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The Border Watch : November 1st 2013
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NEWS TIPS newsroom@tbw.com.au NEWS 3 Mount Gambier Hospital glory years crews make towering structure nothing more than a memory KEY FACTS n Patients were moved to the building on June 26, 1961 n The original dolomite hospital on the site was demolished in 1971 n The new hospital had 350 staff, including 150 nurses n The hospital closed its doors in 1997 n It was later sold to a Mount Gambier private consortium “The broken dolomite from the hospital was buried across the road from the hospital, which is now underneath housing on Lake Terrace West,” he said. Meanwhile, Julienne Feast - who was the director of nursing at the site - said patients were transferred from the original dolomite old hospital on June 26, 1961. “The old hospital was right up against the new hospital,” Ms Feast said. Describing the site as picturesque, she said Lake Terrace West was fantastic given the views on one side and the Valley Lake on the other. “I couldn’t think of a better site,” Ms Feast said. “You could look out from the balcony during misty mornings and all you could see was the spire of St Andrew’s Church peeping out of the mist.” Ms Feast said patients who had rooms along the balcony also had great views of the city. “I have very fond memories of the building - it is not so much the building, but the staff who collaborated there,” she said. She said the strength of the working staff was demonstrated during the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfi re emergency that swept through parts of the region. “The hospital supplied the medical equipment, as well as food to fi refi ghters,” Ms Feast said. “Food was also distributed to the police cadets who were rounding up injured stock and shooting them as well as fi xing fences. “During that time, everyone pulled together.” She said the camaraderie and community spirit was also evident during the festive season with staff singing carols in the corridors. “It was a real community,” Ms Feast said. She said the annual nurses’ ball was also a tremendous and highly-popular event. RARE GATHERING: Former staff of the old hospital gather at the foothills of the structure just weeks before its looming demolition. Pictures: SANDRA MORELLO PROUD HISTORY: Brian Bown - the fi rst chief executive offi cer appointed at the old hospital - holds a special aerial photograph that was taken at the height of the facility’s operations. MOMENTO: Former director of nursing Julienne Feast holds up her cape she wore while on duty at the old hospital site. Assist your community and keep your neighbourhood safe by immediately notifying us of any suspected gas leaks. If you smell natural gas call now for prompt response 1800 808 526 24 HOUR HOTLINE This free gas leak response service is provided by APA Group, operator of the natural gas distribution network in SA. SPECIAL GROUP: Gloria Sims, Cliff Lockwood, Mary Arthurson and Jean McArthur have worked at all three of the city’s hospitals, including the original dolomite facility, the Lake Terrace West site and the new hospital on Wehl Street North. The Border Watch, Friday, November 1, 2013 - 3
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