The Gloucester Soldiers Memorial Hospital celebrated its 60th birthday on Thursday, June 1 with a small gathering in the Narraweema Wing.
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Invited guests were treated to walk down memory lane as one of the original domestic staff members, Daphne Gorton (nee Huntriss) recalled what it was like in the early days.
She was one of the staff members who starting working on the grounds and the building in the January before it opened, in order to get it ready for the public.
“I remember having to scrub the floors, getting down on hands and knees and using steel wool,” she smiled.
She was 16 when she started in 1957 and was among the staff who lived in, what is now, the nursing home building.
“They used to lock the doors by 11pm,” she told the crowd about life living onsite.
“I’m not sure how many of us used to get locked out,” she laughed.
Health service manager, Paul Townsend thanked all the original staff who attended the celebration, as well as nursing staff Alison McRae (nee Crane), maintenance staff Mark Peters and Ivan Taylor.
He also thanked current staff member, Renee Worthing for her part in organising the event and in the process, mentioned that she was born in the hospital three months after it opened.
The Gloucester Public School choir entertained by singing the national anthem.
There was a display set up with photographs and Gloucester Advocate newspaper clippings dating back to when it all began.
A brief history
A hospital committee was formed in 1909, a building fund was established and by 1915, £1,008 had been raised. When World War I began, the hospital building venture was put on hold until 1919, when the Returned and Services League (RSL) joined the hospital committee and the Soldiers Memorial Hospital organisation was formed.
In 1921, with £4,000 raised, the group was unable to get authorities to build a hospital and the battle continued for further 15 years.
The first hospital board was formed in 1936 and progress began with the engagement of the Chief Government Architect, Cobden Parkes and the purchase of the current site for £1,600, a cost split between the board and the Hospitals Commission.
Plans were prepared but World War II interrupted progress and the project suffered further delays.
Finally, in 1954 there was a breakthrough, funding was provided and the tender process began.
On September 24, 1955 the foundation stone was laid by the Minister of Health, Maurice O’Sullivan and the building was opened for the public on June 1, 1957.