[ozmidwifery] Midwifery Stories

[Denise Hynd]

Media Release   4 May, 2003     Midwives launch story competition for International Midwives Day (5 May, 2003)       Bendigo midwives and maternal and child health nurses are calling on colleagues around Australia to get writing and tell the world about the joys and challenges of their profession.      The Midwives, Miracles and Mayhem project, announced for International Midwives Day (5 May) is an initiative of the Australian College of Midwives (North Central Victoria branch) and local maternal and child health nurses. They want to hear humorous, confronting, passionate and inspiring stories about the highly skilled and rewarding work that midwives do for the community.   Marg Rinaldi, maternal and child health nurse from Bendigo said, "We want to see midwives write about the profound work they do and the amazing things they see. We want the public to understand that midwives are unsung heroes in our community."   There is a national shortage of midwives and the project hopes that by revealing the personal perspectives of midwives in a book, the next generation of young people will be inspired to join the profession.   The midwives are working with journalist Amanda Tattam who edited the best-selling book "From the Heart" true stories by Australian nurses (Lothian 1997) and "Tales from the Blackboard" a volume of short stories about teaching (Pan Macmillan 1998).       Stories must be: �        written by practising or retired midwives or maternal and child health nurses �        Under 5000 words �        Based on an actual experience.  Prizes will be announced shortly. The deadline for stories is 15 October, 2003. For details on submitting a story, contact Amanda Tattam, [EMAIL PROTECTED]/ 03 5472 3116. Marg Rinaldi, 03 5443 5779 (home) 0427 435 779 (mobile)  [EMAIL PROTECTED] Marie Treloar 03 5442 1203 (home) [EMAIL PROTECTED]     Media contacts Marg Rinaldi, 5443 5779 (home) 5447 7385 ( work)  0427 435 779 (mobile) Nola Aicken, midwife and lactation consultant 5448 4374/ mobile 0407 261 436 Fran Sheean, lecturer in midwifery, La Trobe University, Bendigo. 5443 0705, (home) 5444 7546 (work)