February 2025 is the end of an era. Later this month, ANMF (Vic Branch) Assistant Secretary Paul Gilbert will retire.
Gilby – as he is affectionately known within the Branch – began his journey with ANMF more than three decades ago.
An enrolled nurse at Bendigo Health, in 1989 Paul became an ANF Job Rep; he joined the Branch as an organiser two years later. Over the next couple of decades he held various roles including organiser, industrial research officer, industrial officer and senior industrial officer, before being elected, in November 2009, as Branch Assistant Secretary.
At the time, ANF (Vic Branch) had just reached the milestone of 60,000 members, necessitating the creation of an additional Assistant Secretary role. Paul was its first incumbent.
Today, the Branch has over 108,000 members and Paul’s tireless, diligent and brilliant work on behalf of Victoria’s nurses, midwives and carers is no doubt somewhat responsible for this extraordinary growth.
As I wrote when announcing Paul’s decision in December, he has been the mastermind behind many industrial and EBA wins and has devoted his career to improving the working lives of nurses, midwives and carers.
A googolplex of knowledge
The Branch’s internal database is nicknamed Lindy, after a former staff member with an encyclopaedic institutional knowledge of ANMF history and business. If Lindy’s knowledge was encyclopaedic, Paul’s is a googolplex*. Who knows what we will name in his honour!
I know I speak for all at the Branch when I say Paul will be sorely missed. As a boundless resource of information, he is unparalleled; as a dedicated and supportive colleague, he is undeniable; as a loyal friend, he is unflagging.
I am sure that even though he is hanging up his industrial and professional boots, Paul will continue to support ANMF – and all of Victoria’s nurses, midwives and carers – from the sidelines. For that, and for his decades of extraordinary service, I am deeply indebted and humbled.
Thank you, Paul.
*A googolplex is the number 10 to the power of googol, an unfathomably large number (technically, 1 followed by 100 zeros). The search engine Google is named after the number googol.
Welcome, Sam Casey
As I announced in December, Paul’s boots will be filled by Professional Officer and ICU nurse Sam Casey, who has most ably filled the Acting Assistant Secretary role during Assistant Secretary Madeleine Harradence’s recent parental leave and during Paul’s recent long service leave.
Paul and I were particularly impressed working with Sam during the 2024 public sector negotiations, and afterwards with the development of education materials and early implementation work. Sam is measured, very clever, a team player with a strong work ethic and has a quiet tenacity that should not be underestimated. She ensures that nurses and midwives have a voice at the table and her ambition is focused on our membership – to improve their working lives and their ability to provide safe patient, client and resident care.
Sam will officially commence as Assistant Secretary on 21 February, and I am sure you will all join me in welcoming her to the role more permanently.
