Tawonga District General Hospital 1949-1996

Alpine Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford An Historical Record The Tawonga District General Hospital

Spanning over fifty years And the formation of Alpine Health in 1996

New hospital

Written by Jane Newland

Commissioned by

Alpine Alpine Health Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford

1 Tawonga District General Hospital

The original Tawonga District General Hospital transported from Bonegilla began operations in 1949.

EARLY BEGINNINGS

The history of the Tawonga District General Hospital dates back to the war years when in the mid 1940’s the local communities looked to the future to secure their health needs. The community recognised the increasing need for a medical facility to service the State Electricity Commission (SEC), its employees and their families. It was to be situated closer to the company work-site as the nearest main hospital was located in Yackandanda, 60 kms away. Hence negotiations to establish a hospital in the Tawonga and Mount Beauty district began in 1945, intensified two years later and became operational in1949.

Previously a medical service set up by the SEC had been provided by the company through the services of a paid general practitioner, Dr Brewer, who worked alongside the very capable and multi skilled SEC first aiders (Frank Saunders, Frank Hetherington, John Arter and others). In 1947 a Medical Centre was built and located in the heart of the SEC headquarters, at that time in Mount Beauty and later in Lower Bogong (Village).

The initial hospital was located at the corner of Ryder’s lane and the Kiewa Valley Highway opposite the Bogong Hotel. The building was an ex- army hospital ward originally located at the Bonegilla camp near Wodonga and in 1949 it was transported to Tawonga.

The site was chosen by the State Government Department, the Hospital and Charities Commission because Tawonga was located outside the SEC contained work areas. The company controlled their work site areas by boom gates which were located at Tawonga South and above Mount Beauty. Former co-owners of the Bogong Hotel in Tawonga, Dorothy and Doug Hore, donated the land for the hospital with the proviso that if it ever moved the Alpine land would then be sold to charity or subdivided. It was later sold for private Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford purposes. 2 Tawonga District General Hospital

In the early stages of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme the State Electricity Commission took over the financial and construction responsibility of the Tawonga District General Hospital building at a cost of 27,000 pounds. This included the removal and re-erection of the ex-military Bonegilla ward from Wodonga while in addition they carried out all the necessary building works that allowed the hospital to operate as a functional unit. The work was completed and handed over to the Hospital Committee of Management on September 1, 1949. It was stipulated that any extra money that was required was to be raised by public appeal and through sheer dedication and commitment, an additional 3,400 pounds was contributed by local residents. The balance was met by the SEC and the Hospital and Charities Commission.

The initial project was to provide for a basic temporary hospital which was later to include an Operating Theatre, Offices, Store, Mortuary and a Nurse’s Home, until the establishment of a permanent medical premises. In 1961 this was realised when the hospital relocated to Mount Beauty in the former SEC administration offices located in the town centre.

The State Electricity Commission supplied all the medical equipment needed at the hospital, employed staff and was responsible for wages. It is understood that the name Tawonga District General Hospital was agreed upon to help bridge a gap between the rural established families in the Upper Kiewa Valley and dwellers of the newly constructed town of Mount Beauty. In retrospect a diplomatic gesture designed to reduce the uncertainty that existed surrounding the formation and development of the township of Mount Beauty. The name remained for 47 years.

The Hospitals and Charities Commission and the Committee of Management became responsible for the Tawonga District General Hospital which was opened by the then Minister for Health, the Honorable C.P. Gartside, MLC, on September 24, 1949. Guests of honour were Mr T.H. Mitchell (Construction Engineer) and Mr C.L. Mc Villey (Chairman of the Hospitals and Charities Commission).

Left to right: Messrs. T.H. Mitchell, MLA. Manager of the hospital Mr R.H. Kronberg is obscured. Hon C.P. Gartside, C.L. McVilley, L.T. Knevitt, Matron A.I. Tanish and W. Sealey.

Kiewa construction engineer Mr H.H.C. Williams speaking at the opening of the hospital. To his right: Health Minister Hon. C.P. Alpine Gartside performed the official ceremony. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 3 Tawonga District General Hospital

The official ceremony was attended by a large number of residents and the Tawonga District General Hospital was opened for public inspection.

It was noted in the local newspaper that in his opening speech the Minister for Health Mr Gartside said, “ It was a great achievement to have the building ready for occupation two years after the district had decided to have one built.”

He also referred to the Tawonga District General Hospital as ‘unique’ in that there was a waiting list for staff. Mr Gartside said that the district should make the staff welcome and he stressed the need for the public to fully support any appeals made by the hospital in the future.

FIRST HOSPITAL OF GREAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Former Chief Executive Officer Mr Royce Kronberg (1949-1953) recalled that from it’s inception the Tawonga District General Hospital was a very busy medical, surgical, obstetric and trauma centre for the community. . In the first annual report the Committee of Management President Mr L. Knevitt spoke of his personal satisfaction that the initial period of operation of the Hospital had been of great service to the community.

It was recorded that following the opening, 455 patients were admitted to the Tawonga District General Hospital and 254 operations were performed in the first year.

This was a clear indication that given the temporary nature of the hospital, it was already a significant asset that instilled widespread confidence and a Alpine growing assurance that the local community’s health care needs would be Health secured in the future. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 4 Tawonga District General Hospital

The main ward catered for men only in the early years of operations at the Tawonga District General Hospital.

PROVIDING A VITAL SERVICE

Initially there were no private rooms and the ward accommodation was open style. It was acknowledged that for this reason the hospital catered only for men in the first couple of years, until partitions were built. More beds were established for women by enclosing the verandahs on three sides, thus extending the number of beds from ten to thirty five. Eventually a Maternity wing, an Operating Theatre and a Nurse’s home were introduced.

The majority of patients were SEC employees or their dependents and their expenses were met by the company’s local medical and hospital benefits scheme. The patients were generally in the younger age groups and there was a significant proportion of accident victims so much so that the Workers Compensation insurer was eventually persuaded to pay the hospital a monthly draw against accounts rendered and pending resolution of liability.

Tawonga District General Hospital’s first Manager, Mr R.H.Kronborg, in 1996 described the hospital as primitive by today’s standards but said that it met the demands placed upon it in a very capable manner. He further illustrated the nature of his own multi-skilled job.

“I was the only administrative staff member so I also did everything of a clerical nature including my own typing, ran the store from ordering to distribution, was Registrar of Births and Deaths, measured bodies so that the undertaker could bring the right sized coffin and so on.”

Mr Kronborg remembered with affection the tremendous sense of adventure Alpine and camaraderie amongst all staff. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 5 Tawonga District General Hospital

“There was never a threat of industrial action of any kind and staff morale was high, perhaps this was because we were a little self contained community out on a limb of our own: we were not part of the SEC and we were not part of the old established families of the Valley but we were providing both groups with a much needed and vital service.”

“I was 23 at the time with only 2 years experience in hospitals so it was a somewhat daunting task to start from scratch and establish a hospital in what was then a fairly isolated area. It was fortunate that the first Matron (Tanish) and the first doctor (Edwards) had much more experience and, of course, the SEC and the Hospital and Charities Board were a great help.”

Mr Kronborg in describing the situation in 1949 indicated that the primary player was the SEC which were constructing the Kiewa Hydro electric scheme - the largest engineering project ever undertaken in Victoria. The whole of the SEC area was off limits to the public with control gates at Tawonga South and just above Mount Beauty. None of the main roads to Mount Beauty or within the works area were sealed and the Bright Gap Road was a narrow nightmare. Petrol rationing was still in force.

He further added that by 1951 the SEC work force had grown to 5000 and this was supplemented by wives and children living in Bogong, Mount Beauty and Tawonga South. Mr Kronborg supplied an explanation as to why the hospital was located in Tawonga away from the majority of the patients.

“The reason was that the Hospital and Charities Board was not prepared to have it within the SEC controlled area and it was not until the gate at Tawonga South was taken down that the hospital was moved to the main centre of population at Mount Beauty.”

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS

Historically a lack of finance throughout its’ operations placed undue pressure on Hospital Management and the district communities.A combination of the initial financial outlay for the establishment of the hospital which included the stocking of drugs and provisions and outstanding fees, meant that by March 31, 1950, an overdraft of 1363 pounds existed.

The following table indicates a comparison of performance indicators over the initial ten year period.

50/51 53/54 59/60

Av. Length of stay 8.67 7.55 8.80 Daily average 14.67 10.46 11.12

Av cost/In patient day 1/18/0 3/16/0 6/16/0 Av cost/In-patient treated 16/16/0 31/8/0 127/10/0

Births 0 118 71 460 Alpine Throughput 509 470 Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 6 Tawonga District General Hospital

Annual appeals and donations were common place particularly when government funding was significantly reduced from 250 to 125 pounds. This caused deep concern among the Tawonga District General Hospital management and staff. A consequence was that the subsidy of Federal Government and the Victorian Hospitals and Charities Commission was not sufficient to bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure.

