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A legacy of giving: Anita Clayton honoured with ECU Community Alumni Award 2020

Monday, 31 May 2021

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  • Anita Clayton

    Anita Clayton, ECU Community Alumni Award 2020

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Anita Clayton is a retired nurse and ECU graduate who has spent more than 30 years improving the health and wellbeing of vulnerable people, both through her work with remote and rural communities, and now in retirement with the Red Cross, Connect Victoria Park and Arthritis and Osteoporosis WA.

In March this year Anita’s service to the community was recognised when she was awarded the ECU Community Alumni Award 2020.

In addition, to her extensive community work, Anita has left a gift in her will to help the next generation of students through the Inspiring Minds Scholarship Program.

“When I reflect on my own experience, I understand how scholarships can be invaluable,” Anita said.

Growing up in England, Anita was accepted into Grammar School, which put her on a path to university.

Anita’ parents were delighted she had been chosen for a select entry school; however, they were concerned about the financial pressures it would place on their family.

“My parents worried because all through primary school my mother had made my uniforms. To go to Grammar School, we had to go to the school outfitters, and they had to be the real thing.

Fortunately, my mother was a very good seamstress and she bought one blouse, took it apart and worked out how it went. We bought some material and she made the rest,” Anita explained.

Anita understands too the difficulties facing many of the current students who must support themselves through university.

“People get jobs now to help support themselves through university but there are all sorts of things that can get in the way and prevent people completing their degree. And it’s sad if it happens just because of a shortage of money,” Anita said.

Anita has left a legacy for nurses and the wider community through her compassion and professionalism to provide care for vulnerable populations across remote, rural and urban settings in Australia.

“I have been lucky to have had an incredibly rich and rewarding life and career in Nursing and there have been many people along the way who have had a huge impact on me and made a great difference to my career.

I am making a bequest to the ECU Inspiring Minds Scholarship because you never know the difference that this kind of support can make to someone’s life.”

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