Friday 16 May 2014

Resignation.



I looked closely at my work ID on Tuesday, and noticed that it expires in a bit over a week. The ID is current for 5 years, and as this was my first ID issued by the hospital I work at, it meant that I was coming up to my 5th year anniversary.

The ID has been worn down across the front by a USB stick that used to hang with it on my Lanyard. That USB stick is gone. The 'Flu fighter' sticker that was stuck on my ID after I got a flu vaccine 3 years ago has been covered by a sticker that was put there by a 4 year old girl as a thank-you. Her younger sister has leukaemia and we were at the time preparing them for a long hospital stay during bone marrow transplant. We generally call this a 'BMT'.

So I've been working at the Royal Children's Hospital for 5 years now. I never advertise my place of work on my blog or Facebook for a variety of professional or personal reasons. Almost half of that time has been spent working in children's oncology. When I left oncology two months ago, I got out my Olympia SM3 and wrote a letter to every staff member I had been working with on the ward at the time to say thank you, and to reflect on my relationship with them.



I said relationship, and not working relationship for a reason. In an environment like that personal friendships are formed, and bonds are made as people lean on each other for support. It took me hours to write the letters, but they were worth it. In a way it is the complete opposite of burning your bridges. A positive way of ending a working relationship that could form greater working relationships if you ever work with someone again. And with a typewriter I was able to bring a bit of happiness to a group of people that work in a high-stress environment.

I didn't just work in oncology. I worked at various times in almost every department of the hospital. I'm one of the few people that have been in every single room in the huge sprawling RCH hospital campus, and I know where pretty much everything is. People wave to me and greet me warmly in the hallways, and I sometimes can't even remember who they are. I've worked with so many people that I simply can't remember all of them. But I seem to have left a good impression wherever I go.

I can write about this now because I handed in my resignation yesterday. It wasn't type-written, it was emailed. Three lines brought about the end of my time at the RCH, a couple of days before the end of my 5th year. My time at this hospital ends very soon. I'm currently knee-deep in a project for another department, but I've made major headways, and will be leaving it in a very progressed state for who ever finishes it.

The world's slowest house-pack has now gained momentum. I'm cramming stuff into boxes now with purpose and focus. I have a direction now too. We've declined the overseas offer (yes Richard, you were right! It WAS Qatar) and both Jane and I are focused on building a future in Melbourne. She's happy in the position she has down there, and the day after we declined Sidra's offer I had a phone interview with a hospital down in Melbourne.

But that's a story for another time.

So this is it my friends. My computer is about to be placed into a box, and I won't be writing any blog entries for a while. I'll be chatting on and off on my iPad, so I'll no doubt keep up to date with the goings on with everyone else's blogs.

So I'll see you soon online. I guess it won't be overseas now, but in Melbourne.


Hang on. What's this email from a hospital in Canada....

23 comments:

  1. Best wishes for a great and successful move as well as a new job. I'll be looking forward to your blog posts once you get settled in your new place.

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    1. Thanks man. I'm looking forward to having some personal space to type and do some work on my own. Let's see if I get my wish!

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  2. That's still "overseas" to us Yanks (:

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    1. Ha ha ha. ButI don't need to use a passport....

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  3. Okay, I'd better get the red carpet out. I think I've got one that covers most of the Hume Highway.
    Congrats on a pleasant resignation. Best of luck with the new gig in Melbourne. Hope you get it.

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    1. Thanks man. I'll catch up with you when I finally get down there. Red carpet on the Hume hey? By the time I get down there the residents of Craigiburn with have done half a million burn-outs on it, I'm sure.

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  4. What a big move! I hope it goes smoothly and I admire the time and thoughtfulness you put into typing those letters. I'm sure their recipients will, as well.

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    1. Huge move. I live amongst a tower of boxes. Which is kinda cool if you arrange them to be a castle. Unfortunately I have enough to make a real castle, I think.

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  5. Good luck with your move and transitions.

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    1. Thanks man. I'll see you soon no doubt.

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  6. I wish you success!
    How thoughtful of you to type a letter for each of the staff members.

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    1. They're great people. It always is worth the time with them.

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  7. A new start but also a return to an old typewriter hunting ground? Best of luck with the new start. :)

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    1. Ha ha ha. True! Let's see what locals I can bring out from their shyness.

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  8. Five years, that's a long time. And children oncology must be the toughest there is out there. Good idea of spreading some typewritten love around.

    Good luck with the move Scott! Enjoy those first days together in your new home. We'll see you return when you're ready (or when your computer is unpacked again).

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    1. You know, I kind of think it wasn't a long time, but really it is. When I think back, a lot has changed. And yes, always good spreading typewriters and love. Mostly love on this occasion.

      And thanks. You'll see me soon!

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  9. 100% agree about not burning bridges. It is a good thing to say "thanks and goodbye" well. I have to say, the circumstances of my employment ending were more fraught so so the letters were fewer and all of them e-mailed. Maybe NEXT time... Good luck with the packing and the move and I hope you meet as great a bunch in Melbourne as you are leaving behind in Brisbane.

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    1. Oh, it was only 42 letters in the end.
      Thanks man. I'm going to do my best to bring the locals out of the woodwork.

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  10. what a great idea to write letters of thanks & farewell - so much more memorable than a scrawl on an oversized card over coles cake and lame managerial speech-cliches... Good luck with the application and everything - at least you've got that solid wedge of certainty in your planning now - everything will begin to fall into place. rino

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    1. Gotta try and catch up with you Rino before I head off. Sadly, I think I'm running out of time.

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  11. Good Luck, Scotty, I am gonna miss you!

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    1. Thanks John. I'm sure I'm going to catch you sometime soon though!

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  12. Bon Voyage, Scott! I love the Lamy Safari - I have a few myself :-) (red, yellow, aluminum, clear) I hate moving, hate packing, hate unpacking, hate - hate - hate it ... so my heart is bleeding compassion for you. Hopefully you'll have a good experience, and everything moves smoothly, no pun intended.

    Cheers, mate! See you "on the other side!"

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