“...Like all other hospitals our bank is not good and here in the North East Region the hospitals have made representation to Parliament on the question of Hospital Finance and while it is yet too early to tabulate our success in this direction, the amount of correspondence on the matter proves that the issue is well and truly under the notice of both Federal and State Governments...” Annual Report 1956/57. People who received the services of the hospital were asked to demonstrate their appreciation in a practical way and generously support the hospital appeals.

The enclosed verandah at the original Tawonga District General Hospital allowed for an additional ten beds.

GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL

Among the residents voluntary subscribers groups formed, (inside the Kiewa area and around the township of Tawonga), to provide a guaranteed yearly income.

In the early years regular contributors were: The Kiewa Works Motion Picture Club. The Myrtleford Theatre Lovers’ Club. The Country Womens Association Bogong, Mount Beauty, Tawonga and Dederang. Ladies Hospital Auxiliary. Bogong, Mount Beauty. The Rocky Valley Buffalo Lodge. Alpine Individual donations often in the form of Health food and books. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 7 Tawonga District General Hospital

The Kiewa Works Medical Society in cooperation with the Unions on the SEC Kiewa area, was responsible for putting the hospital finances on a more secure level when they donated 1,000 pounds annually. Each unionist was asked to contribute 6d. per week voluntarily to raise the money. All medical treatment was provided free to SEC workers during the period of construction.

EXCELLENT HOSPITAL STAFF

A characteristic of the early years of the hospital was the loyalty and devotion to duty from all members of staff. This sentiment was carried through into the later years. In addition to the excellent hospital staff the people of the district were fortunate in having available to them the services of three doctors; Dr M. Edwards, Dr. Margaret Sumpton and Dr. H.G. Davies.

Mr Kronborg reported that in the early years the hospital staffing was minimal by today’s standards and multi-skilling was widely practised.

Sister Mary Beier recalled that she nursed in the hospital at the end of 1949 until July 1950. Rates of pay were small and accommodation conditions were basic.

“I lived in the nurses home and it was pretty basic. After all when we did our training we were getting 17/ 6 and you paid 2/6 board to live there, and 2/6 tax, so you weren't expecting much. The rooms accommodated a bed and a Dedicated nursing staff. wardrobe.”

Nursing staff: (Left to right): Sister F. Rosengrove, Sister J. Griffiths, Matron A.I Tainish, Nurse D. Sartori, Nurse D. Alpine Tregonning, Sister E. Hill and Sister S. O’Shannessy. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 8 Tawonga District General Hospital

Nurse Laurie Campbell “ I began work in the hospital at Tawonga as a Registered Nurse in January 1953, when I was 23 years old. I left later in the year when I married a local farmer. I was originally from Albury but had done my training in Melbourne. Some of my main duties were to assisted on operations like hysterectomies, appendicectomies and teeth extractions. I found it a very interesting place to work and for such a small hospital I thought it was quite remarkable that so many different services were available there.”

“I lived with some of the other staff and the Matron in the nurses home located at the back of the hospital. I thoroughly enjoyed working there although it was a bit isolated. I didn't have a car and not many people did in those days.” “During my time there most of the nursing staff were married women from Mount Beauty whose husbands were employed at the SEC. The single girls were often from different parts of Australia.” “I will always remember the Tawonga District General Hospital as the first place I ever saw a baby being born. There were a lot of babies being born at that time. One of the doctors lived in Bogong and the other in Mount Beauty and it sometimes happened that some women nearly gave birth before the doctor or midwife arrived. In those days babies were in the nursery and nobody saw or touched them, only the nurses. The mothers were given their baby Nurse Campbell (Nee Reid) to feed and then put back again. We had a special nursery for the babies.

Alpine In the early years Tawonga District General Hospital had the second Health highest birth rate in Australia. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 9 Tawonga District General Hospital

The Tawonga District General Hospital had an open ward style and a unique character of its own.

Sister Janice Seager

“I worked at the Tawonga District General Hospital as a ward sister when I first arrived in the Kiewa Valley at the end of 1955. I had no intention of staying in Mount Beauty but I received numerous phone calls from the matron and doctors asking me to stay as they were very short staffed.”

“I worked night shift for months and months then I transferred and worked at the Mount Beauty Medical Centre. I remember staff morale was very high at the Hospital and I think that it was partly due to the isolation.”

“We delivered lots of babies in the early years and at one stage the Tawonga District General Hospital had the second highest birth rate in Australia. I had one of my own children Sister Seager in 1955 in the labour ward and it was (Nee Janice Burnett) wonderful as it was like having my family around.”

“I lived in the nurses home which was an old cube style building which was Alpine very hot in summer time. Each of us had our own rooms and we shared a Health lounge room with a sewing machine which helped to occupy us.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford 10 Tawonga District General Hospital

In 1961 the Tawonga District General Hospital relocated to take a central position in the town of Mount Beauty in the former SEC Administration building.

NEW LOCATION

The Tawonga District General Hospital had proved to be a highly valued asset to the State Electricity Commission, employees and the community and it was there to stay. It had developed gradually over time and with it a strong sense of ownership.

Alongside the establishment of the health facility was the growing township of Mount Beauty which had been designed to offer families the benefits of a ‘normal’ community life in a construction environment. The village became a permanent settlement in the mid 1940’s and by 1952, 488 houses had been built. The town plan included three churches, shopping facilities, sewerage system, reticulated water, schools, entertainment and sporting facilities.

In contrast the Hydro Power Company began to scale down its operations in the mid 1950’s as various aspects of construction were being completed. Future plans were also in jeopardy due to a lack of government funding. After much discussion a decision was made that the care and maintenance of the municipal services became the responsibility of the Shire of Bright. An official ceremony marked the day on October 1, 1957 when the Kiewa construction engineer Mr H.H.C. Williams transferred the town to the Shire of Bright President Cr. R.G. Huggins. The hand-over had certain implications for the Tawonga District General Hospital, which had been located outside the SEC construction area. That same year the SEC vacated their administration building situated in the heart of Mount Beauty, on the corner of Hollonds Street and Lakeside Avenue. When the town was handed over to the Shire of Bright the SEC offered their administration building to be used as a hospital. The Tawonga District Hospital committee made an approach to the Hospitals and Charities Commission on the potential of the Alpine administration building to be converted into a fully functional hospital. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 11 Tawonga District General Hospital

A condition stipulated was that the Tawonga District General Hospital would operate solely downstairs and the upstairs rooms would be made available to other health professionals and board meetings. This requirement was issued because the aging timber building was not considered an ideal structure. The chairman of the Hospitals and Charities Commission at the time, Dr Lindell, visited the site and consolidated plans for the establishment of a permanent medical institution.

Two years later the decision to proceed with the new hospital plans was wholeheartedly supported by the local communities at a public meeting held in Tawonga. The two story weatherboard building was purchased from the SEC for 7500 pounds. Architect, Mr C. Armstrong was responsible to convert the building into an operational hospital which involved extensive alterations and modifications. This was achieved with considerable expertise.

The fruition of years of planning and expectations by many dedicated people throughout the region was realised as residents saw the official opening of the 18 bed Tawonga District General Hospital on April 29 in 1961.

The two-story weatherboard SEC Administration building was converted into the Tawonga District General Hospital and began operations in 1961.

OFFICIAL OPENING

The official opening of the Tawonga District General Hospital in the central business district of Mount Beauty, was a great success and was well attended by members of the local communities who witnessed the handing over of their hospital to the Chairman of the Hospitals and Charities Commission, Dr Lindell. In attendance were SEC administrators and staff, the former manager of the old hospital in Tawonga, Mr Kronborg, two former Matrons, members of the Tawonga Alpine District General Hospital Management Committee, representatives from Health the Shire of Bright and local politicians. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 12 Tawonga District General Hospital

EXTRACTS FROM THE HYDRO COURIER THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1961

The architect gave a brief talk on the difficulties of converting the MT.BEAUTY’S former building into one fit for a hospital, and he was followed by the President of the Shire of Bright, Cr.S. K. Pearce, who congratulated HOSPITAL the hospital committee on the tenacity that they have shown over Saturday afternoon last saw the the years, never losing faith in the fruition of years of planning and fact that the old hospital was but a hoping, when the new Tawonga and temporary measure, paving the District General Hospital at Mount way for this new ho sp it al . Beauty was declared open by Dr. Lindell, Chairman of the Hospitals “This hospital is situated in some of and Charities Commission. Australia’s loveliest scenery and has a lovely setting,” he ...a large crowd of interested people concluded. witnessed Dr. Lindell officially open the new 80,000 pounds, Tawonga Mr. T. W. Mitchell, MLA., said that District Hospital at Mt. Beauty. it was nice to see the realization of a dream, ...A hospital is only as good Prior to the official opening, the as its after-careMr.Mitchell crowd assembled at the warned, so that it comes back to the Community Centre, where the fact that tender, loving care is a official party gathered on the “must” after the patient leaves platform. hospital.

