The end of an era with 40 years of unbroken service for Westmead Hospital’s Allana Mackertich

Today, Monday 22 August, 2022 marks the retirement of one of the longest-serving members of Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) radiation therapy workforce, Allana Mackertich, following 40 plus years of dedication.

Allana, fondly known to all as Mrs. Mac, joined Westmead Hospital as a second-year trainee radiation therapist on January 14, 1982.

“The radiation therapy department looked very different in those days, far less sophisticated and automated than it is today, and the work was significantly more manual and physically challenging,” she said.

Allana trained within the department and went to TAFE at night to gain her qualification.

“I had no end of semester breaks or long summer holidays and trainees had the same holiday entitlement as qualified staff so it was hard work. 

“Once qualified, I gained a permanent position at Westmead Hospital and worked as a base grade radiation therapist until I was promoted to senior radiation therapist in November 1991 when my organisational and leadership skills were noticed.”

In November 2004, Allana was promoted to the position of deputy director of radiation therapy.

Allana’s colleague, director of radiation therapy, Jill Harris, said “In this position her fair, calm and even personality has been invaluable. Allana can always be relied upon to ensure our patients and staff are well looked after and the entire department has benefited as a result.

She can always be relied upon to keep her head, even in the most dire of circumstances, and has become a wizard at ensuring the rosters are produced to ensure all areas of the department are covered adequately, with a good skills mix and making sure all staff get the breadth of experience they need.”

Jill Harris

For her retirement Allana said she would engage in “active pursuits including mountain bike riding” while together with her husband will enjoy travelling all over the country with our bikes to “make the most of retirement”.

Jill was full of praise for her trusted colleague and while recognising the contribution, will miss Allana.

“We would like to thank Allana for all she has done for the department over the last 40 years. We will miss her enormously and wish her all the very best for her future.”