Rodney Stevens

A Yamba Assistant in Nursing who was tragically killed in a crash on River Street, Maclean in May has been honoured for her 22 years dedication to her profession and residents at Maclean’s Mareeba Aged Care with the unveiling of a memorial park bench.

Family, friends, and former colleagues gathered at Mareeba Aged Care last Tuesday at 10am for the unveiling of the beautiful bench which is adorned with a brass plaque that reads, “Dedication by the family of the later Raewyn Pocock 30.4.1956 to 19.05.2024 May Her Memory Live On.”

“Raewyn Pocock or Rae as everyone knew her was a member of the Yamba community and dedicated employee of the Mareeba nursing home for 22 years,” her family said.

“Rae was an assistant in nursing at Mareeba, her service cut short when she was tragically killed in a head-on collision travelling home from work on the 19 May 2024.

“This park bench has been established in memory of Rae and her tireless service to Mareeba over the last 22 years.”

Cora Daclan worked alongside Rae for 14 years and spoke of her dedication to Mareeba and the residents.

“Over the 14 years I worked at Mareeba, Rae and I always had a connection,” she said.

“Rae was always so caring with the residents and co-workers, she particularly looked out for the residents that were very elderly and those that didn’t have family and she’d buy them clothing and toiletries.

“She was always a very generous person, loving, caring.

“She’d often also donate clothes to me which I’d donate to less fortunate people in the Philippines.

“Rae was always very committed to her work always early and doing a thorough job.”

Rae’s eldest daughter April spoke of her mother’s commitment to Mareeba and the Yamba and Maclean communities.

“Mum always spoke about her love of the people of Mareeba, residents, and colleagues alike,” April said.

“A few weeks before her passing I’d asked mum why she continued to work in a physical job at her age, she told me that she loved Mareeba and would continue to work until she was physically not able to.

“She loved the community too, there was one older lady, Margaret, she’d speak of.

“Margaret was in her 80s and had mobility issues and a disabled son.

“Mum would visit Margaret regularly and take her to Ballina for the day shopping and for lunch.

“Mum also extended her kindness to other members of the community while in Yamba including extending her home to a single mother experiencing financial hardship and in later years a neighbour across her back fence that was renting and because of a rental increase could no longer afford to stay in that property.”

The love and loss felt by Rae’s passing was evident at her funeral.

There were around 150 people in attendance as well as a further 85 people who live streamed the funeral.

Those that had attended the funeral included colleagues Rae had worked with past and present, some of which had retired many years ago.

For the residents and staff working and unable to attend the funeral, they joined the livestream and had a special morning tea in memory of Rae.