Michelle Cruse, Deniliquin Hospital's beloved Nurse Practitioner, has been recently named MLHD Nurse or Midwife of the Year.

She's also a First Dan martial artist who rides a 1200 Harley Davidson Custom Sportster and is currently teaching herself banjo.

Michelle is shy of publicity and genuinely thinks she's "really not that interesting." But after five minutes chatting with her, it becomes obvious that her amazing passion for her work and community is simply a by-product of the way she lives her very full and busy life.

"I just knew that I wanted to help people all along," Michelle says about her calling to nursing, which she felt from the age of four.

"I routinely would wrap my teddies and dolls up in bandages and apply first aid."

That childhood instinct has carried her through an extraordinary 41-year career that began in 1981 at Prince Henry Hospital in Sydney.

She's witnessed incredible changes in healthcare, from caring for a polio patient in an iron lung to today's more education-focused approach to nursing.

"When I first enrolled as a nurse, learning was heavily clinically based, and I was exposed to so many different scenarios," she recalls.

"I once cared for a polio patient in an iron lung, which was very sad, but that has stayed with me and left me knowing that my family was never going to not be vaccinated."

Michelle's journey to becoming a Nurse Practitioner 11 years ago was what she calls "a happy accident."

After one university told her she couldn't work and successfully study a PhD at the same time, she was, in her words, "incensed."

"I had already studied to become a nurse, cared for my blended family of six children while working and completing further study to upgrade to a Bachelor of Nursing degree with First Class Honours and a Graduate Certificate in Critical Care," she explains with quiet determination.

Being told no only made Michelle more determined to find a yes.

Another university's forward-thinking course administrator really drilled down into her true motivations and dreams, discovering that whilst learning more was the motivator, her heart was always with patients in a hospital setting.

"I followed my heart and have not looked back since," she says.

While juggling work, six children, study, and maintaining a household, you'd be forgiven for thinking Michelle's cup was full. But her hobbies reveal someone with what can only be described as supernatural powers for fitting life into life.

When her children took up martial arts, Michelle decided to join them.

"Their interest waned after a couple of years, but I was hooked, and went on to become a blackbelt and instructor."

She's now a fully qualified First Dan blackbelt who somehow also found time to become an accomplished seamstress – "if you name it, I'll sew it" – and is currently teaching herself banjo because, as she puts it with a laugh, "it's way more fun than cooking!"

Now that the kids are grown and there are only three dogs and her partner to consider, Michelle has more time for one of her favourite toys: that 1200 Harley Davidson Custom Sportster.

Michelle's move to Deniliquin in 2021 from South Australia was motivated by her ever-present desire to be on the ground doing what she loves best.

"I jumped at the opportunity to move to Deniliquin Hospital and support the community here as a Nurse Practitioner. The role initially was only for eight weeks, then another eight weeks, but by then I loved it so much my partner and I decided to stay."

"I prefer rural or remote areas, and I feel that the country has just as much to offer as the city, with the only difference being the number of people and shops," she says.

"Deniliquin is a beautiful friendly town with amazing gardens, where you see families out together doing fun things. Kids are riding bikes with their parents, at the pool, really enjoying family time."

The lifestyle suits both Michelle and her partner, who trains assistance dogs, perfectly.

"There's space for all of us to do what we all love best."

Michelle's love for her job is evident in how quickly she's become a favourite amongst patients and community members.

Her professionalism and care are often formally acknowledged by patients, who describe her as a true asset to Deniliquin Hospital with a rare way of working with people and team members.

"The Deniliquin Hospital is awesome, and in particular the emergency nursing and medical team is amazing," she says with genuine enthusiasm.

"If I need anything at all I have the support to facilitate that with no dramas.

The patients and community are so friendly, and I can see myself staying until I retire."

When asked what she's most excited about, Michelle's answer reveals where her heart truly lies: "Getting a second full-time nurse practitioner at Deniliquin Hospital is the thing I'm looking forward to the most. They are like minded, passionate, both rural at heart, and will bounce off each other with the same level of enthusiasm."

Michelle credits her approach to life to a quote she read in Reader's Digest when she was about 12 years old: "Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid."

"It has stuck with me all my life, and it is so true," she reflects.

It's a philosophy that's clearly served her well. From that four-year-old bandaging teddies to today's MLHD Nurse or Midwife of the Year, Michelle has lived boldly indeed. Her message to everyone? Simply: "Just be kind."

In accepting her award, Michelle recognised all her colleagues and expressed her love for the Deni community. The community's response on social media tells its own story – comment after comment expressing gratitude, admiration, and genuine affection for someone who's clearly made a profound difference in people's lives.

As Christine Weathers put it: "Not even surprised! Who could compare? A well deserved recognition. Our lives were so impacted by your skills."

Deniliquin is very lucky indeed to have Michelle Cruse – martial artist, Harley rider, banjo student, and above all, someone who's spent four decades proving that mighty forces really do come to the aid of those bold enough to follow their hearts in service of others.

Sources: Rural Health Pro, "Michelle Cruse: Nurse Practitioner, Deniliquin Hospital," and Murrumbidgee Local Health District announcements.