The President of the Hopital Hon. A. K. Bradbury, M.L.C., said Committee; Mr. D. Griffiths, that he heartily congratulated all welcomed Dr. Lindell and his wife. responsible for their hard work in the chief architect of the bringing this task to fruition . Commission, Mr. C. Armstrong, the first Manager of the Tawonga Mr. Griffith then presented Dr. Hospital, Mr.R.H. Kronberg, who is Lindell with a key to the front door at present the Manager of the of the hospital, chromed and Preston-Northcote Hospital; and mounted on a base of polished two former Matrons, Mrs. E. wood as a memento of this Murphy, and Mrs.M. Knowles. occasion, after which all adjourned to the hospital entrance, where In his speech Dr. Lindell made Dr.Lindell...expressed the hope humourous mention to the fact that everyone entering would find that the hospital is still yet to be sympathy, understanding and completed, so that if anyone...felt ill solace, and soon be restored to they would need to wait. The health. hospital, he continued is the result of team planning, and belongs to Everyone was invited in to see the the local people. “After all, you are interior of the building, after which, the customers,” he said. afternoon tea was served in the R.S.L. H a l l. Dr Lindell closed his remarks with the admonition to “look after your MT Beauty and Tawonga districts hospital it may be a hundred years certainly have a hospital of which to before you get another one.” be proud, and no one will contend that its setting is...one of the nicest Alpine in the country. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 13 Tawonga District General Hospital

The rear of the Tawonga District General Hospital seen from Hollands Street in a snow storm in the 1960’s.

UPDATED HEALTH SERVICE

Initially the new hospital was comprised of only essential facilities. The alterations to the administration building saw great changes to the style and character of health services available in Mount Beauty and the district. Nursing staff were delighted to move into the new building particularly two young nurses, Sister Wendy Thornton and Sister Lillian Best. Both had worked at the old hospital and were later to became Matrons at the new one.

Mrs Lilian Best noted that; “With the advent of our transfer to the new hospital, we, all staff, nursing and domestic and not least medical were delighted.” “The place was clean, freshly painted in the popular colours of the day, including some feature walls.” “The kitchen range, fridge and freezer and the laundry equipment caused furore and the autoclaves and sterilizers delighted the nursing staff.” “From having only basic equipment we gradually acquired an E.C.G. machine. air-viva, better oxygen attachment, cardiography machine, defibrillator and resuscitation trolley.” Mrs Wendy Thornton reflected that; “The hospital at Mount Beauty was a make over so consequently there was not a lot of room. Eventually alterations were made and some interior walls were taken out and new walls built to create the necessary space.” “It had been painted in very fashionable bright colours. ‘Bright’ was considered beautiful at the time. The beds were cream enamel and the bed tables were so tall that the patients had to sit bolt upright to eat off Alpine a tray. Glass water jugs were covered with nets to prevent dust and Health flies.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford 14 Tawonga District General Hospital

RECOLLECTIONS OF TWO FORMER MATRONS

Mrs Lillian Best

“My fifteen years on staff, four of them as Matron from 1973-1977, proved a rewarding and worthwhile experience.” “The hospital and patients were served by Dr Jean Hutchings and her associates. Fortunately for the hospital, good conditions and the close proximity of the snow fields attracted many well qualified and experienced staff.”

“The theatre was often busy, a wide range of general surgery was performed by surgeons from both Wangaratta and Albury-Wodonga who visited regularly. We always seemed to have two or three staff with good theatre experience.” “The younger population with less employment opportunities for women, meant larger families and between six to eight midwifery patients in a month was pretty normal. For the same reason we had need of the two permanent cots for children.” “With no professional ambulance driver, the SEC had a roster of obliging and efficient volunteers available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.” “The domestic staff were obliging and competent. Altogether the Hospital provided a pleasant working environment.”

Mrs Wendy Thornton

“The hospital had a nice feeling, it was a very friendly place and I think that staff and patients enjoyed that feeling. It was a small hospital but not the smallest.” “In the early days we had eight rooms, two four bed wards, some two bed wards and one single bed ward. These beds were occupied most of the time as it was a very busy hospital. We started off with 18 beds which later was reduced to 15 beds because two of the children's ward beds were converted into one intensive care ward.” “It was a General Hospital and had everything including medical and surgical, maternity and pediatrics and so we treated the whole gamut. The Hospital had to advertise widely throughout Australia to attract nurses because there was a shortage of general nurses in country areas. In those days they paid a financial bonus to get nurses to come but we were always short of staff.” “The nursing staff wore starched uniforms, Sisters wore white, topped off with a white veil and nurses wore blue and white stripes with a frilly cap. The domestic staff wore green dresses.” “The Royal Australian Nursing Federation was responsible for a lot of changes in the 1980's. I felt it was important for people to be represented by a peak body so I encouraged people to belong to the Union. Back then there was nearly 100 percent membership.” “In the eighties I established the pharmacist store in the hospital in conjunction Alpine with a pharmacist from Wangaratta. This was a great relief to me as it took the Health responsibility of drugs away from me and placed it onto someone who was Bright MT beauty myrtleford trained to do it.” 15 Tawonga District General Hospital

The rear of the Tawonga District General Hospital and the Matron’s House seen from inside the local Pharmacy Store in the mid 1960’s during a snow storm.

ASSOCIATED HEALTH SERVICES

The Tawonga District General Hospital was centrally located and a became a pivotal point for health professionals and allied health services. In addition to the lower floor operating as a fully functional hospital the upstairs rooms were occupied by a range of community and private consultative health services. Since its inception there was a dentist in the building three to four days a week, a physiotherapist, Mrs Joan Canning, and in the early days the Kiewa and Ovens Valley Health Services organisation operated in a room along the upstairs corridor. A special government grant was secured by the existing Hospital Manager, Gordon Morgan for the service and later became the Ovens and King Community Health Service which operated from Wangaratta.

In the early days the medical fund Kiewa Medical Scheme was also housed in a leased room at the top of the building. Later when Medibank was introduced the office was located upstairs. In addition a Diabetic Educator operated upstairs along with the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary. Hospital Management committee meetings were conducted in the upstairs domain in the Board Room usually once a month, along with Sub-Committee meetings.

In the months leading up to the Tawonga District General Hospital opening before any patients were admitted, the local doctors relocated their private medical practice, the Mount Beauty Medical Centre, into newly renovated consulting rooms upstairs and continued to operate there until the formation of Alpine Health. As a consequence, the unique association of sharing the hospital premises came to an end after many years with the erection of a new purpose built state of the art building, which had been specifically designed to function as a comprehensive medical facility in the year 2000.

Simultaneously, the previous Mount Beauty Medical Centre building in Alpine Lakeside Avenue was converted into a nurse’s home to provide living Health arrangements for staff. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 16 Tawonga District General Hospital

The Mount Beauty Medical Centre in Lakeside Avenue was set up by the SEC to provide medical services for employees and their families in the 1940’s.

THE MEDICAL CENTRE An interdependent relationship between the local doctors and the Tawonga District General Hospital existed outright and contributed to the continued success of a broad range of health services provided throughout the district. The quality and dedication of the doctors who served the communities was considerable and was reflected in the unique situation that gave rise to their initial employment.

A Medical Centre had been set up in Mount Beauty in the 1940’s by the State Electricity Commission largely to meet the health needs of the growing construction community. The weather board style building was located close to the centre of town in Lakeside Avenue. The first doctors and medical staff were employed to operate from the Mount Beauty and the Bogong Medical Centres at a time when there was no hospital or maternity wing yet established in Tawonga. Expectant mothers were mostly referred to the Yakandandah Hospital labour ward and in some cases Albury or Wodonga for delivery. In the early days the Mount Beauty Medical Centre also housed a dentist and a Health Centre, where the first Health Centre employee, Sister Marie Priest, was engaged to provided special on- going care to new mothers after the birth of their child.

