The Stethoscope Presentation (A highlight of the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton meeting – Tuesday, 6 May 2026)
- The Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton presented Ashley Knock, a student nurse, with a Littmann CORE Digital Stethoscope to help overcome her hearing impairment and support her nursing training.
- The stethoscope was highlighted as a high-end device that can amplify sound up to 40 times, making it possible for Ashley to properly assess patients and continue pursuing her goal of becoming a nurse.
- Ashley Knock shared that the gift restored her confidence after she feared her hearing limitations might prevent her from entering nursing.
- The presentation emphasized the club’s values of service, encouragement, and opening doors, and also included recognition through Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign.
The Stethoscope Presentation (A highlight of the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton meeting – Tuesday, 6 May 2026)
As the breakfast plates were cleared and the room settled into a warm, attentive hush, President Hugh invited PP Ian Taylor to the podium. Ian, a respected GP and anaesthetist (ret) and long-time Rotarian with deep ties to the local healthcare community, rose with a gentle smile and asked the three special guests to join him at the front: clinical lecturers Michele and Sarah Nolan from TAFE, and student nurse Ashley Knock.
Ian began by painting a vivid picture of the women beside him. He spoke fondly of Michele, his former nurse manager who had “driven him crazy and kept him on track” for many years, and of the long friendship between the Dillon and Nolan families.
Turning to Sarah, he recalled their days working together at the regional hospital — she as an anaesthetic technician, he as the anaesthetist — and how she had always looked out for him, ensuring he never administered the wrong drug.
Then he introduced Ashley Knock, the next generation in training to become an enrolled nurse. Ian explained that many enrolled nurses go on to complete their registered nursing qualifications, and Ashley was no exception — she was at the very beginning of what promised to be a wonderful career.
His tone grew more serious as he shared Ashley’s challenge:
“Ashley has a slight hearing impairment — something I understand personally. In nursing, the ability to assess patients properly is everything. You need to hear heart sounds, breath sounds, blood pressure… and with a conventional stethoscope, that simply isn’t possible if your hearing isn’t perfect.”
He held up a sleek, modern device — the Littmann CORE Digital Stethoscope — and explained its remarkable capabilities. It amplifies sound up to 40 times, charges via USB, has adjustable volume, and can even connect wirelessly to a smartphone for recording and visualisation. “This,” Ian said with quiet pride, “is the Rolls-Royce of stethoscopes. Cardiologists with perfect hearing choose it because they can hear so much more.”
The room fell completely silent as Ian turned to Ashley, his voice warm with genuine emotion:
“Ashley, it is our absolute pleasure as a Rotary club to sponsor this magnificent piece of equipment for you. We want you to have every possible advantage as you begin your nursing journey. This isn’t just a tool — it’s a doorway. And we are honoured to open it for you.”
He placed the stethoscope gently around Ashley’s neck.
Ashley stepped forward, her eyes bright with emotion. She took a steadying breath and spoke from the heart:
Ashley’s Speech
Thank you so much for that.
My name is Ashley Knock. I grew up in Mingenew and moved up here to Geraldton in 2019. I’ve always wanted to do nursing, but I’ve always hesitated. I finally started this year and I was really excited. I bought a normal stethoscope and the first person I tried it on was my partner. He said, “Oh my God, we need to go to the hospital — you don’t have any blood pressure at all!”
But it turned out I just couldn’t hear properly. I’m a bit deaf, and a regular stethoscope wasn’t enough.
I went back to TAFE and told my lecturers, “Oh my God, I don’t think I can become a nurse. I want to be the best nurse I can be, and if I can’t hear, there’s no point me doing it.” I was really upset.
But my lecturers went above and beyond. They contacted Dr Taylor, and when I went to see him, he showed me his amplified stethoscope. It was so beautiful — I could actually hear. I was so excited. He really encouraged me to keep going, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Thanks to you guys, and thank you to my lecturers and Dr Taylor. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I don’t think you understand how beautiful this is. It’s not just a piece of equipment — this is going to help me become a better nurse.
So thank you.
Sarah Nolan then stepped forward and added simply but sincerely:
“I just want to thank you all for this amazing gift for Ashley. We really do hope she becomes the best nurse she can be. Thank you again.”
President Hugh then presented each of the three women with a certificate recognising the club’s donation to Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign — approximately 200 polio vaccinations given in their honour.
As the meeting warmly applauded, Ashley stood proudly in the centre, the gleaming digital stethoscope around her neck like a badge of honour. It was a moment of pure Rotary spirit — practical generosity meeting a young person’s dream and lifting it higher.
This session beautifully captured everything the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton stands for: service, encouragement, and opening doors.