Speak Out February 2018

VALE – NATALIE HILL

WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED TO INFORM YOU THAT THE DIRECTOR AT ALL COMMUNICATION MATTERS, NATALIE HILL, PASSED AWAY ON THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2017 AFTER A SHORT BATTLE WITH LEUKAEMIA. HER DEATH WAS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED AND WE ARE ALL VERY SADDENED AND SHOCKED.

Natalie Hill (nee Barber) was born in Culcairn on 18 August 1977. She lived in Culcairn and attended Culcairn Public School and then Billabong High School before being accepted into Sydney University to study speech pathology. Natalie completed four years of study while working part-time as a barmaid in various hotels around Sydney. Upon graduating in 2000, Natalie commenced employment at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital working as a Speech Pathologist for over two years, allowing her to save money for a backpacking expedition around Europe Much to the dismay of her mum and dad, Natalie decided to go travelling by herself. After finishing her travels she obtained employment at a large hospital in London before settling in Geurnsey, United Kingdom and continuing her career in speech pathology for the next four years. Natalie mainly worked with adults in the hospital system and many of her patients were Sheiks who travelled to the Isle of Guernsey for treatment. She was often called on to offer assistance in the operating theatre to doctors who were performing tracheostomies on their patients. When she returned from Europe in 2005, Natalie settled in Sydney and continued as a speech pathologist for Medcalf & Wolf on a contractual basis. At the same time Natalie decided to start her own speech pathology practice where her new business adventure, All Communication Matters, was born. It opened in a rented premises in David Edgewoth Avenue, Hornsby. Natalie’s business was so successful it grew to employ eight speech pathologists and two admin staff, resulting in her moving to larger premises and expanding to two additional locations in Erina on the Central Coast and Chatswood. After operating for less than three years, the business was awarded The 2008 True Local New Business Award in Health Services. As well as working in the practice, Natalie developed strong relationships with many of the schools on the North Shore, where both Natalie and her team would visit to work with many children with speech and language difficulties. She was an accomplished public speaker and conducted many workshops for parents and teachers, as well as being invited to speak at many schools in the area. Natalie continued to improve her knowledge and expertise in various areas of speech pathology. Over the past 10 years Natalie gained a reputation as a well-respected speech pathologist, as well as an integral part of the many networks that utilise her skills and expertise in this area. Natalie had the ability to inspire others (clients, staff teachers) and she generously shared her knowledge with her team and clients and encouraged the team to do the same with their clients. She would always say it was our job as speech pathologists to empower clients by sharing our knowledge and training parents up to be speech pathologists for their children.

Natalie was always full of zest and energy in the office. She had an enormous amount of enthusiasm for each and every client she saw and had a very strong passion for early intervention in speech pathology. As a result of her professionalism and compassion she positively touched the lives of so many of her clients, colleagues and friends. Natalie believed as a professional you never stop learning. She combined her love and passion for her work with the love and devotion she had for her three children Nayte (7), Indy (5) and Asher (2). Natalie’s family and team are continuing to honour her by empowering many more families and clients with the ability to communicate at All Communication Matters Speech Pathology. As a team we will continue to inspire many others in the same fun- loving way that Natalie would from the moment people walk through our clinic doors.

by the All Communication Matters team

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February 2018 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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