Alayne Pollard is a nurse at Oceania’s Lady Allum Aged Care and Retirement Village in Milford. She recently celebrated an amazing 50 years of service at the village.

Alayne started as a healthcare assistant in 1974 after immigrating to New Zealand from the United Kingdom with her husband and three young children. “I had worked in a general hospital as a night auxiliary nurse in the UK and saw an advert in the 'North Shore Advertiser' for night staff at Lady Allum Village,” she says. “I applied and got the job. I knew very little about Milford, rest homes or Lady Allum Village but thought it would do while I looked around for something else. Little did I know I would love the job and working at Lady Allum Village so much I would still be here 50 years later!”

Alayne actually cared for Lady Annie Allum, for whom the village was named when she resided in the rest home from 1972 to 1982. Alayne has fond memories about how things used to run when she first started with Oceania. “In the early years, my night duties were written down on the back of a brown paper bag, which I carried around for a few years. We had a very competent registered nurse who made sure everything was done correctly and well. We have always had first-class facilities for residents but it is a lot bigger now.”

Alayne shares that one of the reasons she has stayed with Oceania over the years is the incredible training opportunities available to staff. “We get in-depth training on specialist subjects like Alzheimer's disease and dementia. This makes us qualified to care for these residents by knowing about the disease and what to expect, and it also makes the job a lot more interesting and satisfying,” she says.

“Lady Allum has always been a lovely place to work, the whole staff are very welcoming and friendly. The place itself is in a beautiful position close to Milford shops and the beach, with added extras like a coffee shop, physio and lovely gardens. I love my job and the residents. While I am still fit and able, I have no plans to retire just yet.”

In celebration of the milestone, Oceania threw a morning tea at Lady Allum Aged Care and Retirement Village where Alayne was presented with a trophy and flowers to commemorate the achievement. Oceania business and care manager Garth Adam says Alayne is a well-loved member of the team. “Alayne has a kind and respectful demeanour towards both residents and her fellow employees,” he says. “Working only night shifts is not an easy job, but Alayne always manages to extend herself and go above and beyond for her residents. Alayne understands the importance of teamwork and is an integral member of the night shift team.”

Congratulations Alayne – what a wonderful achievement!