The initial medical practitioner employed in1940 was Dr Wilkinson who resided in Mount Beauty. He was replaced by Doctor Brewer and in 1948 he was joined by Dr Edwards and Dr Margaret Sumpton. Later when he left Dr Davies arrived. All three general practitioners jointly serviced the communities of Mount Beauty, Rocky Valley and Lower Bogong, operating from the Mount Beauty and Bogong Medical Centres and later at the first Tawonga District General Hospital when it was established in 1949. It was not uncommon for each doctor to see up to seventy patients in a day. The Alpine SEC paid them a wage irrespective of how many patients were seen. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 17 Tawonga District General Hospital

Subsequently when the Tawonga District General Hospital began its operation in 1949, shortly afterwards both Dr Edward and Dr Sumpton departed and were replaced by Dr Livingston and Dr Brian Cornish. Both joined Dr Davies as SEC employees providing services at the Medical Centre with visiting rights to the hospital. At that time common injuries resulted from tunnel accidents, lacerations, broken limbs from explosions and minor injuries ensuant from regular fights among the men.

By 1958, Dr Livingston was the only doctor employed by the SEC and as his interests were in the field of orthopaedics and physical medicine, he enlisted the services of Dr Jean Hutchings who specialised in obstetrics and anaesthetics. As time went by Dr Hutchings joined Dr Livingston in general practice consulting sessions at Mount Beauty and Bogong as there was too much work for one doctor.

During the 1960’s there was a period that saw the SEC Construction Works progressively slow down and the Medical Centre assume a new status as a private practice. Dr Livingston had left and a partnership between doctors Hutchings and Woodhouse began and remained for five years. Dr Hutchings then continued as the sole medical practitioner until 1979, when she retired. Dr Jean Hutchings was remembered as a remarkable and dedicated doctor who was highly accomplished and generous. She was immensely respected in the wider medical profession and deemed to have had much influence among health professionals in the state. It is interesting to note that both her parents and her grandfather were doctors. Among her many achievements, that in some cases resulted in increased health services in Mount Beauty, were her involvement in the establishment of the Ovens and King Community Health Service, Meals on Wheels, which was the first to trial in Victoria, the Senior Citizen and Day Care Centres and the establishment of a part time District Nurse.

Dr Zagorski and Dr Robinson in the Medical Centre located Dr Jean Hutchings and upstairs in the Tawonga District General Hospital in early Mr Alex McCullogh. 1980. After nearly twenty years of providing a health service to the community through the medical centre and the Tawonga District General Hospital Dr Hutchings introduced her son Jock Plenderleith into the practice and family medicine trainee doctor Mark Robinson. Although Dr Plenderleith remained for only three years he recalled that his time in the isolated rural practice in Mount Beauty was very much a team effort with excellent counsel from Matron Best, Mary Beier and his mother Dr Jean Hutchings. He also recalled Alpine that the community health and support programs in Mount Beauty were Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford ahead of their time and were an example to other communities. 18 Tawonga District General Hospital

RECOLLECTIONS OF JEAN HUTCHINGS “When Dr Livingston moved to practise in Richmond, the SEC advertised for a locum. I took over the midwifery and also helped out with consulting sessions...”

“The hospital was quite a busy place. The number of young families employed by the SEC meant the birth rate was quite high. The trip from Mount Beauty to Tawonga could seem quite long in the middle of night. I remember one night being called out to attend a birth at three o’clock in the morning in the middle of a snowstorm. The Medical Centre at this time was situated in Mount Beauty on the corner of Lakeside Avenue opposite the Post Office.”

The Mount Beauty Medical Centre in Lakeside Avenue was an SEC initiative and provided a thorough medical service to employees and families. It became a private practice in 1960. “Over the years this hospital, well equipped with delivery ward and operating theatre as well as X-Ray and outpatient facilities, served the community very well. The character of the practice gradually changed as the birth rate declined, and skiing accidents increased. Most skiing fractures, following prompt reduction and immobilization were admitted to the hospital for warmth, treatment or shock and pain relief, and after one or two days were transferred to specialist care by ambulance. Sister Beier’s expertise in radiography and plastering and her willingness to assist at all hours of the day or night contributed enormously to the good results obtained.”

“The amount of general surgery naturally declined, but when possible we were able to persuade surgeons from Albury to operate on suitable cases, and I or another doctor would give the anaesthetics. A general surgeon and orthopaedic surgeon both visited Tawonga Hospital on many occasions.”

“After a traumatic and fruitless “mercy dash” to Albury with a patient who had suffered a major heart attack it was decided to establish a “high-dependency” room. The SEC helped with the cost of the defilbrillator and cardiac monitor, and Dr Marrow set up a crash trolley with all emergency equipment and necessary drugs. We held regular practice sessions with the nursing staff, familiarising everyone with resuscitation techniques. At the same time a “red-phone” link was established between Mount Beauty and Wangaratta, Alpine enabling us to transmit electocardiographs and obtain instant advice from Dr Health Bruce King, the consulting physician.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford 19 Tawonga District General Hospital

“The Tawonga District General Hospital has a proud record of providing competent and compassionate care, as well as reaching out into the community with social services. The scope was extended in 1980 with the building of the nursing home as an extension of the Hospital. The friendly atmosphere of the Hospital is enhanced by the fact that many of the nursing and domestic staff are local people. Matron Lillian Best set a high standard and later Matron Thornton and Sister Gwen Goss, who managed the nursing home, continued the tradition.”

A public farewell to Dr Jean Hutchings and her husband Ken Plenderleith was held at the Bogong Hotel in February 1979. Cr Alex McCullough, Chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr Rob Hollonds and members of the community attended to wish them well and to pay tribute for the many years of service by Jean Hutchings as a general practitioner with the Tawonga District General Hospital. In reply she expressed her appreciation to the Hospital Board of Management for the way in which they had provided the much needed equipment which meant that Mount Beauty and the district had enjoyed a fine medical service.

The relocation of the Mount Beauty Medical Centre into the new Tawonga District General Hospital in 1960 meant that doctors, in particular Jean Hutchings and later Mark Robinson, Mark Zagorski (who had joined the practice in August 1981) and nurse Mary Beier (who had worked at the Medical Centre since 1957), encouraged and continued to foster a symbiotic relationship with the hospital and staff which was to last for thirty six years.

Alpine Observer, Thurs 16th Jan, 1986 Sister Mary Beier

“The day after I arrived back in Mount Beauty in 1957 Dr Livingston came around asking me to work at the Medical Centre. I worked there for 28 years.”

“In the early days the SEC doctors were expected to go to Rocky Valley, Bogong and Mckay Creek. As the company didn't want their employees taking time off to visit a doctor in Mount Beauty patients had to line up in a sick queue like they did in the army.”

“The change into the new hospital in 1960 went very smoothly as people got used to walking upstairs to the Medical Centre. In summer though it was extremely hot as there was never any air conditioning until the seventies. Sometimes it was so hot in the waiting room that we had to take patients downstairs into casualty for their consultation.” Alpine Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 20 Tawonga District General Hospital

“It was wonderfully convenient to have the Medical Centre located in the hospital building as doctors could visit their patients if required during a break in their consultations. It was really excellent from the point of view of having patients come in during the ski season with broken legs and bones as the doctors could attend to the ski injuries as they came in and still see a few patients in- between. In the early days there were a lot of accidents and injuries as the ski equipment was not very technologically advanced.” “Working together with the hospital staff we got through a mountain of work simply because we were all together in the one building. This close bond was particularly evident during the days when Drs Woodhouse and Hutchings were providing a health service. Later, complications arose sharing premises in an environment where money was difficult to come by.”

“I mainly worked as a Practice Sister, but I also used to do the accounting books plus X- Rays and many other jobs. I was basically on call seven days a week. But it was a very happy time and we were a very good team. I thoroughly enjoyed my work.”

Sister Mary Beier’s farewell. Left: Theatre nurse Jane Robinson, Dr Mark Zagorski, Dr Mark Robinson, Receptionist Barbara Smith and a visiting Intern. Seated. Doris Byrne, Jane Zagorski and Mary Beier in the front.

Dr Mark Robinson

“I came to Mount Beauty as a family medicine program trainee in July 1978 aged 28. In those days you took the training job on with the understanding that you would buy into the practice. I had spent time in the area as a child and I felt it to be a special place.”

“At that time the Mount Beauty Medical Centre was already located in the hospital. We were a private practice and paid the hospital rent and we shared a lot of equipment . We worked closely with the hospital staff and over the years there evolved some great team building situations. In 1979 a disastrous bus accident occurred where a bus rolled off the edge of the road and plunged 80 metres down a cliff before it hit a tree, just below Bogong Village. Staff from the Medical Centre and the hospital pooled resources and worked together with the SEC and their rescue vehicles, ambulance and police to assist the 44 passengers, Alpine most who were luckily not seriously injured. Those who suffered minor injuries Health were treated at the Tawonga District General Hospital.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford 21 Tawonga District General Hospital

“There was also a lot of social interaction between Tawonga District General Hospital and Medical Centre staff as we were very integrated. There was a special atmosphere there which I found existed in only a few rural hospitals. Being a company town had its advantages as the SEC had been very generous in the support that it gave to the community and to the medical facility.”

