Linda Anne Kinniburgh

The brief times we were together we enjoyed the way you lit up the gathering and will remember your sweet kindnesses to us. We need more people like you in the world. You are fondly remembered. Jim and Joyce Mountain

Love you Linda always xx Thankyou for being in my life.

Here are some of my memories of Linda … Linda came to Houghton Ward, Dunedin Hospital from Operating Theatre, when I was the Charge Nurse in 1974, I think. I remember Linda as a rather shy recent graduate in who blushed a lot but quickly showed what a great nurse she was. Linda was a hard worker, paid great attention to detail, was very caring with her patients and their families, and a great organiser of student nurses (our workforce in those days)! Linda handled many challenging situations in Houghton Ward (Women’s Medical) but probably the most memorable was delivering a preterm baby to a semi-conscious woman on the afternoon shift. During the morning shift we had been assured by the Obstetric Registrar that the woman was not in labour. The Night Nurse was also a Midwife so we were inclined to believe her and ordered a Delivery Bundle. Linda delivered the baby safely and the baby was rushed to the neonatal unit. In 1975 I went off to Wellington to pursue further study and then moved to Auckland. We next met professionally in 1987 at Otago Polytechnic School of Nursing in the days when it was sited in York Place. Linda was one half of the ‘two Linda’s’ who taught in the first-year modules, the awesome twosome! The students showed a lot of respect for Linda and enjoyed her fun approach to learning. We left those freezing classrooms for warmer and better surroundings at the new Polytechnic in Forth St. But some staff missed the cafés and designer clothes shops in town, Linda probably missed easy access to shoe shops! Linda forged ahead with her career in Nursing Education completing her Bachelor’s and then her Master’s degrees while working fulltime. Towards the end of my time at the School of Nursing Linda became my Manager, embracing this challenging role. The School of Nursing Christmas parties were pretty special, and how could anyone forget Linda dancing around in her fairy tutu with her wand at Fleur’s Restaurant, Moeraki!! Linda very generously opened her home to us several times for end of year celebrations where champagne (Lindauer sparkling wine) and strawberries featured for breakfast and far too much delectable food! Before we boarded a bus for more entertainment and lunch. Linda was a very special lady who will be missed by her colleagues past and present. She made a great contribution to the teaching and development of Nursing Education at Otago Polytechnic. Anne Coup (nee Pearce)

Thank you Linda for keeping my mother in check for all those years in 7A. She had great admiration for you rising through the ranks to becoming Charge Nurse. R. I. P. Linda.

You were top of the class whatever you did - a vibrant, fun loving person who was thought very highly of by all who worked with you in your chosen field. You will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing you.

We will always remember Linda with her smiling face and infectious laugh. She always asked about our girls and remembered their birthdays and other special days. She had a great memory and was very caring. We are very sad that her life was taken too early. Thinking of you Neil, Emma, Lee & family and Stuart, Sarah and family. With love, Karen & Stew MacLeod and Siobhan, Matt and Alexander Cochrane.

Linda, It was an absolute privilege to have you as a tutor at the at the Otago Polytechnic School back in the 80s, and later work with you there as a colleague. You were an inspirational, caring and enthusiastic teacher and your fun-loving nature was always to the fore. You will always be remembered fondly by those who you taught and worked alongside.

I was always excited to receive letters from Linda over the past 50 years and meeting her was thrilling! I will cherish that time spent with her. My condolences and hugs. June

Our heart felt condolences go out to Neil and Family. I first met Linda about 40 years ago when I started working with Neil at the NZED. I remember throughout most of the 80s going to parties with Neil and Linda where we all had a lot of fun. One particular party at Neil and Lindas place, up High Street, I ended up drinking too much and spent the night on a small couch they had. Their kids were quite young at the time and when they woke up and discovered me they went and told mum and dad that a strange man was sleeping downstairs! Linda just laughed, made some coffee, and sent us off to work as it was a Friday morning. We sort of lost contact when I emigrated to Christchurch, but after I returned to Dunedin the old NZEDers started catching up for monthly drinks where Linda was a keen attendee. We had many debates over the years as NZED people (and their wives) are quite knowledgeable you know! Linda was allways a bubbly and happy person and our monthly catch-ups will never quite be the same without her!

Very precious friend.Loved our catch up chats at end of Month gatherings.I will always remember them and your gorgeous smile.Thoughts are with Neil and families.Esma

Feeling very grateful to have had Linda as a colleague, mentor & friend for 36 years, from the time when I first joined the OP School of Nursing as a young new teacher. She was a bright light, who radiated warmth, kindness & a great sense of fun. A special friend to so many and a passionate, respected and dedicated educator & leader. Thank you dear Linda for the times when you helped pick me up with your wise words of support & love. I will miss your smiling face & our chats in the Hub. Deepest sympathy to Neill & whanau for your heart-breaking loss, sending aroha and strength xxx

A dear friend and mentor... I first met Linda in 2016, soon after I joined Otago Poly, when I was helping with the design and development of the new Enrolled Nursing programme. Later that year, I asked my boss at the time if she could recommend a mentor to me, and, in January 2017, she brought Linda to meet with me and see if we thought we could work together. I can still remember saying to Linda “I’m so glad it’s you!” once my boss had left us to it! Little did I know what a huge impact Linda would have on me over time. We typically met once a fortnight, right through until May this year. I’d order Linda’s latte and a ginger slice for us to share (or one each if we were really pushing the boat out!), and then she’d come bowling round the corner in bright colours, her warm smile, and that irrepressible twinkle in her eye, always greeting me with “Hello miss!”, and we’d find a place to sit and talk for an hour or so. Linda was always, always supportive, fair, empathetic, and kind. She knew exactly when and how she could challenge my thinking, and I knew she only ever wanted the best for me. She fought for fairness and transparency, and advocated for me, even when it took courage to do so. I trusted her absolutely. Linda encouraged me to do things she felt I was ready for, even if I did not necessarily have the same confidence in myself that she always had. Going forward, I know I will carry her with me and, on days when I’m doubting myself, I will ask myself “What would Linda say?”. We celebrated each other’s successes, shared stories about our travels and interests, and I learned how much she absolutely adored her family. Linda always remembered my birthday, and would give presents for me and Indi at Christmas. She sometimes left a card or small gift on my desk at work when I was least expecting it, for no other reason than to let me know she had my back. A very colourful and flamboyant feathery pen is one example that makes me smile – it has been standing on my desk for around six years now, brightening my day like Linda always managed to do. Dearest Linda, it is brutal that this cancer has taken you so unfairly and so quickly from us. This week, I’ve been looking through some of the cards you gave me over time, and I found one which said “To a really fabulous friend”. My first thought was “It takes one to know one”. How lucky are we to have had you in our lives. Thank you with all my heart for your love and friendship. I will miss you terribly xxx