Dorothy (Inglis) Martin

Dorothy Inglis was born in 1945 in Ayr, Scotland, and three years later moved to Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Her father was a minister and her mother a district nurse midwife. She and her older brother, Andrew, an architect, grew up in a strict but loving home. Early in life she started piano lessons awakening an interest in music, which has lasted all of her life. 

In 1962, 17-year-old Dorothy started her nursing training in the Dundee Royal Infirmary. Actually, she started nursing much younger as dressed up in a Red Cross costume, she ministered to her family and to Goldie, her cocker spaniel. Shy, naïve and prone to blushing, her first assignment was on a male surgical ward.  

In 1966, her RN complete, Dorothy began midwifery training at Bellshill, a state-of-the-art maternity hospital located on the outskirts of Glasgow. Fetal abnormalities and complications were not uncommon, as many of the women from this heavily-populated area had a history of multiple pregnancies and births. 

After completing this intensive training, Dorothy sailed to Canada on the Empress of Canada. She took a job at the Toronto Western Hospital. There, one evening, she overheard a conversation about nursing in the Yukon. The beauty, freedom, nursing opportunities and the long days of the Midnight Sun hooked her as did the glowing report about Whitehorse General Hospital.

In 1969, the hospital had four large wards (medical, surgical, paediatrics and maternity) and 120 beds while Whitehorse had 11,000 residents. Dorothy worked on the surgical ward under head nurse, Sheila Rear, whose warmth, professionalism and patient care impressed her greatly. Matron Jean Macdonald kept her young charges on the straight and narrow. To illustrate further how times have changed, there were ashtrays at every bed and the staffroom was a haze of smoke. A nurse’s social life was vibrant and exciting. The legendary Whitehorse Inn was a ‘destination’ and even in the depths of winter the trudge over the Yukon River was well worth it. The Canucks were playing then as they still are years later.

After a year, Dorothy returned to Scotland to visit family and to travel Europe for three months, then returned North. This time she stayed for three years spending time in Whitehorse, Watson Lake and in the winter of 1974, was assigned to a two-nurse station in Tuktoyuktuk. The challenge of the posting was foreshadowed as the departing nurse debriefed her on the airstrip, her huge fur ruff horizontal in the bitterly cold, blinding wind. Dorothy was prepared for many difficult calls—one a very serious gunshot wound and a trip she vividly remembers across the tundra to the Dewline where one of the workers had suffered a heart attack. It was so cold the IV line froze. Fortunately, the patient survived.

In the winter of 1974, Dorothy flew to Australia for a holiday that turned into a three-year stay. She spent time in Sydney and crossed the Nullabor plain by train to Perth. Dorothy accepted a post in Geraldton on the West Coast where she made a special friend, her Aussie night supervisor, Lex. With another nurse, they decided to buy a camperized, blue 1958 Bedford school bus, which they named ‘Betsy.’ Never, however, did they give any thought to Betsy’s actual mechanical working parts, but the inside had been redone beautifully. At Port Hedland on the West Coast Betsy gave up, the first of many breakdowns. Her entire guts were laid out on a mechanic’s driveway for six weeks. While the engine was being brought back to life, loyal friends showed up to help the three nurses to continue their Australian tour.

Constant bus repairs were very costly, so Dorothy and Lex drove Betsy to Numbula Nunga Nursing Home in Derby, part of the Kimberly Region of Western Australia. This was a home for elderly patients who had suffered through leprosy. Most in their care were blind, crippled, and challenged by many deformities. They created a caring respectful atmosphere for the residents frequently bringing a smile to their faces.

Off to Alice Springs—Dorothy was building her confidence to practice anywhere in Australia. After a time in the Alice Springs hospital, she moved to Docker River, a 350-person aboriginal settlement situated 670 km southwest of Alice Springs. She flew in on a Flying Doctor plane landing on a short dusty airstrip where she was greeted by a sea of black smiling faces—children and dogs.  Standing on the back of a flatbed truck, the young blonde nurse was the center of attention.

Her home was a little caravan and the nursing station was a corrugated iron hut covered with flies with no refrigeration for medical supplies. Many residents, especially children, had chronic eye problems caused by dust and flies. During the four months she was there she had regular radio contact with Australian Flying Doctors. But the deeply respected tribal medicine men avoided ‘white medicine’ at all costs and it was an uphill battle. Dorothy’s time in Docker River was unforgettable. It meant so much to her that after initial suspicion she was accepted into a unique and special culture. After that she drove a Land Rover to many cattle stations looking after their many aboriginal employees. She then joined friends for a visit to many spots in Queensland. 

After a brief trip to Scotland, Dorothy came back to Yukon in 1977. This marked the end of her single life. Soon friends took on the role of matchmaking. She met Richard Martin and in June, 1978, Dorothy and Richard were married by Reverend Lewis in the United Church. Pauline and Larry Chalifour stood up for them. It would not be a typical honeymoon as both of their mothers were visiting from Britain for the celebration as were Dorothy’s two Aussie friends, Lex and Linda. So, the happy, but stressed couple, escaped to Marsh Lake where Richard had a sailboat. Even though Dorothy was a strong swimmer, she has always found sailing a white-knuckle experience,  

Richard moved to the Yukon in 1970 where he began teaching in Dawson City, then became principal in Teslin followed by teaching at Jeckell and FH Collins. Dorothy was nursing on surgical and maternity. They bought a home in Riverdale, then six years later moved to Porter Creek, a wonderful home for entertaining. There were many Guild and Whitehorse Community Choir after-performance parties. People in the arts fondly remember these parties. During the summer holidays, Richard, with Dorothy’s help, (or Dorothy with Richard’s help) ran a very popular bed and breakfast: ‘Highland Home.’ The guests loved it. Breakfast was a gourmet offering with a variety of selections. Richard cooked a full English breakfast (eggs, bacon, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast). Richard even created his own specialty, an ‘Egg McMartin.’  They also served afternoon tea to welcome their guests and when convenient drove them around to see Whitehorse. 

