Perth Voice Interactive

A RETIRED nurse and Fremantle author have collaborated on a book that hopes to inspire a new generation of nurses, while warning them of “dark forces” at play in hospitals which have diminished their ability to care for patients.

Live and Leave Well: Reflections of a Lifelong Nurse by Christian Mauri explores Fremantle Hospital-trained nurse Peter Rebbechi’s thoughts on the art of care, nursing as a vocation, and the importance of end-of-life planning. It’s being launch today (Saturday January 25) at the State Library of WA.

Ms Rebbechi was a veteran of the wards with close to 60 years’ experience, and was searching for someone to help share her reflections. With strong ties to Fremantle from her training in the 1960s, she found Christian Mauri, founder of Family Tales and a sociologist known for crafting meaningful narratives. 

Their partnership, built on shared lunches and long strolls by Lake Gwelup, culminated in a work aimed at inspiring not only nurses but anyone involved in caregiving.

“When I met her, she was this tiny old lady, really, really kind, and we kind of hit it off immediately,” Dr Mauri said.

For Ms Rebbechi, nursing was always more than a profession—it’s a vocation. 

“She’s seen so many different changes to the nursing profession—even before it was a profession—throughout her entire time, that she recognises that nursing, above all, is a vocation,” Dr Mauri said.

“It’s a kind of calling that one has, and that’s the thread that runs through all the different changes that have happened for generations.”

Ms Rebbechi reflects on the erosion of simple yet profound acts of care, such as holding a patient’s hand or sitting by their bedside. 

“She distinctly remembers watching nurses hold hands less and less for patients, nurses rubbing the shoulders of worried patients less and less; nurses developing relationships with patients less and less because they’re around rotating rosters, where it was a revolving door,” Dr Mauri said.

“Patients increasingly became bodies to be processed through the system, and nurses became basically cogs and levers.”

Ms Rebbechi said she feels for nurses today.

“My heart goes out to the young nurses,” she said.

“The way our world is going, they must not lose faith in the power of connection for human beings.

“Now more than ever, we must strive to uphold the art.

Her approach to care is firmly rooted in holistic nursing, which prioritises emotional and spiritual support alongside clinical treatment.

“Her idea is that there are certain parts of healing which aren’t accounted for through clinical tests,” Dr Mauri said.

“So the sheer power of sitting by your bedside and holding your hand and telling you things are going to be okay, that’s not necessarily medically robust, but to her understanding, that’s absolutely essential.”

The book is divided into three parts: reflections on nursing as a vocation, lessons from Rebbechi’s years in palliative care, and her advocacy for Advance Care Plans. These themes resonate deeply with her experiences, particularly her time working with patients at the end of life.

“She thinks people are attracted to nursing because they’ll be told, ‘Oh, you have such a caring personality,’ or ‘You like to take care of people,’ but then their workplace is so pressurised and it’s so risk-averse, and there are so many processes and operations in place, that after a while, people just will find that they complain that they don’t have time for that compassion anymore. In fact, their experience was called compassion fatigue,” Dr Mauri said.

The importance of Advance Care Plans is another key theme. “Her number one wish is for everyone to have an Advance Care Plan,” Mauri explained. “She’s seen so many young men come off motorbikes without an advanced care directive and so on.”

Ms Rebbechi’s career hasn’t been without challenges. As a director of nursing, she often clashed with colleagues who resisted her advocacy for compassionate care. 

“Tragically, she dealt with a lot of bullying,” Dr Mauri revealed. 

“She was running up against other people in the hospital and the health system, pulling her aside and saying, ‘Peter, we understand, but you can’t be doing this.’ It got to the point where she actually had to leave her career for a while due to the stresses of workplace bullying.”

The collaborative nature of the book adds a unique dimension to its message. 

Ms Rebbechi encouraged Dr Mauri, who is half her age, to interpret her stories through his own lens. 

“At first, it felt like ghostwriting,” Dr Mauri admitted. 

“And then she was like, ‘Stop it, stop it, just listen to me and put it in your own words.’ She didn’t want an older person speaking to young nurses—she wanted that fresh perspective.”

The book’s visual elements also reflect this multi-generational collaboration. Local artist Gina Blakemore designed the cover, featuring an orange butterfly that holds personal significance for Ms Rebbechi, while Dr Mauri’s partner Kaylene Harris, contributed evocative interior illustrations inspired by their conversations.

The launch of Live and Leave Well will also feature Ms Rebbechi’s earlier biography, A Girl Called Peter. The event starts at 11am this morning (Saturday  January 25), at the State Library of WA, and will include readings from the book and opportunities to meet the authors.

“This isn’t just a book for nurses,” Dr Mauri said. 

“It’s for anyone who cares about caring. Peter’s lessons are universal, and we hope they’ll inspire readers to think about how we care for others—and ourselves.”

by STEVE GRANT