The little bundle arrived at Watson House nearly six weeks early.

Now, 28 years on, the pair are working alongside each other as midwives at Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital.

They share many common interests which include midwifery, enjoying the Aussie bush, four-wheel driving, exploring the great outdoors and chatting over a cuppa together.

Jo started her nursing career at Liverpool Hospital in 1984, where she did both her general and midwifery training before moving to the Shoalhaven in July, 1989.

She has worked in maternity for most of that time.

“Midwifery is a celebration of life,” she said.

“It is a privilege to enjoy the experience with couples as they bring life into the world. It is extra special to be remembered with positive thoughts years later.”

Jo said, while midwives don't remember most of the births they attend, she does recall Melissa’s, describing it as “a lovely night”.

“It is a lovely thought to now be working with someone whom you were there for her birth, to share midwifery in more ways than one,” she said.

Melissa moved away from the Shoalhaven in 2011 to complete her Bachelor of Nursing at Avondale College, Wahroonga.

After graduation, she moved to Western NSW and nursed for a year, returning to Sydney to fulfil her life-long dream of becoming a midwife.

In 2015 she completed her Graduate Diploma of Midwifery at UTS; blessed to work at Royal North Shore Hospital with a precious group of passionate and experienced midwives for three years as she solidified her skills.

Now working in labour ward and Watson House, Melissa has enjoyed getting to know the nurses and midwives of Shoalhaven Hospital, particularly the very special Jo and Dot Mccorquodale, who supported Melissa’s mum Gai through the early days of motherhood.