Ali Blogg, who for a decade was the photographer and photo editor for the South Sydney Herald, died on April 5, at 65 years of age, after a year’s battle with terminal brain cancer. Below are some extracts from the tributes given at her funeral by her family, a work colleague and her partner, Dorothy McRae-McMahon.
Ali was a remarkable survivor. She spent five years in Christchurch hospital (her birthplace), in a full body caste, with tuberculosis of the hip, from the ages of 3 to 8. She came out on her crutches, full of courage and determination. It is amazing to think that she became a nurse after all that trauma. She worked in Christchurch, London and Sydney.
Her colleague, Denise O’ Shaunnessy gave a picture of her career:
Ali belonged to that special first generation of renal nurses, who pioneered home dialysis nursing, assuming responsibility for teaching dialysis patients to be self-caring at home, with what was complex and often unpredictably problematic treatment. After training in Christchurch, she worked at the Charing Cross Hospital in London.
When she came to Sydney, Ali joined the corporate world of dialysis, working for a Swedish company, introducing new equipment and seeking to provide nurses at the coalface with the educational opportunities provided by industry. Then she returned to clinical nursing at the Sydney Dialysis Centre in Darling Point. There she brought a wealth of international experience and skill, intelligence, a thirst for learning and innovation, wisdom and insight, compassion, honesty and fairness. At one stage she ran her own dialysis unit at Lidcombe Hospital and her leadership and training paved the way for others who followed her.
Ali had a naturally inquisitive and analytical mind and while at Sydney Dialysis Centre, she completed a social science degree by distance education. During that degree and subsequently, her qualitative studies into the emotional and practical impact of home haemodialysis upon dialysis carers were published. Such was her commitment to her profession that she contributed to the renal nursing literature after her retirement.
Her brother, Kevin said:
Most people would agree that 65 years old is too young to die, and I say that regarding my beloved sister, but I’m proud to say now that she packed a hell of a lot of life into those years.
Her professional achievements reflected on the woman, but her personal attributes were her soul. Ali would be regarded as a sensible, grounded, pragmatic woman, which she was, but woven amid this was her integrity, her compassion, her interest in other people and her generosity. She dearly loved her family, and we all felt it, keeping closely in touch over the years, with many trans-Tasman trips by all of us.
There are many fond memories she gave me, but above all, how she lived with, and succeeded in life with a condition which would confine many people to a far less active life. This inspired and encouraged me to work in a field where I can help others who live with disabling barriers enter the workforce as contributing employees. I consider that a precious gift from her and I will be forever grateful.
There is no doubt that Ali was a wonderful woman and a great sister whom we all loved so much. She faced her battles head on, and lived life with a level of honesty and integrity seldom seen. Her life was full, she took interest in many things, and enjoyed them with much enthusiasm.
Her partner, Dorothy, continued:
For the last 20 years of her life, she lived with persistent pain – the results of her body being out of balance due to the pinned hip and shortened leg from the tuberculosis, but she was never one to be pathetic. In the end, she retired early and was referred to a Pain Clinic. However, they could do no more to help her.
Apart from her work, the focus of her life was her photography. She had done many advanced courses in this art. Her work for the SSH gave meaning and purpose to her life after retirement, even if she paid a price in pain after every photo-shoot. She loved the people of South Sydney and really cared about its issues and concerns.
I can’t believe how brave she was in asking and sharing exactly what she was thinking and facing after her prognosis. She even planned her own funeral with Andrew Collis, chose the music for it and told him he was not allowed to robe! She was a person of faith, but not of the church.
Ali was the love of my life and offered to me a transforming relationship.
The more than 150 people at her funeral testified to a person who had lived a significant life and been a truly faithful friend to many people and who was beloved of her family. I believe that those of us who were there will never forget the experience.
Vale, Ali Blogg. You lived a brave and full life which brought gifts to many people.
