Navy launches Charlie into world

LEUT Victoria Caton and mum Anna Berry with son Charlie. Photo by CPL Ashley Roach

By Graham Davis

Recognition by the ADF that it needs to expand its humanitarian medical capacity in light of Australia’s increased peacekeeping duties has seen the first RAN nurse complete a Defence-financed course in midwifery.

The Senior Nursing Officer attached to the Larrakeyah Defence Medical Centre in Darwin, LEUT Victoria Caton, undertook the 12-month course at the Northern Territory University and the Darwin Hospital.

She may soon have to use her new skills as she is on stand-by to assist with Op Relex II, the operation that is seeing the first attempts since December 7, 2001 by illegal immigrants to reach Australian shores.

A boat carrying 54 Vietnamese was found three kilometres off the Western Australian coastline at the beginning of the month and held by Customs before being taken by HMAS Canberra to the mothballed detention centre on Christmas Island.

“I got the taste for delivering babies when I was deployed for four months with Op Bel Isi in Bougainville,” the 30-year-old mother of two, said.

“I helped Defence doctors deliver a number of babies to Bougainvillian mothers.”
LEUT Caton, an RAN member for the past eight years, had to put what she was learning during the course into practice...her own.

“Halfway through the course I gave birth to our son James,” she explained.

“I finished my practical training at Darwin Hospital on the friday and on the monday in Darwin Private Hospital had James.

“For a few days I was sitting in the maternity ward with a nappy in one hand and a thesis in the other,” she joked.

LEUT Caton is married to LCDR Richard Caton, the commanding officer of the heavy landing craft, HMAS Balikpapan.

LEUT Caton is already using the skills gained from the midwifery course as the Larrakeyah Medical Centre has a steady stream of expectant mothers presenting.

LCDR Meg Ford, the Staff Officer Health Personnel said, “in the past, midwifery was not recognised as a skill that nurses required as we didn’t deliver babies or look after pregnant women.

“With the increase in Defence humanitarian aid, Bougainville, East Timor, Solomon Islands and Op Relex, Defence has recognised that midwives are most definitely a very useful addition.

“Victoria is the first nurse to have the course paid for by the Navy.

“She has already been put on stand by for Op Relex with the Vietnamese boat arrivals.
“It is possible they have pregnant women on board and a midwife is needed to deliver them,” LCDR Ford said.

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