Women of Warren Shire - Emma Wass
27 August 2021
Emma Wass
Emma came to Warren Shire when she was 19. Now married to a Warren local and with four children, Emma is an active member in the Warren Shire community. From her role as a community nurse, her endless dedication to volunteering her time and fundraising, to rediscovering her childhood talent of singing, Emma certainly embodies the shire’s community spirit.
A usual morning looks like?
Chaos! It’s usually getting four kids on the bus and then heading in for work. I’m not a morning person so I would say some days it’s a struggle! There is always a half-drunk coffee left behind, and a hot one waiting for me from my beautiful co-workers when I get to work.
I’m most proud about?
Definitely my family. My kids constantly amaze me with their achievements and the people they are becoming as they grow. My husband is a “just get it done” sort of guy and he makes things happen when we are juggling kids, school, sports, my work and farm life. I couldn’t do my job, mother or nurse without him.
Fondest memory of growing up in Warren Shire?
I didn’t grow up here but turned up in Warren when I was 19. I know that means I’ll never be a true local, but I love when my husband talks about his childhood and all the things he remembers and shares those memories with our kids.
Favourite place in Warren Shire?
The good old Bullagreen. Plenty of legends out there.
Whenever I am away, I long to get back to the space, the freedom, and the fresh air. It has certainly become home.
On the weekend you can find me?
In the winter it’s on the side of a netball court, lunch and then a couple of quiet ones at The Collie Pub. Sunday, unfortunately, it’s a date with the washing machine.
3 words that sum up living in Warren Shire?
A wonderful experience.
You’re very active in the community…
What do you enjoy about raising your family in Warren Shire?
I love all that is offered to kids in Warren, there are so many people that give up their time to teach kids new skills like sports, music, dance and art. Despite being a small town there is still such a huge opportunity for kids to excel. My kids feel a real sense of community and safety in Warren, everyone knows who the kids belong to and everyone looks out for them.
I love schooling in Warren and know my kids wouldn’t get such a personal introduction to education in the city.
Can you tell us your inspiration and journey to become a community nurse?
As the child of a nurse, I was never going to be a nurse, but I guess it’s genetic. I sort of fell into community nursing when my kids were very young, as being a shift worker just didn’t fit with a farming husband. Once I got a taste for community nursing I wasn’t going back!
My mum has definitely been a constant source of inspiration and has instilled in me the basis of nursing, which is to be the patient’s advocate.
I think community nursing still remains a great mystery to some, and until you work in the space, there is little understanding of the endless opportunities it provides.
I have been so incredibly blessed to work with the most caring dedicated nurses you could find, and that makes being passionate so much easier. Our team have worked together going on four years, and in that time we have had the privilege of working with so many community members in times when they or a family member are unwell and vulnerable.
Warren is lucky to be serviced by a number of visiting health professionals who really understand the challenges of providing healthcare in the bush. They bring their experience and knowledge with them and support us to support our community.
As a healthcare worker, how is the current COVID-19 situation impacting your work?
The COVID-19 pandemic has put immense pressure on all healthcare workers.
Chronic Health conditions don’t take a break for pandemics, so along with our usual workload, there is an added one of assisting our community to access COVID swabbing, information about and the roll-out of vaccinations, as seen when nurses assisted with the Australian Defence Force/Western NSW Local Health District pop-up vaccination clinic early in the week.
There is also the mental load to bear, it is always at the forefront of practice – to keep ourselves safe, to keep our families safe, and to keep the vulnerable patients we care for safe.
The Warren Shire community has been leading the way in its response to COVID-19, what do you see that drives this community spirit?
I think for small communities the battle against COVID-19 is such a personal one. For the most part, everyone knows everyone, so we fear for our families, friends, co-workers and all the locals we see servicing our community day in and day out. I think Warren Shire understands the importance of banding together so we can all keep our town safe from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.
You are dedicated to helping our community - from fundraising, cooking BBQs and training netball teams - what do you love about giving back to the shire?
My husband and I both give our time to our kids’ sports, as for us, it is the time we get to spend with them in our busy lives. I feel it is easy to want to do this in Warren as there are so many people, not only parents, giving up their time to volunteer. Like work, it’s easy to be passionate when surrounded by a great group of people. Fundraising is made easy by our very generous townspeople, who readily give donations so that kids can have better experiences.
It is so rewarding to see the joy on kids’ faces as they improve throughout the season and the success they have when the kids from the bush leave their mark in Dubbo competitions.
I love nothing more than turning up on a Wednesday afternoon to see kids playing together, training together, and learning new skills while adults pitch in to coach, umpire, score and time keep, and most of all encourage the kids. It is the true meaning of community spirit at a glimpse.
We hear you have a hidden talent as a singer, when did you discover your love for singing and where do you perform?
I discovered from a very early age that I loved to sing, hum and make noise in general. All through primary school I sang in choirs and was exposed to some very clever musicians. I sang in ‘Sing 2001’, a number of choirs from all over the state joined together in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics in 2000. We travelled to Sydney and performed with thousands of other kids. An experience I’ll never forget.
I did loads of solo singing in high school and had a great group of friends I made music with. I remember being fearless back then, the bigger the crowd the better.
For years I didn’t sing, and it was only when I met the incredible Frances Evans that I decided I’d love to give it a go again. We have done a few gigs with our mate Phil Leman, as the Three Phillies, and despite the absolute fear, it has been a blast. We have performed at the Golfie, Collie Pub, Windows on the Wetlands, luncheons and my personal favourite, a Christmas Concert for the residents at Calara House last year.
After a miserable time being locked down with COVID-19 last year, it felt amazing to bring a bit of joy just in time for Christmas. When COVID-19 is under control I hope to get out with the other Phillies and make some music again.
To nominate a Warren Shire woman to be featured in this series, email media@warren.nsw.gov.au