Norma Jamieson

Awarded for service to Health and the Community

Born: 1941

Entered on roll: 2013

Continual knockbacks enthused Norma with more energy…to ensure the respite service was sustained.

Norma Jamieson was born in Ulverstone on 23 May 1941. The leadership, tenacity and energy of Norma in seeing a need for a respite service for carers, and creating a solution for a known problem, will long be recorded as significant in Devonport's community history.

While running a busy Devonport medical practice with her husband in the 1960's, Norma recognised the need for a respite service for carers and individuals being cared for in the community.

In 1984, the concept of Orana was born and will forever be linked with Norma Jamieson. The community-based respite care service was set up in East Devonport. It operated with one staff member and initially without government financial assistance. Orana provided respite care to individuals whose home carers needed a break for health or family issues. Hospitals also used the facility for patients ready to be discharged but not yet at a stage of recovery to return home.

Norma developed Orana into a facility offering overnight and day care for those who were aged and incapacitated. After 20 years of operation Orana had expanded and employed 28 staff.

The continual fight for finance and recognition of the place of Orana in the health sector, both in Tasmania and at Federal level, would have seen many give up the fight. Continual knockbacks only enthused Norma with more energy to use whatever avenue was necessary to ensure the proven service was sustained.

Norma's community input has also included membership of the: Uniting Church Choir and Youth Groups; Don Chorale; Acrod; TasCOSS; Hospice; Mothers' Club; and past State President of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Tasmania.

Norma represented her community on the Legislative Council from 2003-2009.

Norma was the inaugural winner of the Women's Pilots Association night-time flying award.