“The key to a successful relationship with the hospital was based on how well you got on with the CEO, and the Matron or Director of Nursing. Over the years Medical Centre staff have worked really hard on developing and maintaining good relationships.”

“The only negative factor operating the Medical Centre inside the two story hospital building were the stairs which prohibited access by certain patients. Those who couldn’t ascend The Mount Beauty Medical Centre was them had to be seen downstairs in located upstairs in the Tawonga District casualty .” General Hospital from 1960-2000.

“In 1985 the Mount Beauty Medical Centre finally secured the Falls Creek Medical Centre which was a significant victory and allowed us to retain doctors in Mount Beauty. It made it much easier for the practice then to attract doctors. The Falls Creek Medical Centre was built in 1973 without communication with the doctors in Mount Beauty. The ski resort had been operating since the 1960's, so for a long time this town medically serviced the resort, and then all of a sudden the state government built the Medical Centre to be administered by the Wangaratta Base Hospital. Managing the Falls Creek Medical Centre greatly improved relationships between Mount Beauty and Falls Creek and it meant that doctors who worked in Falls Creek would stop sending patients past the Tawonga District General Hospital. This aided in the viability of the Tawonga District General Hospital in the early 1980’s when the population of Mount Beauty was declining and we needed to keep patient numbers up.”

“ The Mount Beauty Medical Centre has always been a teaching practice and we still encourage training doctors and students. The Tawonga District General Hospital is an integrated part of this for the students to learn and follow the patients through their illness.”

In the past the Tawonga District General Hospital was the home of many important organizations. One of them was the Ovens and King Community Health Centre which effectively serviced the district for many years. Another is the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria, which was formed in the late 1980's by Doctor Peter Graham. In1997 the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine was born here and housed in the Tawonga District General Hospital building. It's origins in Mount Beauty indicate an important part of its’ history as it will no doubt evolve into a highly significant organization in years to come. The initiative to establish it came from the Rural Doctors Association of Australia. In addition a Federal Government grant formed the North East Victorian Division of Alpine General Practitioner in 1993 which had its beginnings and its office in the Health Tawonga District General Hospital.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford 22 Tawonga District General Hospital

Dr Mark Zagorski rostered on at the Tawonga District General Hospital

Dr Mark Zagorski

“I came to Mount Beauty in June 1981 for a visit and despite the cold and wintery conditions I officially joined the Mount Beauty Medical Centre two months later as a general practitioner. It was a small country practice consisting of Dr Mark Robinson, Practice nurse Mary Beier who had been there for twenty years and receptionist Margaret Edmondson. We were located upstairs in the Tawonga District General Hospital.”

“When I arrived Mrs Wendy Thornton was the Director of Nursing and Jill Ramsey was the Registrar and there existed a warm and friendly atmosphere that was unmistakable. The hospital was pretty well equipped then with a good range of surgical instruments due to a number of visiting specialists, the orthopaedic surgeon, and later Dr Scott Giltrap a visiting gynaecologist who consulted in the late 1980’s. I remember he performed a Hysterectomy one day by torch-light when the town had a power failure and the hospital backup power system also failed.”

“In the 1980’s the SEC still played an important part in the hospital and had a direct phone line in case of an accident. When doctors were on call we used the SEC’s portable communications system, which resembled an orange handbag about the same size of a large novel with a long strap on it that was the antennae. On it was a beeper and a little window where the numbers 0 - 5 would appear indicating an emergency or to contact the hospital on the nearest telephone.”

“It wasn’t long after my arrival that I became involved with the delivery of anaesthetics mainly due to the large number of skiing injuries at Falls Creek. In winter we had fractures just about every night, which kept staff and doctors very busy. The skill level of the nursing staff was very good as they knew the protocol for setting broken bones because they had been doing it for years. They knew how to prepare everything and cut the plaster to the right lengths. In casualty we also had excellent facilities for the administration of anaesthetics. With the advent of improved skiing equipment these days we see more upper body injuries, upper limb fractures and dislocated shoulders. Alpine Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 23 Tawonga District General Hospital

“Early in 1981 I got a first hand introduction to rural trauma when I attended a call to a logging accident in the West Kiewa Valley at the base of Mount Feathertop. We prepared the old Streamline ambulance and drove up Big Hill, went around a corner and the sump hit a rock and that was the end of the ambulance. As it happened Neil Addinsall from Mount Beauty Timbers was coming past so we transferred equipment into his vehicle and drove as far as we could and then had to crawl 500 metres up the hill to get to the patient. He was in a critical condition and was flown out by the Westpac helicopter to Wangaratta Hospital.”

‘I served on the Tawonga District General Hospital Committee of Management for many years and I was Junior Vice President on the Hospital Board also for many years. During that time the Hospital Board was quite successful in upgrading equipment and beds, the nursing home was built and it was around this time that discussions began to take place at the Board level for a new hospital in Mount Beauty.” Dr Geoff Greig

”I commenced working at the Mount Beauty Medical Centre in 1991 during the ski season. I first came to Mount Beauty as a medical student in 1986 and was very impressed with the town, the practice and the people involved in the Medical Centre. I was also keen on being able to get involved in the diversity of general practice.”

“There were several unique things about the practice the most important being the involvement in ski medicine and trauma which allowed for a great breadth of skills and diversity. Also the Tawonga District General Hospital was one of the few Dr Geoff Greig (1991-2000) country hospitals left offering such a variety of activities in Victoria.”

“The formation of Alpine Health in 1995 was a compromise to enable the survival of medical services in Mount Beauty. Doctors were aware from the start that there were considerable risks to the style of medicine being practiced with this change, mainly the loss of local autonomy. Unfortunately after an initial stable period the realities exceeded our worst fears with political pressure being brought to bear, to reform the multi-purpose centers into little more than aged care centers with only stabilise and send on acute beds. This was done under the guise of so called ‘standards’ which inferred that it was unsafe to do the majority of procedures and acute care in such ‘small ill equipped centers’. We were set up to fail these standards as they represented what could be ideally expected at much bigger and better funded centers and no further funding was being offered to achieve this. This decimated staff morale and further staff changes meant more was being expected of less people with unrealistic demands to meet both the requirements of day to day running and to meet the needs of accreditation. After a change of government this improved almost immediately and I believe has continued to do so. We survived the pressure relatively unscathed in terms of service provision but I believe at a huge personal and emotional cost which was a large part of my motivation to leave.”

“My specific interest when I arrived in Mount Beauty was to practice general medicine and care of the aged in their community and also obstetric practice. I learnt on the job about the varied ski injuries which were also fascinating. There were many unusual Alpine medical challenges for such a small community ranging from rare genetic diseases to Health occupational diseases and injuries from the surrounding farms, the SEC and other Bright MT beauty myrtleford areas.” 24 Tawonga District General Hospital

Professor Peter Danne “I started work at the Tawonga District General Hospital in 1985. There had not been a surgeon working here for some time and the Mount Beauty doctors were looking for someone to visit. Dr Mark Robinson and Dr Mark Zagorski asked me whether I would provide the surgical service needed in the district and I have been coming here every month for the last 18 years.”

“I carry out a broad spectrum of general surgery which saves people from having to travel out of town. We mainly do minor operations but have done a few significant ones over the years such as amputations and occasionally an Appendectomy. Over the years we have diagnosed a lot of Cancer disease on site and have been able to treat much of it. I have always had a strong commitment to providing surgical care and have felt comfortable working in the Tawonga District General Hospital because the level of professionalism form the doctors and the nursing staff has always been really high. During those years Dr Mark Zagorski has given all the anaesthetics.”

“Equipment has always been bit of an issue. You don't get surgeons working in isolated communities like Mount Beauty who require the latest of everything because they just don’t come. I am happy to live with equipment that is usable but not optimal, having said that the equipment in the hospital is adequate and I certainly wouldn’t work here if it wasn’t. I have always brought some of my equipment with me but when the era of video endoscopy came it was evident that we required it and so I bought $80,000 worth of equipment for the Tawonga District General Hospital.”

“In the old two story hospital building we were really cramped. Everyone used native wit to redesign the area to create a proper recovery, setup and operating room and it did work well given the limitations of space. We still ended up with a small operating area but it was a quantum leap forward because before people recovered in the wards which was difficult for staff who had to move people out of the wards to make room for recovery patients. The team that worked at the hospital then were all from Mount Beauty. Jane Robinson was the principal scrub nurse and before that it was Aurora Parmesan. We had the most efficient medical service right throughout that time which was highly respected in the region and it still provides a great service to the community.”

