Growing up on a crop farm near Ashburton, Charlotte Gray dreamed of becoming a vet.
She was always outside, helping out and pitching in wherever she was needed.
‘‘From a young age, I was obsessed with animals and had my heart set on becoming a vet.
‘‘That dream lasted well into my early teens, but once I moved away to boarding school, things began to shift,’’ she said.
‘‘I found myself more interested in people and the idea of being there for someone during some of the most vulnerable moments in their life. That’s what initially pulled me toward healthcare.’’
Today the 22-year-old continues with international nursing; she is in her final year of a Master of Nursing programme at Sydney University after being drawn to the relational side of nursing.
‘‘I chose nursing because it aligned most with how I want to care for people,’’ she said.
‘‘I loved the idea of being able to form genuine, long-term relationships with patients and their families, and I felt that nursing offered more one-on-one connection than some of the other fields.
“I was also drawn to the variety and flexibility nursing offers – you can move into different specialties, work around the world, and adapt your career to different stages of life.’’
Gray’s education started at Longbeach School followed by Ashburton Intermediate, and then Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in Christchurch from year 9 to year 13.
After high school she moved to Dunedin to study at Otago University doing a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, majoring in functional human biology.
‘‘I loved studying the science behind how the human body works, and it gave me a solid foundation for whichever healthcare path I chose next.’’
Gray knew she wanted to be in the healthcare field but she just was not sure which area.
‘‘I considered becoming a doctor, physiotherapist, paramedic, or nurse. At the end of 2023, I applied for a wide range of healthcare programmes and to my surprise, I was accepted into everything I applied for, including both of New Zealand’s medical schools and multiple Master of Nursing programmes,’’ she said.
Once she finished her degree, she decided to move to Sydney, Australia to begin her Master of Nursing.
‘‘Since it was another two years of study, I thought it was the perfect time to experience living overseas, meet new people, and broaden my horizons before settling into full-time work.’’
Earlier this year Gray received the Dennis & Barbara Taylor $5000 nursing scholarship from Advance Ashburton Community Foundation.
It was going towards the cost of developing her career.
On graduation she planned to work in Australia and travel before eventually returning to New Zealand, potentially as a clinical nurse specialist or clinical nurse consultant in trauma care – an area she found fascinating.
She recently attended a lecture at Sydney University by Nadine Gray, the national chief nurse for Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora.
‘‘Her talk was incredibly inspiring – she spoke about the importance of leadership in nursing, collaboration across the healthcare system, and the evolving role of nurses in the future. It was one of those moments that really reignited my passion for the profession and reminded me why I chose this path in the first place.’’
Gray has always pushed herself outside her comfort zone and challenged her limits so decided to sign up to complete her training as an army medic with the New Zealand Army Reserve Force Medical Corps.
‘‘The army offered exactly what I was looking for. I was also fascinated by trauma and emergency care – the highintensity, adrenaline-filled situations that require quick thinking and strong teamwork.
‘‘The experience was incredible. I loved the hands-on trauma scenarios, the fast-paced learning, and the physical training.’’
To become a reserves medic, she first completed six weeks of basic training, followed by two weeks of medic core training. It focused on trauma response, accurate assessment, triaging, and patient treatment through both individual and group scenarios.
‘‘It’s very hands-on and designed to prepare you for high-intensity situations,’’ Gray said.
A personal highlight for her was receiving the same medic corps badge her great-grandfather wore.
He was a Lieutenant Colonel Cleveland Latimer Edward Lilly Sheppard of Christchurch who was in charge of the 22nd Field Hospital on Nissan Island during World War 2.
‘‘I also really valued the friendships I made and fond memories I formed during training,’’ she said.
– International Nurses Day is celebrated around the May 12 birthday of Florence Nightingale considered the founder of modern-day nursing. Current and former nurses and staff of Ashburton Hospital will celebrate the occasion with a chapel service at Ashburton Hospital from 11am on May 4, followed by a lunch.
