Exeley Inc.

WANG, XU-JIA

ZHU, HONG-MEI

REN, ZHI-QIANG

HUANG, ZHI-GUO

WEI, CHUN-HUI

DENG, JIE

English

Characterization of Microbial Diversity and Community Structure in Fermentation Pit Mud of Different Ages for Production of Strong-Aroma Baijiu

Wallace, Lynette

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience  Volume 30 ● Number 1 ● May 2020 
 44 
I first met Sharryn in 1990 in Alice Springs, 
the year Nimodopine made its first big break 
onto the scene to treat SAH. This was Shar-
ryn’s second meeting and also mine, alt-
hough my first was the previous year and 
Sharryn’s was 2 years prior. Barb Lester, a 
dear friend of the association, often reminded 
me that her first introduction to Sharryn was 
that of a very loud, eloquent and outspoken 
young nurse with enormous potential, one to 
watch.  
 
Since 1990 Sharryn seldom missed a meet-
ing, she also seldom missed a Neurosurgical 
Society meeting, which in those times were 
held back to back in the same venues. I 
know this because I too attended them and 
we quickly formed a strong friendship which 
lasted 30 years. Along with some other dear 
friends, Mary Lomas, Barbara Lester, Naomi 
Moody (Winter) and Eithne Mallon (Irving). 
We all met through our belonging to ANNA 
and were blessed to travel to all ends of Aus-
tralia and New Zealand and internationally 
with Sharryn. We enjoyed many intrepid 
times together. Lenore Saville (from Qld) 
dubbed us intrepid because we drove every-
where possible, camped under the stars and 
made the most of our times together. These 
annual jaunts were professionally rewarding 
and often hilariously entertaining.  
 
When we met Sharryn she was the Nurse 
Unit Manager of Neurosurgery at Westmead 
Hospital. Sharryn had already developed a 
great passion for learning and teaching/
mentoring. She always questioned why 
things were done the way they were and, 
where needed, ensured practices were chal-
lenged and adapted. Always done with clear 
evidence, tact and careful coercion if needed. 
She was never one to blend into a crowd or 
not express an opinion. She was to the end a 
loud and proud Neuroscience nurse.  
 
Through Sharryn’s investigative mind and 
determination to provide best practice she 
developed a love of research and presented 
many times at ANNA meetings, winning both 
the Tonnie Keonin and NSA prizes on more 
than one occasion. In past years the NSA 
prize winning paper was represented to the 
surgeons at their meeting and Sharryn’s pa-
pers were always of such a high standard 
and clinically significant value that they al-
ways generated questions and comment 
from our surgical colleagues. 
 
Those of you who may not have known Shar-
ryn well may not know that those memorable 
papers were often only finalised in the early 
hours of the morning (0300) or rising early to 
ensure her data was up to date and her 
slides were in the correct order and accurate. 
We of course plied her with Bombay Sap-
phire or wine of any colour while she tireless-
ly read through the final drafts.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Australasian Neuroscience Nurses As-
sociation recently lost a valued member and 
more importantly a great friend in Sharryn 
Byers. Sharryn was a long serving member 
of the association, a passionate Neurosci-
ence nurse, patient and nursing advocate. 
She was a highly committed ANNA execu-
tive member over many years at both federal 
and state levels and was a proud life mem-
ber.  
 
Sharryn was more than just a run of the mill 
member who paid her annual fees. She fell 
into Neurosurgical nursing early in her ca-
reer and fell in love with the specialty – a 
love that never left her.  
Vale Sharryn Byers 
 
Lynette Wallace  
 
Questions or comments about this article should be   
directed to Lynette Wallace C/O the Editor 
 
DOI: 10.21307/ajon-2020-005 
Copyright © 2020ANNA 
Australasian Journal of Neuroscience  Volume 30 ● Number 1 ● May 2020 
 45 
When I first saw Sharryn present, overhead 
projectors with plastic sleeves were the audi-
ovisual of choice. With technological ad-
vancements we moved through Kodak 
Slides, CD’s and Memory sticks right up to 
current day emailing of papers. Sharryn was 
always our IT guru as she had a great capac-
ity to work through technology and solve 
problems. I recall well her assisting the NSA 
with their fledgling IT needs at their meetings.  
 
As an ANNA member, Sharryn held many 
executive posts and sat on many committees 
and conference organising working parties at 
both state and federal level. She was part of 
the association’s first multi state executive, 
using email, skype and the old fashioned tel-
ephone to stay in touch. She was always one 
to demonstrate the ethos that ‘the more you 
put in the more you got back’. Through partic-
ipation at these levels Sharryn and I, along 
with many others, have become lifelong 
friends and will continue to share many fond 
memories of times together.  
All ANNA members are also members of the 
World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses 
Association, Sharryn was also an avid at-
tendee and presenter at these meetings and 
travelled widely. At the meeting in Opatia, 
Croatia, she was mentioned in a keynote 
speech as a world leader in her field along 
with Joanne Hickey, Linda Littlejohns, Virgin-
ia Prendergast and our own Vicki Evans-
Roach. This meant the world to Sharryn, who 
had held these leaders in high esteem and 
was humbled to be mentioned in the same 
light as her own heroes. 
 
Conference adventures: Sharryn and I along 
with Mary, Barb and Naomi attended many 
conferences frequenting many wineries and 
amazing places along the way. International 
driving on the wrong side of the road, staying 
in the quaintest of B&B’s which only Sharryn 
could source.  
 
