Margaret Bannister. Image: The Pulse
Margaret Bannister was a Mental Health Service nurse unit manager in the Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) mental health service at Cumberland Hospital, located in Westmead. Margaret commenced working with WSLHD in January 1990 and dedicated the next 28 years of her life helping patients recover from mental illness. [1] Her tireless commitment to nursing and the local community not only brought her the highest level of respect and admiration but also endeared her to both the patients and fellow staff.
Margaret was born in Scotland on the 15 March 1947, and passed away on the 27 February 2018 aged 70 years. At the time of her death WSLHD mental health director of nursing Charles MacMillan said “Margaret’s commitment and dedication to patient care was exemplary as was her dedication to the Wistaria Fete. We will all miss her”. [2]
In addition to nursing, Margaret was also the President of the Wistaria Fete from 1991 to 2017. The Wistaria Fete or ‘Festival’ which began in 1929, is held on the Cumberland Hospital grounds in September every year when the flowers bloom. It attracts thousands of people who are able to walk through the beautiful gardens and inspect the mental health museum. The Fete raises money which is used to support services for the rehabilitation of the mental health patients. When asked about the Fete Margaret said:
This is the major fund-raiser for the hospital and all the money raised will go to patient care, personal items and Christmas presents. This is one way of letting people have an inside look at an institution to try to de-stigmatise mental health. It’s about breaking down the barriers and encouraging the community to feel safe. [3]
She also loved the gardens saying of the Wisteria flower:
It’s a beautiful flower. All you see is a blaze of lilac along with the cherry blossoms and other flowers. It’s like Mother Nature’s canvas of springtime. [4]
Margaret also believed in the importance of the museum showing the history of mental illness, stating:
You have got to remember they didn’t have the medication or treatment they have now. I think it’s good to learn about the history, not just of the hospital, but of the treatment and how it’s evolved into what it is today. I think it’s important to understand why nursing staff advocate for patient rights because this is where they start from. [5]
Caroline Finlay, Regional Studies Facilitator, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2020
References:
[1] Farewell Margaret Bannister. (2018, March 5). The Pulse, Your western Sydney health news. Retrieved from https://thepulse.org.au/2018/03/05/vale-margaret-bannister-15-03-1947-27-02-2018/
[2] Farewell Margaret Bannister. (2018, March 5). The Pulse, Your western Sydney health news. Retrieved from https://thepulse.org.au/2018/03/05/vale-margaret-bannister-15-03-1947-27-02-2018/
[3] Spring has sprung, time for a fete. (2011, September 14). Parramatta Sun.
[4] Blooming good springtime at Wisteria Festival. (2012, September 19). Parramatta Advertiser, p. 5.
[5] Cumberland Hospital Museum charts history of mental health treatment. (2015, November 21). The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cumberland-hospital-museum-charts-history-of-mental-health-treatment/news-story/e1f17994f8c831fc57ea820441d5b7f4