Weekly Dose

We mark the end of an era in our ICU with the retirement of two remarkable individuals: Dr Chris Cain and Rochelle Tuxen. 

Chris began his journey at Albury Base and Wodonga Regional Health Service over 36 years ago as an intensive care specialist and anaesthetist. For many years, with support of anaesthetic colleagues, Chris was the clinical glue that held the unit together, serving as Director until 2006. It’s worth remembering the challenging conditions of those times: no onsite medical staff after hours, on-call duties that included retrieving patients from neighbouring centres, and responding to major traumas as far as Deniliquin and Corryong. Before the formation of Albury Wodonga Health, our teams worked across both services, with Wodonga HDU operating independently from Albury ICU. Against this backdrop, Chris’s longevity and unwavering commitment are nothing short of extraordinary. 

Chris is revered among his peers. His humility masks a wealth of experience and expertise. Calm, pragmatic, and seemingly unflappable, his steady presence has been a source of reassurance in the most critical situations. There are countless patients whose lives have been saved or transformed thanks to Chris and the ICU team. 

Even on his final shift, Chris exemplified his dedication, teaching junior doctors while others headed home. His steadfastness, dependability, and passion for patient care have left an indelible mark on our service. The heartfelt tributes from staff as he concluded his clinical work speak volumes about the respect and admiration he commands. 

Congratulations to Chris on an incredible and storied career. While he steps back from clinical duties, he will always remain part of our ICU family, and, of course, the undisputed captain of the boat races at our Christmas party! 

Rochelle Rivers / O’Toole / Tuxen began her nursing journey at Albury Wodonga Health at the age of 23.  She started her career as an Enrolled Nurse working at the Mercy Hospital and transitioned over to The Albury Base in 1994. Rochelle worked in Melbourne and on our Surgical ward for the first half of her career and in our ICU the second half.  

After 32 years of service and dedicated nursing, our ICU bid farewell to a colleague whose clinical expertise, mentorship and friendship have shaped generations of staff. Her knowledge and steady presence at the bedside set a gold standard for patient care, and her willingness to teach, guide and advocate for others made her a trusted leader to so many. The bonds she built over the decades - often forged during long nights, shared challenges and countless midnight chats - will remain some of the most treasured friendships in our unit. 

Her patients will remember her as a straight shooter with impeccable standards. Famous for being anally neat and endlessly organised, she mastered the rare art of not a single crinkled sheet, a perfectly managed set of detangled lines (no matter the abundance of infusions), and the uncanny ability to make even the most dishevelled patient look pristine.  

Beyond the unit, she opened her home to host many legendary ICU gatherings that stretched well into the early hours, always generous, welcoming and ensuring everyone felt included. Renowned for her love of french champagne, a cheeky gin and master chef abilities, she was also equally famous for her very low tolerance for poorly reasoned thinkers - delivering swift, stern (and often unforgettable) takedowns whenever nonsense was detected.  

As she hangs up her stethoscope and gives away her colourful scrubs and lunch bag, she leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, and she will be deeply missed by colleagues and friends alike.