Challenges inspire Stacia to give back
People
When Stacia Linklaterhealy came into the world as a newborn, the outlook was so bleak she was baptised immediately.
“The Latin words on my baptism record translated to: ‘in danger of death’,” she says.
Stacia was born with aortic incompetence, a heart defect that would affect her for the rest of her life.
Now, at 67 years of age, she credits faith for getting her through.
She is a deep listener and an empathetic soul, and has travelled the world, despite her health issues.
In the past two years alone, she has endured more than eight surgeries.
“Each time I go into theatre, I say a prayer before I go under,” she says.
“I pray that God looks after all the people in the room, I pray that God looks after their family, and looks after me. And I’m still here.”
Stacia’s life began in Richmond, Adelaide, and after the family moved to Goodwood she and her siblings attended St Thomas School. At one point, she and her sister also spent time in the Goodwood Orphanage when her mother was very sick having her fifth child.
“The orphanage was always a big part of my life because I made so many friends there,” she says.
“We grew up with a healthy respect for Catholicism. The (people at the) orphanage wanted me to be a nun but I knew that one day I wanted children.”
Stacia now has children of her own but believes there are many ways to be a mother.
“God took me from one extreme to the other and many, many more in between.”
She credits her first two years of high school at Mary MacKillop College for instilling her Catholic values.
At the age of 16, she began working as a nurse’s assistant.
“I knew from the age of 12 that I wanted to be a nurse,” she says.
“I was in the Girl Guides and we went to the Home For The Incurables (now the Julia Farr Centre) to sing Christmas carols. That was the moment I knew that was what I wanted to do.”
She has always had an affiliation with people with disabilities, particularly children.
“Especially those with special needs. I seem to be able to pick the children that need special love…or perhaps they pick me.”
Faith has been extremely important to Stacia, particularly during the tough times.
So too, has been giving back to her Richmond parish and community.
She was delighted to take on a role teaching children’s liturgy at the parish after completing a level four TAA (training and assessment) course, finishing when COVID hit.
“Another lady set it up and thought I had the skills to do it. I had so much help from people in the Indian, Italian and Australian communities. They have been recognised in the Australia Day awards for all their selfless hard work,” she says.
Stacia is particularly grateful for the support of the parish’s Indian community who continue to pray for her every Monday.
She is also heavily involved in intergenerational programs run by Meals on Wheels which bridge the gap between young people (from preschool to teens) and the elderly.
“I absolutely love it,” she says. “I have a lot of love to give.”
Despite many challenges and two “disastrous” marriages, her life has been as colourful and joyous as her pink hair and large, coloured earrings.
“Even in the toughest moments when you think you haven’t got faith, it’s there.”
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