General News
8 February, 2023
Cindy praises town's spirit Order of Australia for DMSC alumna
By Lou Mason Lucinda “Cindy” Barry’s extensive medical career has been acknowledged in Canberra, where in an Australia Day ceremony she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to public health policy in...
By Lou Mason
Lucinda “Cindy” Barry’s extensive medical career has been acknowledged in Canberra, where in an Australia Day ceremony she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to public health policy in executive roles and to medicine.
Ms Barry calls herself “a Dimboola girl through and through’” and said her work had been a labour of love and dedication aimed at making a difference to the lives of people in Australia.
“I'm very honoured and humbled to be appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM),” she said.
“I've worked with the most amazing teams and still have wonderful mentors.
“I've always had the greatest support from my family and friends who have always told me I could achieve anything.”
Ms Barry’s aunts, Bev Gazelle and Dot Ewing, still live in Dimboola and both said Ms Barry had always been brilliant and loving.
”She was always smart – very smart,” Ms Gazelle said.
“Other girls would study like mad but Cindy would take it in just once and remember it all.”
“Cindy is just a lovely person,” Ms Ewing added.
“She has a great personality, just like us.”
Ms Barry attended Dimboola Memorial Secondary College (DMSC), graduating as its Dux in 1986 before being inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2011 for her significant contribution to health services in Australia.
DMSC principal Sally Klinge taught Ms Barry through her junior years at the school and said her talent was always evident.
“I always thought she showed the drive and determination to do amazing things,” Ms Klinge said.
“The DMSC community is all very proud of her.
"This shows that students from a rural school can achieve great things.”
After leaving DMSC, Ms Barry moved to Melbourne to begin her training in nursing at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, finding her passion amidst the hard work and hard days in the emergency department.
“We trained at the hospital, and yes, I did wear an apron and have a nursing cape.” she said.
“The first time I worked in Emergency, I knew this was where I wanted to go when I finished my training. It was busy, exciting and great teamwork.”
Ms Barry spent a decade working in the emergency department and went on to specialise in Major Trauma, becoming one of Victoria’s first trauma coordinators.
“I will never forget this time in my life. I loved that everyday I knew we were trying to help someone,” she said.
“Whilst it was hard work, busy and it was sometimes chaotic, there were great days, and on the days where we couldn’t save someone, the comradery was amazing.
“My colleagues are lifelong friends and my nurse unit manager, Marg Nuttall, remains a friend and mentor.”
Following on from her years in Melbourne, Ms Barry moved to Canberra with her husband, and became a Director of Nursing - her nursing career goal.
“Little did I know where my career would go after this. I applied for a position in the paper to be the federal health minister’s adviser at Parliament House, and I got it, Ms Barry said.
“I took a leap of faith, put myself totally out of my comfort zone and started work with Dr Kay Patterson.
In total, I have spent more than eight years working as an advisor to a number of Ministers in Parliament House, and expanded my knowledge across social policy, aged care, indigenous affairs, sport and early childhood.”
This new career path culminated in Ms Barry being appointed the Prime Minister’s senior health advisor for nearly three years to Tony Abbott and to Malcolm Turnbull.”
In 2017, Ms Barry settled into what she said is her “dream role” - chief executive officer of Donate Life, the nationwide organ and tissue donation program.
“We all have the chance to save another person’s life when we die and, for me, this was the chance to drive the nation’s program so more people are able to receive a transplant,” she said.
“My career to date brought all the skills I needed – clinical expertise, government and policy, and I am very privileged to lead it and work with the most dedicated team.”
Ms Barry said she is passionate about organ and tissue donation and that, globally, there will never be enough organs available for those needing a transplant.
“Our focus in Australia is two-fold community awareness: asking people to think about what they want when they die and, if they want to be a donor, to register and tell their family,” she said.
“It takes less than a minute to register at donatelife.gov.au, or three taps on your Medicare Express app.”
Cindy said that being awarded the Order of Australia has been a time of great reflection for her, and she had some advice for young, aspiring students at DMSC, with a special mention wishing this year’s Year 12 students all the best.
“DMSC not only gave me a great education, but provided community support and spirit. You are fortunate to attend such a great school. Never think that because you come from a smaller school, that you won’t be as good as others,” Ms Barry said.
“My word of advice is that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. It is important to work hard, but also make sure you have fun and have other outlets - for me, I loved sports, and played netball and basketball all my school life.
“Never let unkind comments bring you down. Have confidence in yourself and make sure you talk to your family and friends if there are any issues.
“Teenage years can be tough, but they made me more resilient.”
Ms Barry said she plans to spend the next three years focused on bringing Australia’s organ donation rate back to pre-Covid levels.
“I will always be doing something that I believe in and can make a difference,” she said.
“On a personal note, it is about my family, and being mum to our two girls who are in grade five and year eight at school.
“It is a juggle with work and family but I have always had great support from my husband.”
Cindy Barry has alway held fond memories of growing up in Dimboola, and said there is a community spirit you just don’t find elsewhere.
“We knew everyone and there was always amazing support - I loved family life, and having my grandparents, aunties and uncles, and most of my cousins living there,” she said.
“We had lots of freedom and fun, riding our bikes, going to the pool on a sweltering 40°C day, and no-one can forget the Dimboola Regatta.
“Thank you to all of you who have been there with me along the way, and a special thank you to mum, Jan, who gave me her strength and made me believe I could achieve anything.
“I only wish both mum and dad (Bob) were here to see this happen.”