Alpine Health Professor Peter Danne and Theatre nurse Jane Robinson. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 25 Tawonga District General Hospital

FALLS CREEK MEDICAL CENTRE

The establishment of the Falls Creek Medical Centre in 1973 helped to secure the future viability of the Tawonga District General Hospital. However its beginnings were steeped in uncertainty and controversy.

The announcement to establish a medical service at Falls Creek came from the State Health Department, the Hospitals and Charities Commission in the early 1970’s. A letter was sent to the Tawonga District General Hospital stating that a 24 hour medical service was envisaged at Falls Creek during the ski season and that the Wangaratta District Base Hospital had been chosen to act as the parent hospital for the new centre. The current Minister of Health, Mr Dunstan, had stated that a small committee representing the Wangaratta District Base Hospital and the Falls Creek Management Committee had been formed to provide the medical service. In response the Tawonga District General Hospital Committee welcomed the proposal of the new medical centre at Falls Creek but vigorously disagreed with the administration responsibilities going to the Wangaratta District Base Hospital. President Mr S. W. Church on behalf of the Tawonga District General Hospital Management Committee repeated asked for clarification of their hospital’s future role in relation to the proposed medical centre at Falls Creek.

The Committee’s discontent was stated publically in the local newspaper and a letter was sent to the Commission’s Chairman Dr. J. Lindell expressing the view that they had been treated with disregard by the Commission for their failure to correspond or consult. The Management Committee was concerned that more and more patients would be sent direct from Falls Creek to city or base hospitals thus creating a possible reduction of $7000 in their hospital’s revenue. Concern was evident about the viability of the hospital as a deficit of $536 had just been announced for the 1971-72 financial year. In September 1972 the retiring president Mr S.W. Church outlined that the maintenance costs had risen at an alarming rate. The greatest increase occurred in salaries and wages expenditure. “Over the past two years our wages bill has increased by $27,800 per annum and last year increases in wages accounted for 88 per cent of the additional running costs of the hospital.”

Photo of medical centre

Alpine Health Falls Creek Medical Centre situated in the heart of Victoria’s spectacular Alps. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 26 Tawonga District General Hospital

Two years later it was publically acknowledged in an article in the Border Mail that the Falls Creek Medical Centre was having a detrimental effect on the Tawonga District General Hospital. A deputation led by the Member for North East Province, Mr. Bradbury and the Member for Benambra, Mr. Mitchell met the Chairman of the Hospitals and Charities Commission Dr Wilder, to ask for control of the Falls Creek Centre. Other members of the deputation included the Tawonga District General Hospital President, Mr. Rob Hollonds, Manager Mr. G. Morgan, Mr. G. Benstead, and a committee member Mr. B. Dowling. The deputation indicated that the hospital had suffered cuts in the number of patients sent to it from the Falls Creek Medical Centre.

The deputation said that there was a real and deep concern that in the future the Medical Centre could effect the viability of the Tawonga District General Hospital. Along with the loss of the number of patients sent to it from the Falls Creek Medical Centre there was also a drop in revenue in the past three years. The Tawonga District General Hospital had been told that the Medical Centre would treat only minor cases and that it would not effect the hospital’s operations. The deputation asked that the Medical Centre be confined to small accident cases, with major patients being moved to Tawonga District General Hospital. Dr Wilder gave assurance that the situation would be examined but it was another ten years before the Falls Creek medical services came under the management of the Mount Beauty Medical Centre.

Border Morning Mail, Wednesday March 6th, 1974.

On October 9th, 1986, the President’s report given at the Tawonga District General Hospital’s annual meeting indicated a successful financial year with an operating surplus of $19,517.00. At the time it was gratifying for the Committee of Management to be able to state that the budget set by the Health Department Victoria was met and that the Tawonga District General Hospital was in a sound financial position. The Honorary Director of Medical Services Dr Mark Zagorski stated that the “new” relationship between the Falls Creek Medical Centre and the Tawonga District General Hospital was Alpine excellent and provided the standard of care expected by those unfortunate Health enough to be injured while on holidays in the area. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 27 Tawonga District General Hospital

The four stretcher Ford Mainline Ambulance, driven by Alan Rogers, served the community for many years.

AMBULANCE SERVICES

Emergency and ambulance services operated as an extension to the Tawonga District General Hospital’s casualty department. Initially, emergency services were controlled by the State Electricity Commission but as construction scaled down they no longer wanted responsibility and in 1957, it was replaced by a team of dedicated volunteers under the supervision of Mr Frank Saunders. As Transport Supervisor for the SEC, Mr Frank Hetherington later directed this vital service which offered a high degree of rapid care and safe transport. Subsequently Mr John Arter became responsible and sought the appointment of a permanent driver to be stationed at Mount Beauty.

In 1961 an ambulance station was built by volunteers and located at the rear of the newly established hospital. It consisted of a two bedroom flat, a garage and a carport.

In response to emergency calls the general procedure was that hospital staff would answer the telephone and then contact the SEC and whoever was available would take the ambulance out. The vehicle was fitted with an SEC radio and an ambulance radio which was also connected to a radio in the hospital, so if something happened at the SEC they could call hospital staff direct or be switched through from the ambulance to the hospital.

Foreseeing a need in the future the community lobbied tirelessly for a permanent Ambulance Service and on May 8th, 1978, Mr Alan Rogers began employment as the first paid Ambulance Officer in Charge employed by the Victorian Health Department’s North East District Ambulance Service in Alpine Wangaratta. The permanent relieving driver was Mr Laurie Green who Health resided in Mount Beauty. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 28 Tawonga District General Hospital

The late Mr Alan Rogers recalled that the ambulance station burned down in November 1978 and while the preference was to locate a new one near the Tawonga District General Hospital the high land prices excluded this from happening and the new station was built on SEC and Bright Shire land on the corner of Lakeside Avenue and Nelse Street. “The residence, located at 4 Beauty Avenue, was built two years before the adjacent Ambulance Station and my wife and I ran the emergency service from the house. In my absence when any calls for assistance came in my wife received them and notified Wangaratta Ambulance headquarters. In response they would contact me on the road or ring the SEC and their employees would relay the message back to me. It was a responsible job at times as she had to fathom whether it was a real emergency or not.” “At the time Mount Beauty was considered an isolated ambulance station and the Victorian Health Department had trouble attracting staff here. Many officers didn't like it here because back then there was a general lack of any social life. It was pre-helicopter days and at times we travelled great distances over some extremely rough roads and bush tracks and back up ambulances had to come from many miles away.”

“The local ambulance officer attended to 99.9 % of emergency cases within a large geographical area. Distances extended to Omeo across to Bright and down the valley to Dederang and frequently we met ambulances at Wodonga and Tallangatta. Falls Creek was also under our jurisdiction.” “I attended a wide array of incidents including rural, hang gliding, skiing, bush walking, road accidents, police incidents as well as an array of medical emergencies that required immediate treatment.” At a meeting in Mount Beauty in July 1978 Services Superintendent Mr R. Lester advised those present that the ambulance in its first year had carried 147 patients a distance of 14,958 kilometres, a figure which fully justified the services provided.

The workshop facilities building at the rear of the hospital. This was the first official North East Victorian District Ambulance Station donated to the hospital and renovated under the Alpine 1986/87 minor works program. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 29 Tawonga District General Hospital

THE FIRST DISTRICT NURSING SERVICE

The Hospitals and Charities Commission of Victoria gave approval for a district nurse service to be established at the Tawonga District General Hospital in March, 1971. The domiciliary nursing service commenced in June and provided treatment for patients in their own homes.

The scheme was funded by State and Commonwealth funds of around $1600 per year and covered approximately two thirds of the service’s running costs. The balance was met by the Tawonga District General Hospital.

The Hospital Manager Mr J. A. Williams initiated the service recognising that it would fulfill a great need for a number of residents who required assistance in their own homes. Patients were charged a small fee for each visit to their home in accordance with the scale recommended by the Hospitals and Charities Commission. This went towards paying the shortfall of expenses of the Advertisement for the First District Nurse. service. The first permanent District Nurse appointed was Sister J. Burnett, of Mount Beauty who worked under the direction of the Hospital Matron.

Sister Burnett recalled some of her duties included giving injections, applying dressings and bandages, washing incapacitated patients and many other applications.

The service extended to residents in the Mount Beauty and Tawonga districts five days a week on a part time basis depending on the need.

Mrs J Burnett was due to commence work at 9am, June 21st, 1971 From the start it was stipulated that the Tawonga District General Hospital could not accept direct requests for the service from patients or their relatives but all instructions regarding district nurse visits had to be referred by a medical practitioner.

