Born in Gore, Gail trained as a nurse, with a post-graduate qualification in psychiatric nursing, in Dunedin.
"I wanted to be a doctor, but my father, typical in those days, told me that 'Girls don't become doctors, they marry one,' so I became a nurse instead," she said.
It was her OE nursing experience in England that really shaped her future in the field of palliative care, however. She had noticed a lack of "decent" palliative care within the general hospital system, and wanted to help people who were neglected and lacked choices as they endured their final illness.
She was working at London's Charing Cross Hospital, at that time a world leader in the hospice movement, and became "hooked" after she attended a six-week programme in hospice nursing.
"It was amazing. They treated people with respect and dignity. It filled in all the gaps for me as a nurse," she said.
After returning to New Zealand in 1972, Gail married schoolteacher Brian and joined the Mercy Hospital hospice team in Auckland, where she helped set up the Saint Joseph's Unit, one of the first hospices in the country.
Work in Niue and Wanganui followed, before the couple moved to the Far North.
"We had actually travelled up here during our honeymoon and had fallen in love with the Far North, and always dreamed of returning here to live one day," she added. And she still enjoyed the interaction with people that was part and parcel of her chosen career.
"I get such a buzz out of making a difference in people's lives, and educating people," she said.
"It takes compassion and integrity to be a hospice nurse. Hospice nursing is about treating the whole person.
"It's been wonderful working here at Far North Hospice. It is honestly a real privilege to look after people in their own homes. I have enjoyed the diversity of the job, and my colleagues are tremendous. I know I am leaving it in a good place, and it will continue to go from strength to strength."
Now was the right time to go, however, while she was at the "top of my game. I think it's better to go out on a high, don't you?"
She won't be lost entirely though, continuing in her role as hospice educator for the rest of the year. She relished that work, and would love to talk to anyone who would like to know more about hospice. She also has plans to set up a bereavement support programme at Doubtless Bay, and is looking forward to crossing off a few more countries from her travel bucket list - Borneo and Thailand are currently at the top of that list - and spending more time with her two children and five grandchildren.
"I can remember every patient I've ever looked after, and there'd be hundreds," she added.
"I hope I've made a difference in people's lives. That's all I ask for."
Her service to hospice was recognised in 1996, when she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal.
Far North Hospice operations manager Davina Reed said Gail would be "sorely missed".
"We are going to miss her expertise and vast nursing experience, especially in palliative care," she said, adding that it was Gail who introduced her to palliative care.
"She was always full of brilliant ideas. We called her our alpha female around here, so who knows who will fill that spot.
"She influenced my pathway and was very supportive of me. She has touched the lives of hundreds of people in the Far North community, and we all wish her the very best."
