Taupō Medical Centre’s Jean Chegwidden followed the leader when she decided to become a nurse. During a double celebration recently - her 83rd birthday and 50 years at the medical centre - Jean recalled it wasn’t a passion to care for people that resulted in the decision. It was because her older sister had become one and the then Jean Russell, who was boarding at Hamilton Girls’ High School at the time, followed suit.
She graduated in March 1963 after three years of study at Waikato Hospital and for the next 60 years most of her working life has involved looking after Taupō people. Clearly, nursing suited her..