04/03/2010

Hospital colleague has a devilish side

An Ipswich Hospital colleague who works on wards by day is writing children’s books to help save Tasmanian devils in her spare time.

Barbara Brewin is committed to saving Tasmanian devils in the little time she has between working on the hospital’s busy maternity and cancer wards.

The 65-year-old first encountered the Australian animals on a holiday to Tasmania with her late husband John, for their silver wedding anniversary in 1993. They had planned to go back to the Australian island but Mr Brewin fell ill and the trip was cancelled.

Mrs Brewin said: “I lost my husband John to skin cancer in 2002. He always said that he wanted me to share my passion and love for animals with children, which is what made me begin writing children’s books in my spare time.

“I returned to Tasmania with family and on my own after John died. On one trip I held a baby devil at the zoo and learnt about the facial tumours they have which is meaning they could become extinct. I was shocked when I was told that around 70% of them have died in the last 16 years. I asked a zoo keeper how I could help save them and they said that they needed to raise money for a research centre at the zoo to look at curing the facial cancer.”

Mrs Brewin is now selling her most recent book ’Donna goes to Devil’s Heaven' to raise money for a research centre at the zoo in Tasmania. She said: “I feel proud and strongly about the book, it’s a combination of education and fun.”
The children’s book tells the story of a Tasmanian devil family looking for a new home.

Mrs Brewin not only works on the maternity and cancer ward, but also volunteers on the cancer ward where her husband died. She said: “My work on Somersham ward (the cancer ward) feels absolutely amazing. It is so good to give something back. I hope I can help the patients and relatives as I try to understand what they are going through. My job is very rewarding, I want to make every minute count.”

‘Donna goes to Devil’s Heaven' is available online from Amazon , and WHSmith for £7.99, with £1 going to the research centre in Tasmania.