The rise of the male nurse
Northmead resident Sybrand de Beer (75) made the headlines in 1974, when he became the first male matron in South Africa.
He recently published a book based on his life, called “Hulle Noem Hom Matrone” (They Call Him Matron), which he says was not part of his plan.
“Friends and family members are the reason why I wrote this book; I saw it as a way to keep a record of everything I have done,” said de Beer.
The book is written in his home language of Afrikaans, and he hopes it will be translated into other African languages in the near future.
De Beer’s humble beginnings stem from his hometown in Parys, in the Free State, before he moved to Brakpan.
His family finally settled into one of the semi-detached houses on Bedford Avenue, Benoni, in 1956.
Starting off as something to do and being paid for it, de Beer decided to work at the Johannesburg General Hospital during the holidays.
Little did he know that nursing would become his life.
He said the role of a male nurse was frowned upon during those times and people would often make assumptions about them, such as the possibly of them being gay, and that men could not do ”a woman’s job”.
“Most of the male nurses were married with children, but people didn’t know that,” he said.
He sadded that it was a blessing in disguise when the female nurses realised how great it was having the male nurses on duty to help with the lifting and turning of patients.
“Who else but a man,” said de Beer, as he thought back to that time.
Earning a mere R44, he returned to the Johannesburg General Hospital as a student male nurse, where he began his career in the nursing profession.
Having started at the tender age of 17, de Beer described the beginning of his career as a piece of his childhood being stolen from him, and him having to grow up and be responsible.
Moving from hospital to hospital within the East Rand community, de Beer built lifelong friendships and left a mark in the hearts of many.
The vibrant 75-year-old has great knowledge and wisdom, which he attributes to his experience in the nursing community.
“I am so grateful to the women who took me by the hand and taught me everything I know,” he said.
His fondest memory is of when he worked in the Rescue Medics Services – a private ambulance services company.
He reminisces about how he brought emergency services and the hospital together, by creating a relationship between the ambulance staff and nurses, something that had never been done before.
“The nurses and the ambulance guys became the greatest of friends and worked as a team to help save lives,” he said.
“I have the utmost respect for the ambulance guys; they are highly trained individuals and I take my hat off to them for all the great work that they do.”
After 10 years of retirement, de Beer now works at the Netcare N17 Hospital in Springs on a part time basis, as he is not keen on giving up his career as yet.
With the help of his colleagues, who he describes as his family, he is able to continue his duties at the hospital.
“If it doesn’t feel like we are a family then you know something is wrong,” he says, laughing.
“You are born to be a teacher, a policeman or a nurse; it’s a calling.”
Despite all the challenges he faced in a predominantly female-orientated career, de Beer has pushed boundaries and paved the way for young and upcoming male nurse who want to follow in his footsteps.
De Beer’s book is available at all PNA stores.
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