“It’s funny how life works. For 25 years I cared for others through what’s now Gippsland Lakes Complete Health — and now I’m the one receiving that same care,” says Helen Gibson, smiling.

“I reckon I understand it from both sides now.”

Here at GLCH, we’ve always known that in a close-knit community like East Gippsland, your local health service might be the place you work, the place you receive care, or — in Helen’s case — both.

Helen is one of the many people whose story reflects our 50-year history of care, connection, and community. After working as a support worker with us for 25 years (and 20 before that with council), Helen retired in 2021 at the age of 80. She now receives care through a Home Care Package, supported by a team she once worked alongside.

“Working in home care gave me a reason to get up every day,” Helen recalls.

“You meet the most beautiful people — people you’d never cross paths with otherwise. Some of them still stop me in the street. ‘You used to come to my mum,’ they say. And they still remember me. That’s lovely.”

Helen joined us in 1996 when more than 100 home care staff transitioned from the East Gippsland Shire Council to what was then Lakes Entrance Community Health Centre. She’s seen many changes over the years — from handwritten rosters to digital systems (which she cheerfully admits she wasn’t a fan of) — but it was always the people that made it worth it.

“That’s what this work taught me — everyone’s got their struggles. Sometimes people are grumpy because they’re hurting. But if you hang in there, if you listen and care, you can really make a difference.”

Now in her 80s, Helen is still deeply connected to the place she’s called home for almost 50 years. This October, she’ll feature in a special GLCH history booklet called The Story of Gippsland Lakes Complete Health: Pioneering Community Health in East Gippsland. The booklet brings together stories from past and present staff, board members and community voices as we celebrate 50 years of care.

And October’s shaping up to be a big month — Helen’s eldest grandson is getting married, and she’ll become a great-grandmother in November.

“I may have retired, but those connections, those memories, those moments of human kindness — they last forever,” she says.

“That’s what real care work is about — not just the jobs you do, but the relationships you build, the dignity you preserve, and helping people feel seen and valued.”

Join us as we celebrate stories like Helen’s and the people behind 50 years of care. We’ll be hosting a community event at our Jemmeson Street site on Saturday 11 October, and everyone’s welcome.

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