After the first year of operations of the District Nurse Service the Hospital Chairman Mr S. W. Church stated that a total of 597 home visits were made by the District Nurse covering 868 miles. It was acknowledged that although the number of patients receiving treatment at any one time was small there Alpine was no doubt that it was of immense benefit to the recipients and their Health families. However even after receiving Commonwealth and State Bright MT beauty myrtleford Government subsidies the service showed a deficit of $78 for the year. 30 Tawonga District General Hospital

Kiewa Valley House, an aged care nursing home was established in 1981 and provided 12 beds to the community.

KIEWA VALLEY

The establishment of the aged care nursing home, Kiewa Valley House, was a significant victory for residents and senior citizens in the Kiewa Valley district. Plans were laid in the mid 1970’s and a proposal was formulated for a 12 bed unit nursing home to be attached to the Tawonga District General Hospital. The need for an aged care facility in Mount Beauty was prompted by recognition of the high ratio of senior citizens residing in the area. Surveys had indicated that in the Kiewa Valley there were approximately fifty persons who in three years would, based on past medical history, require Nursing Home Care either on a full time or part time basis. At the time residents had to travel to Beechworth, Wangaratta or Wodonga which was deemed to be too far from friends and relatives.

In 1975 Hospital Manager Gordon Morgan outlined the initial plan to establish six Geriatric Hostel Units and Services in a new building to be located on the South side of the Tawonga District General Hospital. The proposed Geriatic Hostel was to provide accommodation with nursing care, meals, friendship, company and occupational therapy, for those people who may not be well enough to maintain independence in their own homes but were not considered to require hospitalisation.

Five years later discussions intensified towards the formation of an aged care nursing home attached to the Tawonga District General Hospital and on June 6th, 1980, an appeal to finance a 12 bed nursing wing was launched at a public meeting in Mount Beauty addressed by the State Minister for Planning, Assistant Minister for Health and Member for Benambra, Mr Lou Lieberman, (the Member for Indi and representative from the Federal Health Office, Mr Ewen Cameron was unable to arrive due to fog bound air fields) Alpine Health and the President of the Bright Shire, Cr Dalbosco. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 31 Tawonga District General Hospital

The Commonwealth Government committed to 66% of the costs and stipulated that the rest must come from the community. The total cost of the Nursing Home was estimated to be more than $200,000. Funds were also made available to modernise the kitchen at the Tawonga District General Hospital and upgrade the boilers to supply heating and hot water to the nursing home wing.

The local communities were unanimous in their support of a Nursing Home and accepted the challenge of a ‘public appeal’ to raise funds to the amount of $60,000 to go towards the costs of the building and other facilities for the aged of the Upper Kiewa Valley. A steering committee of eleven (Mr R. Hollonds, Dr J. Plenderleith, Mr K. Pearson, Cr. S. Svarc, Mr R. Addinsall, Mr T. Cooper, Mrs M. Mills, Mr J. Heberle, Mr A. Seymour, Mrs W. Thornton, Dr M. Robinson) was formed for the purpose of fundraising and to prepare an action plan. The Hospital and Charities Commission’s development board finally approved the application for government funds to build the 12 bed nursing home in early 1981.

COMMUNITY ACCEPTS CHALLENGE

Earnest fundraising began in all sections of the community and to start the ball rolling at the end of a public meeting in June, 1989 the Medical Centre presented a generous cheque to Hospital Manager, Mr David Overton. A great effort by the Mount Beauty Chamber of Commerce saw $8,500 raised by a raffle offering a ski trip to America as first prize. Second prize was ski equipment donated by Bogong Ski Hire, Ski- Plus, Mount Beauty Chalet Ski Hire and Caravan Park Ski Hire. Third prize was one week’s accommodation at Tiroler Village Flats donated by Mr and Mrs Lachs. Farmers of the Upper Kiewa Valley donated a vealer auctioned at the President of the Mount Beauty Chamber Wodonga saleyards under a plan of Commerce Mr Ray Addinsall, CEO Mr initiated by Les Cooper called David Overton and Hospital Board ‘Donate a Vealer scheme’. Chairman Mr Rob Hollonds. The Upper Kiewa Valley Lions Club donated $5,000 to the Nursing Home appeal and by February 1981 a total of $15,000 had been raised by the community in eight months. Other community organizations such as the Hospital Ladies Auxiliaries and the Mount Beauty Golf Club committed themselves to many years of fundraising events, along with dedicated individuals who worked tirelessly to achieve the success of the aged care nursing home. Nursing Home Society Funds at February 1983: Cash at Bank $46,000, Donations $7,000, Interest on Investment $6,000, Total $59,000. (The $46,000 income came from four main areas; Raffles $12,100, Public Donations and Fundraising Activities $22,000, Charitable Trusts $5,100, Interests on Investments $6,800.) Due to rising costs an additional $41,000 was secured and the official opening of Kiewa Valley House was on March 6th, 1985, almost one year after the expected completion of the building. In 1991 a decision was made to extend Kiewa Valley house from twelve to twenty beds at Alpine an estimated cost of $625,000 and it was then officially opened by the Minister Health for Health and Aged Care Dr Andrew Theophanus in May 1993. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 32 Tawonga District General Hospital

GWEN GOSS “March 6th, 1985 was the official opening of our Nursing home...however, April 1st was the important date - “Moving In Day.” First occupants were Sadie Hall, Greta Furlong, Percy Clarkson, Albert Seymour, Marjorie Maddison, Florence Moffat, Claire Snell, Alice Black, Lorna Miller, Hilda White, Claire (Suzie) Higgins and Robert (Roy) Hamilton. We moved in with bare essentials - few 10th Anniversary of Opening of KVH. L homely adornments or comforts. to R:Gwen Goss (former charge nurse), Residents were encouraged to bring Nola Henry (DON), Christine Dolfen, with them their personal belongings, Wendy Minutello and Wendy Hansted. including a favourite chair, bedspread, photos etc.” “Volunteers were sought to assist with various activities and to maintain contact outside... the response was excellent and they included the CWA visiting roster, Cubs and Brownies who would assist with supper and provide some entertainment, groups sang songs, the high school students had a roster to assist with wheel chair transport to Day Care, Val Woinarski read books one morning a week, Pat Johnstone traveled from Wangaratta one afternoon a week to give exercises suitable for the elderly. Binny and Roly Wilson assisted with craft, the Calisthenic group entertained as did the high school band, the Lions Ladies never missed a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day and later we had a group conduct community singing. There are many others who deserve a mention whose efforts were appreciated.” “In 1991 a decision was made to extend KVH from 12 to 20 beds. During 1992 we worked around many hazards and put up with a lot of inconvenience as did the residents...the staff travelled many kilometres up and down that ramp to the hospital. Then after much delay came the opening of the extensions in May, 1993 and it had all been worthwhile.” Original Kiewa Valley House which consisted of five double rooms, two showers/toilets and one “Providing entertainment bathroom. and stimulation proved to be an o n-going challenge with limited resources. However looking back we managed a variety of activities. Some of the best memories are of the dedication and support of the staff who worked hard to provide a homely and caring environment for those who needed it.”

1998 was a memorable year for residents and staff who were confronted with a major flood which struck Mount Beauty on Christmas Day. The storm began at 1.30pm reaching peak intensity between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. The one in fifty year flood recorded a rainfall throughout the day of 130mm (six inches on the old scale). Kiewa Valley House was just one of twenty properties that were Alpine flooded and residents were evacuated. Many nursing home residents recalled Health not getting the chance to sit down to their Christmas dinner until 11pm that Bright MT beauty myrtleford night. 33 Tawonga District General Hospital

The Day Care Centre continues to be very popular with residents.

DAY CARE CENTRE The need for a Paramedical Day Care Centre in Mount Beauty became imperative as the general age of the population in the district was growing and the opportunity to enhance their quality of life and health was seized upon by the Hospital Manager, Gordon Morgan. In the 1970’s he became aware government money was available for day care services so he approached local resident Mrs Pat Plant to take up the challenge. Many hours of time were spent laying the foundations for the Day Care Centre, ostensibly visiting the elderly folk in their homes to determine their needs and whether services offered at a Day Care Centre would be appropriate. In 1975 a committee and staff were formed to administer the day to day running of the day care facility. In the early days everyone involved offered their valuable time as volunteers.

The Hospital Manager, Mr Gordon Morgan steered the day care committee towards an alignment with the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged at Beechworth which at the time was an advantageous arrangement. As a principal provider of aged care the opportunity was seized by the Mount Beauty day care committee who recognised that they would have access to funds and to all the necessary equipment. They paid for staff wages and provided access to specialist services such as Podiatry. The Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged at Beechworth maintained control over the Mount Beauty Day Care up until 1991.

