A CRYSTAL glass owl from her native Austria was among gifts and tributes lavished on long-serving night sister Margaret Kessler when she retired from Christchurch hospital after almost 40 years service.

After training as a nurse in her home town of Leoben, Margaret came to Christchurch in 1965 to learn English - and has stayed here ever since.

For the past 35 years she has been the night sister in charge of the whole hospital and responsible for more than 200 patients and 30 staff on 10 wards.

But spinal injuries suffered in a car accident two years ago have forced her to retire prematurely from the job she loved.

She said: "I always said I would not retire while I still enjoyed working and I had no intention of retiring."

"I wish I had been able to go on and if it wasn't for the pain I would have carried on," added Margaret, who is still receiving pain killing injections and physiotherapy for her injuries.

Margaret and her husband Freddie - a former civic macebearer with Christchurch council - celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary on the night of her farewell party at the hospital attended by past and present hospital managers, nursing colleagues and family.

"It was a lovely evening. I am sad to be leaving but it will be nice to be awake during the day and asleep at night," said Margaret.

But Margaret's long connection with Christchurch hospital has not been completely severed - her oldest daughter, also Margaret, 34, not only shares her mother's name but has followed her on to the wards as a night nurse at the hospital.

First published: August 27