Meet Lesley Forbes

In conversation with Sue MacKenzie, Lesley shares memories spanning childhood, family life, and a long career in mental health.
Lesley begins by recalling her early years, attending primary school in Alexandra and later boarding at Columba College in Dunedin. She reflects warmly on childhood freedoms, friendships and her enjoyment of hockey and cricket.

A large part of the interview focuses on Lesley’s journey from psychiatric nursing to leadership roles in the development of mental health services in Central Otago. She describes how she started on-the-job training at Cherry Farm at 17 years of age, explaining how mental health care operated at the time, and reflects on the social, professional, and therapeutic life of the institution. Lesley then gives an account of working with a forward-thinking GP in Owaka before moving to Cromwell and helping to establish community-based mental health services for Central Otago. She discusses the challenges and rewards of her 30 years working in the field, with activities as varied as founding a youth centre, transporting clients to Dunedin before locally-based psychiatric was help available, and rape crisis services.

Alongside her professional work, Lesley speaks about marriage, raising four children, life on farms and in small towns, and her strong commitment to community wellbeing. The interview closes with reflections on gardening, family, and her enduring regard for the values of the local community.

Interviewer: Sue MacKenzie
Interview Dates: February 2026

The abstract will help you identify what is being said during the interview.

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