Wall of East Grampians Health Service memorabilia

 

East Grampians Health Service has recently constructed a Memorabilia Wall, displaying the many plaques presented over the years and originally hung across various areas of the health service, dating back to the 1930s.

Through the many renovations and redevelopments across the health service, the plaques were removed and placed in safe storage by Director of Support Services Stuart Kerr, who had always wanted to display them again in a prominent place.

“These plaques date back many decades and were erected to acknowledge generous donations from past and current members of the community, as well as acknowledging past medical and nursing staff, and we wanted to make sure that our history didn’t remain in boxes in storage, but was displayed for all to see,” Mr Kerr said.

“We also made sure we safely removed and stored the old Ararat and District Hospital signage that was originally on the front of the hospital, with the idea of displaying it again one day.”

Following extensive renovations, the EGHS Support Services and Education teams have moved into the old Ballarat Psychiatric Services building at the rear of the hospital and the walkway at the side of this building, between the hospital and the back of 70 Lowe Street, offered the perfect place to display the signage and plaques.

Apprentice carpenter Arie Cavanagh, together with maintenance worker Lauchie Stewart, worked on the Memorabilia Wall, which has already attracted great interest from Board Directors, staff, volunteers and visitors to the hospital.

“Arie and Lauchie did a fantastic job in erecting the Memorabilia Wall and it is great that the history of our health service is now on display for all to see and enjoy,” Mr Kerr said.

Pictured are EGHS Director of Support Services Stuart Kerr, apprentice carpenter Arie Cavanagh and maintenance worker Lachie Stewart with the old hospital signage now on display, and the wall of historic plaques.