Hello all !

My name is Penelope Janet de Carteret Gill.  I was born on a smallholding in Kommetjie, a small seaside village on the Atlantic Coast of Cape Town, South Africa on the 14th of April, 1948.

I started nursing training in 1966 at Red Cross Children's Hospital in Rondebosch, Cape Town. After completing my general nursing training in December 1969, I went overseas to Scotland to commence my midwifery training.  I returned to Cape Town in September 1971 and began paediatric nursing training at Red Cross Hospital in March 1972.

I was engaged to Scott on the 4th of November, 1971.  I completed my paediatric nursing training in March 1973 and got married to Scott on my birthday, the 14th of April 1973.

We relocated up the coast to Durban on the ship, the Pendennis Castle where Scott was employed by Safmarine.  I started work at St. Augustine's Hospital where I ran the paediatric ward until February 1976 when I took maternity leave for the birth of my first child, Katherine (12-05-1976).   My second baby, Robert, arrived in July (03-07-1978). 

From 1980-81, I worked in the cardiovascular intensive care unit of Wentworth Hospital in Durban.  In April 1981, we relocated back to Cape Town and bought a house in Kirstenhof.  We moved into our current house in Bergvliet, about 20 kilometres south of Cape Town, in 1983.

I started to study part-time through the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1980 and completed my BA. Cur. degree in 1986 (majoring in Community Health and Nursing Education).  In 1990, I studied Psychiatric Nursing Science, passing with honours.  In 1992, I took up a position as a nursing educator at the Nico Malan Nursing College (NMNC) in Athlone, Cape Town.  I completed my Nursing Administration diploma in 1995.

From 1992 until 1998, I offered a course in paediatric nursing science at the NMNC.  In 1999, I accepted a Nursing Management position at the college.  Since the beginning of 2000, I have been teaching anatomy and physiology to first year nursing students at the Western Cape College of Nursing (WCCN).

INTERESTS AND HOBBIES

        1989 Robben Island to Bloubergstrand (7 km).

        1990 Three Anchor Bay to Robben Island (10 km). 

        1991 Robben Island to Three Anchor Bay (10 km).  I raised R3,500 for the Friend's of the                   Red Cross Children's Hospital with this swim.

        I hold the record for being oldest swimmer to complete all of the above swims.

        1992 Kommetjie to Hout Bay (10 km).  I was the first woman to complete the distance. During                   this swim, I raised R3,500 for the South African Nurses Trust Fund.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

I have been happily married to Scott for the past 27 years.  He works in Human Resource Development for the South African Marine Corporation.  I have two children - Katherine is a 24 - year-old medical houseman working at Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein.  Robert, 22,  is a 4th-year medical student studying at the University of Cape Town. Our pets include Sarah, a cross labrador/border collie; Nicky, a beautiful cross-breed; Sassie, our fussy black and white cat and Jody, our overweight calico cat.