Meet our members: Rita Young

Rita May Young has lived a rich life. Now 90, she fondly recalls an almost idyllic childhood in Emmaville, an historic tin and gem mining town located in NSW’s Northern Tablelands.

One of seven children, Rita spent her formative years, during the 1940s, enjoying the easiness of smalltown community – school, family and the feelings of security and safety that come from a simpler life.

Growing up in the country

“I was born at a little place called Emmaville and I grew up in a mining district called Torrington, which was a very beautiful little area,” she says.

Emmaville is part of the wider mining district of Torrington, which Rita describes as a wonderful backdrop for childhood. Glen Innes was the closest ‘town’ of note (just more than 40 kilometres away). “It was a beautiful place to grow up in. We could go anywhere, ride our bikes anywhere, bushwalking. “We were a very vibrant little community,” she says. “You just had everything going for you in this little community and I’ve never forgotten it.”

Despite her generally laid-back and happy childhood, Rita recalls the declaration of the second World War in 1939.

Rita says those war years were starkly different – food rationing and ongoing concern for relatives serving in the armed forces became part of everyday life. Despite the obvious alarm, Rita also remembers the period with affection – she describes a time of great patriotism and of her family and community coming together to support the war effort.

“We had rationing and we were infused with patriotic feelings. We knitted things for the British .. socks for the soldiers. We were very, very patriotic”.

Two of her brothers served in the Army during the war effort. Her father was also a returned serviceman after serving in World War 1 and she had an uncle who lost his life during active service in France. A returned soldier’s memorial in Torrington is a source of pride with 11 family members honoured for their service.

“We were very patriotic people in those little country areas. It was known as the New England – it was so cold up there. They were very patriotic and very pro-British,” she says.

Off to the city

As mining declined in the Torrington area, many ‘local folk’ moved to the city.

Rita had dabbled in office work at the local shops and post office, but she had much loftier career ambitions.

“I thought I’ll have to get going and do something. It (office work) wasn’t very interesting to me and I knew I wanted to go further afield,” she says.

It was via a family connection that Rita realised her ambition to move to Sydney to become a nurse.

Rita was thrilled when, soon after penning a letter to her family friends, she received a telegram confirming that they’d help her.

She still recalls the text of the telegram. “Come when ready. Always welcome.”

Soon after her arrival in Sydney, Rita’s sponsors organised an introduction to the Matron of Balmain Hospital and live-in quarters for the young Rita.

And so started her career as a cadet nurse.

A career in nursing

Proudly hospital trained, Rita held her nursing registration until she was 80.

Throughout her career she developed a keen interest in occupational therapy and health - sparked by observation and willingness to help patients to proactively manage their health.

“I got around to thinking that I’d like to work in nursing that served a preventative role as well,” she says.

And so, in the 1950s, she embarked on a new path of what was then called ‘industrial nursing’.

Rita studied for a year (1961) for a certificate and eventually became a member of the College of Nursing. She was eventually bestowed a Fellowship. She’s now a distinguished life member of the Australian Nurses Association.

In the mid-1950s, Rita’s career moved into occupational health when she took a relief job across various railway workshops and then permanently at Rolling Stock, Chullora.

Rita spent the last 15 years of her working life at the apprentice training college.

“That really was a wonderful experience for me. It was very interesting. It was a very nice finale to my career”.

She loved the opportunity to work with young people and to be involved in training of of young people for roles in various trades.

Rita remembers with great clarity the introduction of the first female apprentices, starting with the “electrical girls” in the mid-1970s.

“You saw industrial history happening if you know what I mean”.

She remembers that her pay was generally “somewhat limited as regards the responsibility I had”.

However, Rita relished in the regular 7.30 am to 4 pm weekday work and cherished her weekends when she took to local tennis courts and enjoyed a good social life.

She eventually became a member of the Professional Officers Union (with railway engineers, doctors and other professionals), which resulted in a pay rise.

A proud RT Health member

Rita’s been a proud member of RT Health since 1956.

She says her involvement in the medical field had a great impact on shaping her positive view of private health cover.

“Due to my nursing experience, I found it was very much to your advantage to have your own doctor and for your own medical welfare. Although people got very good attention, it was always good to have your own doctor.”

Rita was introduced to the then Railway and Tramway Hospital Fund (now RT Health) when she started doing relief work on the railways.

She proudly showed us her original membership card that was issued to her in 1956 at our offices (at Petersham Station at that time).

An advocate for private health cover, Rita says she’s the envy of her friends when it comes to health funds.

“They all seem to think mine’s the best when I tell them of all the help I’ve had over the years.”

Rita recounts numerous conversations and interactions, both with friends and with doctors and hospitals, about the great reputation of RT Health.

“It is a very good fund. It’s always stood by me. I’ve never ever wanted to leave it.”

Always active

Once a keen Bridge player, Rita had to retire her skills due to declining vision.

She now enjoys writing and is collaborating on books to publish with a couple of friends.

Rita often now writes for enjoyment and her childhood tales and recollections are often a happy subject for her.

She also enjoys an active social life and enjoys her regular contact with former neighbourhood families, where she’s had an indelible impact on the lives of others.

Rita, always one to share her knowledge and experience, tutored local children (many new immigrants) in English and in many cases formed lifelong relationships.

“They still visit me. A family came to visit me two weeks ago and I recently went to one of their 30th birthday parties,” Rita says.

She proudly boasts that one of her tutored students recently gained a Distinction in Law and Commerce at Macquarie University.

Not one to knock back life’s opportunities, Rita has always enjoyed travelling.

She recounts a fascination with China, the beauty of Yugoslavia, the charm of the English lakes district, and the very special beauty of Wales along her favourites.

But no matter where’s she’s travelled, Rita appreciates home.

“I like to live here. This is where I’m home. I’m an Aussie.”