Dr Margaret Ann (Mardi) Scharp OAM had a stellar nursing career. I knew her as a Registered Nurse (Sister), Nurse Teacher and Director of Nursing (Matron) at Prince Henry’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Mardi left Prince Henry’s when she was seconded to the Health Department Victoria to oversee the transfer of General Nursing Training from the hospital sector to the tertiary sector in the 1980s.
During her career she was heavily involved in nursing advocacy with the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF), the Victorian Nursing Council (VNC) which oversaw nursing registration and statewide exams and the College of Nursing Australia (whic ran post graduate nursing degrees). .Many of her roles involved board memberships or Presidency. The VNC role also involved setting of and marking finals examination papers statewide.
Mardi traveled extensively, both overseas and locally, with her husband and other close friends. She played the bagpipes and was a member of bands which played during Moomba and Anzac Day marches in Melbourne.
At U3A, Mardi was involved with Community Singing and Brain Games.
Mardi was on the original Steering Committee of Age Friendly Benalla in 2017, and remained as a Committee person of AFB until 2021
Mardi moved to Benalla to live in Cooinda, where she was near her brother John, participating in activities there such as managing the roster for The Hub.
To me she was a great friend and work colleague with a lovely nature and willingness to help and support her friends and family.
Mardi left Prince Henry’s when she was seconded to the Health Department Victoria to oversee the transfer of General Nursing Training from the hospital sector to the tertiary sector in the 1980s.
During her career she was heavily involved in nursing advocacy with the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF), the Victorian Nursing Council (VNC) which oversaw nursing registration and statewide exams and the College of Nursing Australia (whic ran post graduate nursing degrees). .Many of her roles involved board memberships or Presidency. The VNC role also involved setting of and marking finals examination papers statewide.
Mardi traveled extensively, both overseas and locally, with her husband and other close friends. She played the bagpipes and was a member of bands which played during Moomba and Anzac Day marches in Melbourne.
At U3A, Mardi was involved with Community Singing and Brain Games.
Mardi was on the original Steering Committee of Age Friendly Benalla in 2017, and remained as a Committee person of AFB until 2021
Mardi moved to Benalla to live in Cooinda, where she was near her brother John, participating in activities there such as managing the roster for The Hub.
To me she was a great friend and work colleague with a lovely nature and willingness to help and support her friends and family.
Photograph of Mardi taken at Community Singing,
'The Hub' Cooinda, 28 April, 2021
'The Hub' Cooinda, 28 April, 2021
Vale, Mardi.
Wendy Sturgess
Wendy Sturgess
