“The idea of supporting a family through such a journey was something I felt I could do,” she said. 

“So when a colleague approached me and asked me if I was interested in applying to be an Associate McGrath Breast Care Nurse, I thought it was a ‘sign’ that I should not dismiss.”

She had recently been appointed as the new Associate McGrath Breast Care Nurse, based at the Goulburn Community Health Centre. 

She has plenty of experience as a nurse. After training in Germany and Switzerland, she has been working as a registered nurse in Australia since 1995.

“I have been a community nurse for the past 10 years, so I get out to see the patients in their homes and as a result I have worked with a lot of cancer patients,” she said.

McGrath Breast Care Nurses help people (and their families) affected by breast cancer by providing physical, psychological and emotional support. 

As an Associate McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Mrs Walterlin will work closely with Goulburn’s existing McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Sue Perryman, to develop her skills and continue her studies while helping families across the Goulburn Mulwaree region.

The McGrath Foundation established the associate role to enable talented nurses to undertake dedicated learning and professional opportunities, eventually becoming fully qualified McGrath Breast Care Nurses.

Mrs Walterlin is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Breast Care Nursing, through being awarded a Becky Barney Breast Care Nursing Scholarship. 

“It makes such a difference to have specialised knowlegde in this area – it allows you to provide greater support,” she said.

“The great thing about the McGrath Foundation is that it continues to raise funds for nurses to be employed all over the country.”

The McGrath Foundation started out with Jane and Glenn McGrath’s very public experience with breast cancer, and has become one of Australia’s most recognised and respected charities.

Some years after her initial diagnosis, Jane’s cancer returned. This time, she had a breast care nurse, who both empowered and comforted her, and the entire family.

This experience set the mission for the Foundation, which has become an enduring commitment to support thousands of women and men every day, no matter where they live – for free.

While more than 50,000 families have been supported by 117 McGrath Breast Care Nurses, a spokesperson for the foundation said there’s still lots more to do to reach every family going through breast cancer.

“We rely on the heartfelt support we receive from all over Australia – including individuals, communities, corporate partners and government,” the spokesperson said.