General News
13 February, 2023
Centre heads into centenary year
DINGEE Bush Nursing Centre last week entered a second century of service to the community. Board president Geoff Thomas said formal celebrations would be held later in the year for the centre that has grown from a one-nurse service when it started in...
DINGEE Bush Nursing Centre last week entered a second century of service to the community.
Board president Geoff Thomas said formal celebrations would be held later in the year for the centre that has grown from a one-nurse service when it started in January 1923 to also providing allied health support to district residents.
“The bush nursing centre is highly valued by the community,” Mr Thomas said.
“We have important partnerships with Inglewood and District Health Service, Rochester Elmore District Health Service and Boort District Health that reduce the need for district residents to travel for care.
“We are ambulance first responders .... that has proven to be a God-send for the community on so many occasions.
“That’s a far cry from 100 years ago when a nurse hopped on her bicycle and rode for miles to see patients.”
Mr Thomas said Dingee was one of 15 bush nursing centres across Victoria that provided rural communities and residents with access to important health services.
A centenary year project is seeing East Loddon Historical Society members digitise all publications, correspondence and early records of the centre. “We have an amazing history to preserve and a great service to continue,” Mr Thomas said.