General News
26 August, 2024
Memories wanted for birthday milestone
Patients and staff from Wimmera Base Hospital are being asked to share their memories as the facility prepares to celebrate 150 years.
Grampians Health librarian Michelle Pitman has been busy collating information and sifting through records for the occasion.
Ms Pitman has asked the members of the community to provide their memories and those of their ancestors so that she can record as much of the history as possible.
“We want to hear from former staff members, volunteers, board members, auxiliary members and patients who have a good story to tell or a memory to share,” Ms Pitman said.
“We are particularly keen to see some old photos from different eras, especially prior to the 1970s where we don’t have many.
"The plan is to establish a page on our website to store pictures and stories.”
Grampians Health is currently deciding how to best celebrate the milestone anniversary.
“We want to include our team but also our community in any celebrations, so if anyone would like to get involved, we want to hear from them,” Grampians Health chief people officer Claire Woods said.
“The hospital has provided an amazing level of care for 150 years and we want to recognise the work that has been done by so many to improve the health of our region."
Acting site manager at the Horsham campus Katie Walsgott said they wanted to collate as many items, photos and stories from as many different periods as possible.
“Our communications team has created a memory book that is currently doing the rounds of each department at the hospital and will eventually find its way into the community," she said.
“In the meantime, people can send pictures and stories electronically by emailing Horsham150@gh.org.au and we will transfer them to the book.”
A healthy history
A meeting was held on September 10 1873 to discuss establishing a hospital.
Following this, a community fundraiser was held and land was requested in a paddock in Robinson Street.
Its main entrance was close to the site of today’s Wimmera Nursing Home.
Dr Frederick Lawton was assigned to be the first doctor and a meeting on August 27 1874 elected a hospital committee and appointed trustees.
Dr Lawton soon returned to Melbourne and was replaced by Dr Thomas Steele at the end of 1874.
Horsham and District Hospital was incorporated by the Victorian Government on August 271877.
Its first student nurse was Isabella Sexton, who passed her qualifications in 1892, and the hospital’s first matron is generally accepted to have been Isabella Bolton.
On December 12 1927 the hospital's name was changed to Horsham Base Hospital, and in July 1942 the first section of a new multi-storey hospital fronting Baillie Street was opened.
On August 15 1950 the hospital was renamed once more to its present day title of Wimmera Base Hospital.
In November 1995, Wimmera Base Hospital and Dimboola District Hospital merged to form Wimmera Health Care Group and a new $12.5-million hospital was officially opened in April 1996.
On November 1 2021 Wimmera Health Care Group merged with Stawell Regional Health, Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital and Ballarat Health Services to form Grampians Health, becoming Victoria’s biggest regional health service and Australia’s largest public aged-care provider.