Glynis Anne Dent (nee Barnett)
29/08/1950 - 13/7/2019
Glynis Dent passed away peacefully at her home in Bendigo on 13/7/2019 after a nine-month battle with cancer.
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Glynis was born in Cape Town, South Africa. When she was one, the family moved to Pretoria where she grew up. She attended the Pretoria Girls High School, finishing in 1967.
She then trained as a nurse at the Johannesburg General Hospital, qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1970. Subsequently she was employed as a Registered Nurse at the Kenridge Hospital in Johannesburg, a hospital run by the Sisters of the Holy Family Congregation, and she was soon promoted to Night Matron.
In 1973 she married Dorian Dent. They had two children, Louisa (1974) and Adrian (1975).
While the children were little, Glynis managed Dorian's surveying practice.
At that time Glynis became very interested in cat breeding (Siamese, mainly), and became a qualified show cat judge. Ultimately she was appointed Registrar of the South African Cat Fancy in about 1982.
Glynis and her family left South Africa in 1987, arriving in Australia (via New Zealand) in 1993.
Glynis did a nursing re-entry course at RMIT in about 1998, re-qualifying as a Registered Nurse in Australia.
Glynis worked in the Rehabilitation Unit at Bendigo Health from about 2000 to 2004. Through Bendigo Health and LaTrobe University she obtained a post-graduate qualification in Rehabilitation. Glynis also studied for and obtained a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education through Deakin University.
Glynis and Dorian then moved to Alice Springs where Glynis was appointed Diabetes Educator at the Alice Springs Hospital. She held this position for 11 years until she retired in 2015. Whilst in Alice
Springs she continued her studies at Deakin University and obtained a Graduate Certificate in nutrition. Glynis had a special interest in Gestational Diabetes, and her weekly clinics were very well attended.
In about 2006 Glynis was appointed the Northern Territory representative to the Australian Diabetes Educators Board. She served for 7 years in this capacity. She gave many lectures and conference papers, including one to the International Diabetes Conference in Melbourne in about 2014.
Glynis was very much a petrol-head and loved her fast cars. She became a Mercedes-freak. She was a superb driver, especially off-road. During a crossing of the Simpson Desert in 2008, a wheel bearing on a trailer failed, and this necessitated a return to Birdsville. As it was getting dark, some speed was needed. No-one could keep up with Glynis. She was just gone.....
Glynis loved remote desert travel and camping. There are very few dirt roads within 1000 km of Alice Springs that she did not explore and camp along.
She also loved motorcycles and raced motor-cross when the kids were little. Her favourite motorcycle was a 1976 Honda CB400. She always retained her motorcycle licence.
Glynis went back to South Africa twice to visit family and to go on safari, in 2013 and 2014. She was a superb shot with a rifle, her favourites being her Savage .22 LR and her Tikka 243 Win.
In about 2016 Glynis returned to Bendigo and started working part-time as a Diabetes Educator at St John of God hospital. What was initially a casual fill-in position later became permanent part-time, as Glynis just loved working at the SJOG hospital.
Sadly, in November 2018 it was discovered that Glynis had advanced lung cancer with brain metastases, and it was clear that the prognosis was not good. She had one brain tumour removed surgically, she had 10 doses of radiation to the head, and 5 cycles of chemotherapy. Although there were some positive signs, ultimately the treatments all proved ineffective.
Glynis stayed in her home throughout this period, passing away peacefully with her family around her.
Glynis was a wonderful and much-loved wife and mother. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband Dorian, daughter Louisa (partner Mark), son Adrian (partner Yvonne), and grandson William (3).
Our thanks go to all the wonderful staff at Bendigo Health: ED doctors and nurses, Dr Sabine Roithmaier, radiation and chemotherapy doctors, nurses and staff, Medical Imaging doctors, nurses and staff, and especially the Palliative Care nurses and PCAs who provided such caring and compassionate care at her home in her last days. The family is truly grateful for their service.
A wake will be held at Glynis' home at a date to be announced to celebrate her full life.
Everybody will be most welcome to come and share a cup of tea or coffee or a glass of wine.
Dorian and the Dent family.