The couple, with their friends, Ted and Pauline Garland, did some interesting travelling in the next few years in Canada and the US in a 26-foot Arctic Fox travel trailer. With Yukon friends, they made several local sailboat trips, Richard being a keen sailor. One of the trips was to Ben My Chree where they became friends with the Brooks family at Graham Inlet. Dorothy and Richard also made trips to Equador, Yellowstone, California and many more. 

Dorothy made a very challenging trip to Nepal in 1995 with colleagues from the hospital. The first part was in white water so rough they all capsized but with great difficulty and luck survived what many thought was an end-of-life event. After somewhat recovering their nerve, the group began a hike in Nepal only to encounter hair-raising crossings of deep ravines on rope and bamboo bridges and altitude sickness. They visited Yukon doctors Sally Macdonald and Bob Zimmerman in Khunde where they were giving medical help to locals and trekkers in distress.    

Dorothy always loved music, and was easily encouraged to join the Whitehorse music scene. At first, she played piano for the pantomimes. Dorothy joined Golden Horn Musical Society. She went on to perform in many musicals, special favourites being Nunsense Two, Brigadoon, Horse Play, Man of La Mancha and The Cripple of Innishmaan. She is part of the Whitehorse Community Choir and for many years the auditioned choirs, Persephones and Chamber Choir. The choir, dressed in period costumes, did a special presentation for the hundredth anniversary of the Gold Rush of 1898. Voices of the Klondike led by Rachel Grantham played not only in Whitehorse, but Dawson City and Skagway. The community choir performed two concerts a year–Christmas and Spring. In one, Dorothy, wearing a beautiful kilt, sang a solo, Loch Lomond. Dorothy wants to acknowledge the ongoing work of Barb Chamberlain to the local music scene. A personal musical highlight was singing Handel’s Messiah (more than once) along with professional soloists and led by Rachel Grantham. 

Dorothy didn’t fancy living in ongoing building projects but Richard’s love of building quickly kibashed that idea. Jokingly, Dorothy stated that her husband’s favourite tool was a crowbar. The couple bought a cabin in Tagish on one of Yukon’s secret magnificent waterfront lots. Richard proceeded to add on and upgrade over many years. To this day, Richard claims he enjoys the many challenges of keeping the systems like water, sewer and modern heating operating. After a massive flood followed by months of extensive restorations, Dorothy started thinking about downsizing from their half-acre property on 11th Avenue. Richard, at first was a hard sell. A good real estate agent and builder led them to what she refers to as “The Little Yellow House” in Whistlebend. Richard was fine with it, but is continuing to have a difficult time meeting his wife’s downsizing goals.

Dogs were always a part of Dorothy’s life whenever her adventures allowed it. All of them benefitted from ‘walkies’ year-round, often with Dorothy’s hiking friends. 

Dorothy, in her retirement speech stated, “In summary, I must say how privileged I have been to work with such a superb group of nurses. Your kindness, support and friendship have meant a lot to me. We all share the same warped and twisted sense of humor which has sustained us through the trials and tribulations of the ER. The laughter we have shared, though at times a bit inappropriate, has been a tremendous stress release.” Fifteen, years ago when Dorothy retired she also described working in the old hospital under the title of  Emergency Then and Now. “Things have changed and now everything is so technical. Night shift routine was vastly different and involved vast amounts of cleaning, scrubbing stretchers, washing cupboards, doing pharmacy and stores orders.  Wheelchairs were scrubbed weekly. A new Emergency has been built, and many of the nurse’s duties involve much more technology.

Night shifts weren’t all work (not to make light of the many serious emergencies the nurses responded to). When things were really slow they squeezed in a fast game of cards. Before working on ER, Dorothy took a position on the maternity ward. The nursery at that time often contained up to 12 babies. Night shift policy required staff to feed, strip, lather, dress and swaddle every baby shortly after midnight. Then at 6:00 am the two nurses rushed to deliver them to their waiting moms. As an aside, Dorothy was allowed to emigrate to Canada because of her midwifery qualification, but to this day midwifery is not professionally recognized although steps are being taken to make this happen. 

In July 2012, Dorothy received Honorary Membership in the YRNA. This is the highest award that can be bestowed by Yukon Registered Nurses’ Association. Her nominators spoke about her consistently positive approach to her work even in difficult and critical situations. A number spoke of how much they gained from her mentorship. A patient, now a nurse, thought “I want to be just like her.”  A few years later she worked alongside Dorothy in the ER.

It has been stated that once you experience the Yukon it never lets you go. “It beckons and beckons and I want to go back and I will.’” (Robert Service) 

Dorothy was and is very much under that spell. For her, it’s the magnificent scenery and the wonderful people she has lived and work with. The grey, misty days, which the Yukon does have (‘dreich’ days in Scottish), has a special beauty that reminds her of her birthplace. She never turns down a walk in the rain. The many opportunities for fun outdoor activity call her be it kayaking, hiking, cycling, and snowshoeing. The dynamic arts and cultural community are still special even if it means practicing on zoom.

She is definitely living a dynamic and exciting life in Yukon!