Events
EGHS 150TH CELEBRATIONS A GREAT SUCCESS
When: 10th March 2010
A great turnout of past staff including nurses, doctors and ancillary returning to Ararat certainly contributed to three very successful days for East Grampians Health Service 150 Years Celebrations over the long weekend. All events on the program at both Ararat and Willaura were well attended, and the weather was certainly kind considering the forecast across Victoria.
The Bendigo Chinese Lion Team's performances in Ararat firstly at the Ararat Performing Arts Centre on the Saturday, then the Buffet Breakfast at Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre on the Sunday morning certainly was well received and their finale of leading the Community Procession of walkers up Vincent St to the ‘hospital' was most fitting to the occasion. The involvement of the community was most evident for the Parade, Procession, Official Ceremony and Barbecue and reinforced a remarkable history and the strong links forged with the community over the past 150 years.
Just on 200 guests attended the Reunion Dinner on Saturday night with speakers Dr Michael Plunkett and past nurse Mrs Mary Lewis from Geelong with both sharing stories on the past. Entertainment by Kaleidoscope got the audience involved with their choice of songs including a specially written one called ‘The Auxiliary'.
Sunday's activities got off to a good start with 130 people attending the buffet breakfast at Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, then nurses converged on Barkly St for the Edith Cavell Memorial Ceremony, with a number of nurses pulling out the ‘old uniforms' for the occasion.
Led by Mayor Gwenda Allgood in the ‘horse and gig' with owner Janet Eckel of Horsham, older nurses were assisted into the Vintage Cars for the Barkly St Parade which was escorted by Ararat Police and Emergency Service vehicles. On turning into Vincent St the parade quickly picked up the current nurses, staff and the community ‘on foot' to follow the Chinese Lion Team as a procession. Town Cryer Brian McCutcheon was well in control of the crowd and everything ran smoothly up to the hospital and the Official Ceremony in front of Pyrenees House.
At the ceremony Member for Ripon, Joe Helper MP announced $5,500 funding from the Heritage Council of Victoria towards a Conservation Management Plan for Pyrenees House which was built in 1886.
The building is an integral part of the Health Service and is of architectural, historical and social significance to Ararat and the State of Victoria.
The Conservation Management Plan will identify options for the future preservation of the building and East Grampians Health Service has matched the Heritage Council of Victoria's funding, with work on the plan expected to commence in late March 2010.
A special historic exhibition set up in Pyrenees House for the weekend celebrations was well received by up to 500 visitors who took the opportunity to view the historic displays on both Saturday and Sunday. Due to the public response the exhibition will remain open to the public up until Friday 12th March.
Though the weather was a little inclement on the Monday at Willaura a large crowd descended on the Willaura Hospital grounds for the Outdoor Market Day.
A special ceremony to acknowledge 100 Years of health service by the Willaura Hospital and 150 Years of East Grampians Health Service, saw former Willaura Nurse Dorothy Harrison and local identity Pauline Checci, daughter of the late Dr Cyril Checci a long serving doctor to the Willaura Community plant a Scarlet Oak Tree donated by Dame Elizabeth Murdoch of Cruden Farm, who is the grandmother of Willaura Hospital Auxiliary President Judy Paterson.
Visitors also took the opportunity on the day to tour the Willaura Hospital and Parkland House, and many viewed the historic exhibition set up in the Day Centre. Organisers of the Market Day, the Willaura Hospital Auxiliary said the crowd was one of the largest ever for their annual market and were thrilled with turnout being on the Monday this year as part of the 150th Celebration.
East Grampians Health Service Board President Graeme Foster who attended all the events over the weekend said: "The 150th Celebrations has been an overwhelming success for the Health Service and it has been great for the Ararat and Willaura campuses to share the celebrations with visitors and the community. All those involved in the planning, organising and volunteering to bring this together should be congratulated on making this such a great three days to remember."
