General News
28 November, 2023
Celebrations finish with accreditation
THE centenary party for Dingee Bush Nursing Centre has finished on a high with the 100-year-old institution gaining tops marks for accreditation last week. Board president Geoff Thomas was beaming with the news that came just two days after more...
THE centenary party for Dingee Bush Nursing Centre has finished on a high with the 100-year-old institution gaining tops marks for accreditation last week.
Board president Geoff Thomas was beaming with the news that came just two days after more than 150 people helped celebration a century of health services across the district.
Former long-serving manager Viv Fazulla and Judy Thompson unveiled a centenary plaque while Viv and former centre staff gathered to cut the birthday cake.
“It’s been a long journey from those early years of a nurse on a bicycle working out of a rented room but the Dingee Bush Nursing Centre remains young and strong, celebrating 100 years of caring for our community,” Mr Thomas said on Sunday.
“So as it has been for the past 100 years ... your health matters.”
Ms Fazulla said bush nursing centres continued through the strength of communities. “My journey here has stood me in good stead.”
Loddon Shire’s Terrick Ward councillor Dan Straub said the centre’s service to community was second to none.
Dingee was the 43rd bush nursing centre to open in Victoria. At the movement’s peak, there were 156 bush nursing hospitals and centre, today there are 20.
During the annual general meeting, Mr Thomas said: “As a community focussed centre, we understand that our centre plays an important part in the broader health service and we strive to make the rural patient journey more effective, efficient and equitable.
“We continue to work with other organisations to provide the best possible health outcomes for our community and regularly collaborate with neighbouring health services to obtain additional services,” he said.
Centre managers Kylie Smith and Heather Gale said highlights of the year had included skin cancer screening when 100 people had checks.
“Our nurse immunisers continue to provide immunisations for all ages. Home visits have also increased to ensure the safety and welfare of community members to to provide our support where necessary,” they said in their report..
“We have continued to increase our level of interaction with the community through nursing and allied health services over the past year.”
The centre’s centenary celebrations launched a second edition of its cookbook while East Loddon Historical Society took orders for the centenary history book members have compiled. The society also displayed centre memorabilia.
Fundraising included raffling a quilt made by Robyn Bird and Helen Leech.