Same content, different language!
In my role at the College of Surgeons, I was fortunate enough to extend support to our Asia-Pacific region to promulgate the establishment of the ATLS course to over ten countries.
Many of those countries would probably not have been on my bucket list of travel opportunities such as Brunei, Myanmar, Mongolia, Solomon Islands, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Relationships with these countries continued as I was often invited to return to further follow up on the training and work with the nurses.
The most satisfying part of my role has been my connection with the support of AusAid to volunteer working alongside the doctors and nurses in Papua New Guinea and Fiji which spanned over 20 years.
What was a memorable incident during your travels?
One incident stands out and that is when I was on one of my visits to Yangon, Myanmar.
The hotel we were housed just happened to be situated on an elevated part of the town.
But we were soon informed for security reasons that we were required to leave our current accommodation to make way for the forthcoming visit by Barak Obama.
I understand you have an honorary position with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. How did you come to earn this recognition?
I was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2023 for my role in the education of practicing doctors in the management of the severely injured trauma patient.
This was very humbling as I was simply doing a job as part of my employment and one that gave me opportunities to experience life beyond my expectations.
Are there any other unusual stories from your career?
Stories – there are too many and as we know what happens on tour stays on tour!
There are a few I will share:
Fiji: Nearly missed departure from Suva, having been locked in the airport toilet. Needed to climb onto the toilet seat to yell for help through the window to anyone loitering in the carpark! Help arrived, door removed and I made the flight!
Mongolia: Arrested at airport on arrival for transporting body parts! Yes, very frightening as I had no idea how to speak Mongolian.
The body parts were in fact simulation models used for teaching specific skills related to the course!
Papua New Guinea: Coming across a road block set up by locals holding guns as we were returning from our Kokoda Track experience. You never knew if they wanted just your car, or money or if that will become your last day on earth! We just drove through and prayed. I put it down as a PNG experience.
When did you take up bowls and why?
My bowls journey started with Night Owls when our neighbour, John Davies who was a pennant bowler at Sturt asked my husband Brian and I to join a team to play on Tuesday nights.
I saw this as a chance for Brian and I to do something together plus break up the week.
In this journey of Night Owls, I have been able to entice or coerce my neighbours and friends to join us. Mind you, they obviously have enjoyed it, such that many have stepped up and become full members of the club.
You play pennants on Thursdays and Saturdays. What do you like about pennant bowls?
I find there is a more competitive atmosphere on Thursdays. Many of our very experienced opposition ladies certainly keep us on our toes re the "do's and don'ts" of the etiquette of bowls.
However, I am so lucky at Sturt to be amongst an amazing group of women who, when gathered together, provide endless laughs and of course the necessary gossip titbits.
Mind you, the downside has been the growing penchant for not one but many glasses of Pinot Gris! This is evidenced by my Visa credit statement.
But most of all I have cherished their friendship and support which I know will be ongoing.
Then there is Saturday bowls! The opportunity to be part of a mixed team seems to be somewhat less stressful and the encouragement given by everyone to help improve my game has been appreciated.
How good is the club vibe as everyone gathers after their Saturday games! Love it!
You have a team in Night Owls. What do like about it?
I am one of an amazing group of women who make up the team " VIXEN".
Why Night Owls? I think it is a fun, relaxed, casual evening with friends that certainly breaks up the week.
How can you not enjoy the banter on the green between teams, the small pies and pasties, music, dancing and especially the raffles!
Does it improve my bowls? That is questionable!
You have a positive, unifying influence on people at the club. How have you achieved this?
We all know any club will not survive without its volunteers.
At Sturt I am one of many who are at the ready to use their skills to become the backbone of the club.
Who would think sandwich making would be such fun ... love the chatter, sharing of what to watch at the movies or on Netflix, recipes etc.
Being invited to join the selection panel was a bit daunting, thinking I am not going to have any friends!
Those on the panel have been very supportive and I am certainly in awe of the intricacies that have to be considered every week to field our Wednesday and Saturday Pennant games. It is a learning curve and looking forward to continuing next season.
There is the fun of dressing up when we attend Ladies’ Gala Days, and catching up after at the pub to debrief the day and again partake in a few more bubbles and laughs.
Brian and I always seem to be earmarked as the occasional BBQ team… another opportunity to chat and get to know to our fellow members over sausages and onions.
What do you most like about the Sturt Bowling Club?
There was a sense of uncertainty and trepidation about whether I could make the transition from a busy working life to the idea of retirement.
I could visualise myself sadly walking the streets of Fullarton willing people to stop and chat!
However, I soon realised there are three important aspects to retirement: - the importance of giving back/volunteering - have an activity you enjoy to keep you mobile - establish a social community connection.
I believe I have achieved all of the above through my amazing involvement at the Sturt Bowling Club.
Are there any other personal aspects you can share, e.g. hobbies, pastimes, music?
I definitely don't have the patience to sit still long enough to enjoy pastimes, so the joys of sewing, craft, or hobbies are not on "my love to do" lists!
Now, I do get excited about mowing the lawns!
However, Brian and I do enjoy walking that always includes a "coffee" break.
We also take pleasure in the lives and activities of our four grandchildren.
Enjoy this 26 second video of Lesley enjoying pennants, Night Owls and Winter Bowls.