Sharryn was never a morning person and on 
our journeys would sleep the first driving leg 
and take the last leg. I was the early riser and 
would constantly need to drag her out of her 
bed to hit the road. She was always last to be 
ready. 
 
During the many years we all spent together 
children and grandchildren were born and 
weddings were had. Sharryn’s son Michael 
was her greatest achievement and we all 
knew of Michael’s adventures and loves. 
Sharryn was able to see Michael marry his 
soul mate Sarah just weeks before she 
passed away, this was her greatest thrill and 
she valiantly stood at his side resplendent in 
her favourite colour (Green).  
 
I was also privileged to get to know Sharryn’s 
brother William and sister in law Anita and 
their three amazing children. She was partic-
ularly close to Emma, her niece who also 
sadly passed away recently. Both Emma and 
Sharryn were thrilled to see Emma’s broth-
ers, Sharryn’s nephews, having children of 
their own. Sharryn loved her family to the 
moon and beyond and their closeness was 
so clear to all who knew them.  
 
Sharryn also had a passion for cooking, cake 
making and decorating. She always made 
the family wedding cakes and Christmas 
cakes and we joked prior to Sharryns passing 
that the fruit would have been soaking in 
brandy somewhere at home and they needed 
to ensure it was found and used. 
Australasian Journal of Neuroscience  Volume 30 ● Number 1 ● May 2020 
 46 
In the weeks prior to Sharryn’s passing she 
was able to stay at home with the help of 
family, friends and colleagues who stayed 
overnight and around the clock to ensure she 
could stay at home as long as possible. I 
know you all know who you were, but Shar-
ryn was very grateful for all the care and love 
she was shown. I recall calling one day to 
find she was holding court with Kylie Wright 
and Maureen Edgtton-Winn. She called me 
back later to tell me she had had a lovely af-
ternoon. I know there were many more such 
visits from ANNA friends and colleagues. 
 
In Sharryn’s work life she was an amazing 
mentor and friend to her staff. I was privi-
leged to meet many of her work colleagues, 
who were all heartbroken at the thought that 
she was not going to be there to help and 
guide them. Many told me how she encour-
aged them to apply for their jobs and present 
papers or even teach junior colleagues at the 
bedside. The Executive DON of Nepean 
came to visit and was also saddened to know 
she was losing a friend. She told me that 
Sharryn was one of her greatest inspirations. 
Sharryn’s battle with cancer was a long and 
brave journey. She had fought and won the 
first battle only to have the beast return.  
 
 
Sharryn fought on her own terms and always 
told us that she would know when it was time 
to leave. She died on November the 19th 
2019 in her much loved Nepean hospital sur-
rounded by her family and with the full 
knowledge that she had achieved all she 
could and had lived and amazing life. Many 
of you will appreciate that Sharryn’s family 
were chatting among each other telling anec-
dotes and sharing Pizza, Beer and wine in 
her last minutes. This was as it should have 
been, Sharryn would have loved to partake.  
It was my greatest privilege and honour 
spend Sharryn’s last two days at her side. My 
heart broke for her family, friends and col-
leagues, and for all of us who knew her. As 
we were packing Sharryn’s belongings we 
discovered a signed text in her locker for the 
ward staff. Sharryn had clearly planned to 
give this to them but had not had the chance.  
 
At Sharryn’s funeral many members and 
friends travelled to the most amazing church, 
chosen not for its religious sensitivity but its 
amazing architecture. A long and enjoyable 
reception overlooking the water and with 
wine flowing was a great tribute to Sharryn 
where there were countless stories and 
memories exchanged. Sharryn would have 
been with us in spirit and looking down from 
above. We have lost an amazing lady and it 
was a privilege to know her and count her as 
my friend. 
                    Lyn 


Vale Sharryn Byers

LARAIB, QANDEEL

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JABEEN, NUSRAT

NAZ, SEHAR AFSHAN

NAWAZ, HAFIZ RUB

SOLANGI, BARKAT

ZUBAIR, ARIF

SOHAIL, MUHAMMAD

Luffa cylindrica Immobilized with Aspergillus terreus QMS-1: an Efficient and Cost-Effective Strategy for the Removal of Congo Red using Stirred Tank Reactor

Siebielec, Sylwia

Woźniak, Małgorzata

Gałązka, Anna

Siebielec, Grzegorz

MICROORGANISMS AS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR BIOLOGICAL POLLUTION

Gemba, Mateusz

Rosiak, Elżbieta

Kołożyn-Krajewska, Danuta

Polish

CRONOBACTER SPP. – THE SERIOUS RISK IN A BABY FOOD

Popova, Elka

Kupenova, Petia

Effects of HCN channel blockade on the intensity-response function of electroretinographic ON and OFF responses in dark adapted frogs

Yalin, Gao

Yihua, Ma

The Research of Tai’an Big Data Ecological Status Based on IPV9

ZABŁOCKA-GODLEWSKA, Ewa

PRZYSTAŚ, Wioletta

GODLEWSKA, Maria

ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF BACTERIA WITH ABILITY TO DECOLORIZE SELECTED SYNTHETIC DYES – PRELIMINARY RESULTS

GAO, HUAN

YANG, YUTING

CAO, ZHENHUI

RAN, JINMING

ZHANG, CHUNYONG

HUANG, YING

YANG, MINGHUA

ZHAO, SUMEI

AN, QINGCONG

PAN, HONGBIN

Characteristics of the Jejunal Microbiota in 35-Day-Old Saba and Landrace Piglets

Stivala, Alex

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