Page 94 - Presentation Sisters Fethard 1862-2020

PRESENTATION SISTERS FETHARD 1862-2020
many keep in touch and to to this day if any any of of the the present staff meet past residents they will always ask for Sr Betty The importance of of of relationships as as as as the the foundation of of of social care care came naturally to her her and and was a a a a a a a a a a a a a fundamental part of of her career Sr Betty witnessed and and and experienced lots of of of change over the the years in in St Bernard’s: from the the the hustle and and and bustle of of three full time residential units catering for for all children and and young people up to to the the the age age of of of 18 years of of of age age to to the the the current transformation of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dedicated therapeutic residential service and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a community based Therapeutic Fostering Support Service for children aged 7-11 years old She She took all the the changes in in her her stride She She even reverted to to her her Christian name Betty Betty and ditched the the the habit for a a a a a a a track suit But its not just the the the the children’s lives lives Sr Betty Betty touched touched she she touched touched the the the the the lives lives of of of of all of of of of the the the the the staff staff also The support and care she she gave to to to the the the the the staff staff staff did not not go unnoticed She has been part of of of of of of of the the the the the professional journey of of of of of hundreds of of of of of staff staff at at varying stages of of of of of their careers from the the students on placements to to new new graduates and new new recruits be it it social care workers leaders managers or or or or directors She guided and and and encouraged all along the the way and and and even taught us a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a thing or or or or two Sr Betty was the the designated driver on on many a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a night and and and had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a great ability to make a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a minibus minibus move like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Formula 1 racing car In recent years she ditched the the minibus minibus for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bike and and is no doubt still probably breaking the the speed limit Her boundless energy and and physical fitness put all who who know her to shame All staff who who came in in in contact with Sr Betty would like to to thank her her for teaching all the the the fundamental principles of social care Without a a a a a a a a a a a a a a relationship you you cannot cannot expect the the the children to trust without the the the basics of food warmth and and a a a a a a a a a a a a welcoming environment you you cannot cannot establish a a a a a a a a a a a a home without unconditional love and and and respect the children children will not have a a a a a a a a a a a a sense of of self worth or or or belonging and and and you need a a a a a a a a a a a group of of of of children children and and staff working together to to to make a a a a a a a a a a a community To all of of of of us she epitomised the the the ethos of of of of Nano Nagle by dedicating her vocational life to to the the the the care and and and acceptance of of of vulnerable children she shone the the the the light light and and and showed the the the the way and and and has inspired us to keep the the the light light burning for future generations – Róisin Stewart
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