Former Pitt Island nurse inspires granddaughter to become a doctor
Tuesday 24 May 2016, 2:21PM
Tara Millar’s grandmother was the nurse on Pitt Island for decades and inspired the young woman to become a doctor.
Ms Millar spent part of her childhood living on the island and says her grandmother, Eva Lanauze, was often the only health professional on the island.
“People would go to her for everything – she was the doctor, dentist and nurse.”
Mrs Lanauze was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 1989 for her services to the Pitt Island community in the Chatham Islands.
Pegasus awards 21 scholarships to health students
She would no doubt be proud of Ms Millar, currently a fifth-year medical student at the University of Otago’s Christchurch School of Medicine who has just received a Pegasus Health scholarship.
Pegasus awarded 21 scholarships to health students from Maori, Pacific and migrant and refugee backgrounds last week.
Ms Millar’s iwi affiliations are with Ngati Mutunga, Te Ati Awa, Ngai Tahu and Moriori.
Missed third-year exam because giving birth
Ms Millar was always interested in becoming a doctor, but after graduating from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Science, she worked in a food laboratory.
While working in the lab, she did further postgraduate studies gaining a postgraduate diploma in microbiology, before applying for medical school.
Ms Millar says she is grateful for the scholarship as her family’s main source of income is the student allowance while her husband, Robin, stays home to care for their four children, aged 10, nine, four and 18 months.
Challenging with children
Ms Millar spent part of her childhood living on the island and says her grandmother, Eva Lanauze, was often the only health professional on the island.
“People would go to her for everything – she was the doctor, dentist and nurse.”
Mrs Lanauze was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 1989 for her services to the Pitt Island community in the Chatham Islands.
Pegasus awards 21 scholarships to health students
She would no doubt be proud of Ms Millar, currently a fifth-year medical student at the University of Otago’s Christchurch School of Medicine who has just received a Pegasus Health scholarship.
Pegasus awarded 21 scholarships to health students from Maori, Pacific and migrant and refugee backgrounds last week.
Ms Millar’s iwi affiliations are with Ngati Mutunga, Te Ati Awa, Ngai Tahu and Moriori.
Missed third-year exam because giving birth
Ms Millar was always interested in becoming a doctor, but after graduating from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Science, she worked in a food laboratory.
While working in the lab, she did further postgraduate studies gaining a postgraduate diploma in microbiology, before applying for medical school.
Ms Millar says she is grateful for the scholarship as her family’s main source of income is the student allowance while her husband, Robin, stays home to care for their four children, aged 10, nine, four and 18 months.
Challenging with children
She admits studying is often challenging with a family, especially having to shift her children from schools, but she is grateful for the support of her husband.
“I was actually pregnant during my third year and gave birth on the day of my last exam, so I missed my exam. I was able to do it two days later though – and passed.”
Pegasus has awarded the scholarships for a number of years – initially to students from Maori backgrounds. Later it was extended to Pasifika students and, in 2014, to migrant and refugee students.
“I was actually pregnant during my third year and gave birth on the day of my last exam, so I missed my exam. I was able to do it two days later though – and passed.”
Pegasus has awarded the scholarships for a number of years – initially to students from Maori backgrounds. Later it was extended to Pasifika students and, in 2014, to migrant and refugee students.
This year, six scholarships were awarded to Maori students, seven to Pasifika students and a further seven to students from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
In applying for a scholarship, each of the winners had to write a 1000-word essay about their backgrounds and their reasons for pursuing a health career.
Pegasus Health marketing and communications manager, Georgina Hunter, says out of respect to the recipients Pegasus is not prepared to disclose how much the students receive.
But as well as the one-off financial contribution they are able to participate in mentoring and connection into primary care once they have graduated.
In applying for a scholarship, each of the winners had to write a 1000-word essay about their backgrounds and their reasons for pursuing a health career.
Pegasus Health marketing and communications manager, Georgina Hunter, says out of respect to the recipients Pegasus is not prepared to disclose how much the students receive.
But as well as the one-off financial contribution they are able to participate in mentoring and connection into primary care once they have graduated.
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