The establishment of the first Day Care Centre was considered an important step in the extension of medical services that reached out into the community. At the time a senior citizens club had recently formed by the late Mrs Phyllis “Suttie” Sutton with assistance from many dedicated volunteers and Dr Jean Hutchings. The club was situated next door to the Tawonga District General Hospital. It is for this reason that the initial Day Care Services operated from the Senior Citizens club rooms. Some of the patients that were coming out of the hospital were slotted into the day care centre. In those early beginnings residents had to be encouraged to use the facilities Alpine that were on offer for half a day a week, but as time went on the popularity of Health the day care activities increased twofold. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 34 Tawonga District General Hospital

In 1977 the Mount Beauty Paramedical Day Centre operated at the Senior Citizens’ club every Monday and provided Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy free of charge to referred patients . At the time eight to ten patients were benefiting from the service. The Kiewa and Ovens Valley Health Services met the cost of services and craft needs and supplied the necessary administration assistance. At this time the Day Centre was the beneficiary of two welcomed donations. A fold-away wheelchair from the Upper Kiewa Valley Lions Club and a cheque for $100 from Mr and Mrs T. Davies to assist the Management Committee to supply further aids. By 1978 the number of referred patients increased to 23.

Plans were soon laid for a building to be used for the sole purpose of a Day Care Centre and the community began to lobby for the old nurse’s premises formerly the first Medical Centre in Lakeside Avenue. A public appeal aided in fundraising activities and a grant was secured by the Hospital Manager Mr Gordon Morgan, which resulted in a new Paramedical Centre being established. The initial plans for the Day Care Centre were drawn up to be included in the hospital grounds. Political lobbying occurred behind the scenes and a decision was made by the State Health Department saying that all Day Care Centres would be administered by a central body, located in Beechworth. The Tawonga District General Hospital Board believed the Centre should be located locally at their hospital and fought the decision tooth and nail. Despite a deputation of Hospital Management Board members and administrators, who travelled to Melbourne, they were unsuccessful in reversing the decision. They were reimbursed for the money they had spent on the initial plans and they agreed to sell the old nurse’s Hospital Manager Mr Gordon Morgan 1973 - 1980 quarters to Beechworth’s Ovens and Murray Home for the Aged.

The Tawonga District General Hospital Manager Mr Gordon Morgan and the Management Committee lobbied for some time to bring the local service under one administration until eventually there was a change in policy resulting in the decision to hand the Day Care Centre over. A tug of war then erupted over the ownership of the Day Care Centre building between the Tawonga and Ovens and Murray Home for the Aged. The resolve finally ended in Tawonga District Hospital’s favour.

The Ovens and Murray Home for the Aged in Beechworth ran the Mount Beauty Day Care Centre from 1981 until it came under the administration of the Tawonga District General Hospital in 1991. After renovations to the old nurse’s home were completed it was officially opened in 1884. Securing the Day Care Centre was a win for the Tawonga District General Hospital Alpine because they could then integrate services and begin rotating staff as some Health of their patients were using the facility. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 35 Tawonga District General Hospital

Pat Plant

“ I put a lot of time into helping to form the Day Care Centre and laid the footwork to establish good relations with local elderly residents. For quite a while I didn't have anywhere to work from except out of the Senior Citizen’s Clubrooms and the Tawonga District General Hospital ,so what I did was go around to visit people who were on their own just to talk to them about the services. I used to get paid petrol money but the rest of my time, was voluntary. But I really enjoyed the work.”

“The committee and staff for the Day Care Centre was formed in 1975. It first operated from the Senior Citizens building and later transferred to the old nursing home when the Hospital Manager Gordon Morgan secured a grant to pay for the staff we needed.”

“There was a big need for a Day Care Centre in Mount Beauty as there were so many elderly people with disabilities that needed to get out of their homes. Initially nobody wanted to use the Day Care Centre so I concentrated on organisational issues, but it wasn’t long before people visited sometimes just out of curiosity. At first we opened for half a day then it was two days and soon it became three days a week. As time went on there was a greater need as the population was getting older. We had some wonderful volunteers which meant we were able to offer an excellent variety of activities. Local residents, Roland and Binnie Wilson were very helpful in organising crafts particularly woodwork. In addition we had some wonderful outings. Exercises and regular visits from Mrs Joan Canning the physiotherapist were also a part of the scheduled services.”

“Fundraising was an important part of our job description and for nearly ten years we were a part of the Dederang Races. Volunteers would assist on the day and the money made on race days usually on New Years Day, went towards funding the Mount Beauty Senior Citizen’s building and later for the Day Care Centre. Every year we held a fete or held stalls to raise funds to purchase material for the craft activities.”

“As time went on the need for the Day Care Centre grew and by 1991 we enjoyed an increasing number of visitors catering for up to between thirty and fifty people. When Kiewa Valley House was established some of those residents would also use the facilities if they wished, particularly if they needed physiotherapy.” In 1996 Pat Plant initiated a new community service called Operation Keyhold. The security service allowed residents to lodge a house key in a locked cabinet at the Tawonga District General Hospital to be available to Police, Ambulance and Doctors in the event that the resident was unable to open the door to these personnel. Funding of the scheme was made possible due to a Police and Lions Club’s golf day which raised $1400.

President of the Upper Kiewa Valley Lions Club, Mr Len Plum, Mr Frank Iaria of the Cricket Club, Mrs Pat Plant, instigator of ‘Operation Keyhold’ and Senior Constable Mr Don Mason. Alpine Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 36 Tawonga District General Hospital

The Ladies Tawonga District General Hospital Auxiliary worked tirelessly to raise funds. An annual Easter Fete was very popular. 1971.

LADIES AUXILIARY

The Tawonga District General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary began in 1952, two and a half years after the first hospital began operating in Tawonga. The time coincides with the opening up of the hospital for women. Right from the start a strong community spirit existed in the district towards the establishment of the medical facility that was evidenced by the successful fundraising activities that took place over the life-span of the Tawonga District General Hospital. Since its inception the Ladies Auxiliary raised over $100,000 up until the year 2000, and a staggering $8,000 was raised during the building of the new hospital that same year.

Some of the founding members were Mrs Lillian Emmerson, Mrs Phyllis Sutton, Mrs Binnie Wilson, Mrs White and Mrs Lorne, but there were many others who worked tirelessly to support their medical facility and services. In the early days the Ladies sometimes referred to as “the girls” met for their monthly meeting in each others homes to decide on the latest attractions to raise money.

An early recollection from the Ladies Auxiliary report in 1962-1963 is a fine example of the kinds of activities that occurred in just one year. “...functions held during the year included four crazy whist nights, two film evenings, a table tennis tournament, a tennis afternoon, a salamagundi evening, an American afternoon tea, a hat parade at the Mt Beauty Chalet and the annual garden party...for the hospital ball we supplied twenty dozen small cakes...” At the annual general meeting of the Tawonga District General Hospital Auxiliary members voted the sum of $550 as their final donation for the 1973-1974 financial year. Early in the year they had contributed $200 to complete the new bed project with the purchase of a cot and maternity bed. As well as this $60 had been spent on curtain material for the nurse’s home. Alpine Health This was a wonderful achievement of over $800 for the year. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 37 Tawonga District General Hospital

Over the life span of the Ladies Auxiliary there have been many fine examples of their fundraising activities and each year they appeared to set new records for their takings. Characteristic of their efforts (in conjunction with Hospital staff and other volunteers and organisations) was the 1976 annual Easter Fete where the gross takings were $3,536 a clear profit of $2,149 was handed over to the hospital management. Chairman, Mr R. Hollonds stated that the money raised would be used to pay the hospital’s share of the $15,000 being spent by the Hospital and Charities Commission on patient care improvements, particularly in the toilets and a new step-in walk around bath area. It was recorded in the local newspaper that “...all the fun of the fete stalls were there, including Apex train rides, and Raellee Newman’s ponies...the whole Fete was kept spinning by the really great effort of Mr Col Baynes on the spinning wheel. So good was he in the act that the spinning wheel ran out of tickets at about 3.30pm after 150 spins, or a spin approximately every three minutes- and that’s entertainment at its best.” The Manager, Gordon Morgan said it was a success because of the willingness of people to help, give and spend, to help their hospital give them better care in their community.

In June1975 a Hospital Youth Auxiliary formed. Mr John Nicol was elected President, Senior Vice President, Mr Ross Houston, Miss Carolyn Lebner Secretary, Miss Jennifer Sharp Treasurer. The club had thirty financial members each who paid $2 to join and a further $1 subscription fee.

Many other organisations in Mount Beauty gave generously to the Tawonga District General Hospital particularly the Upper Kiewa Valley Lions and Ladies Club the Mount Beauty/Tawonga Apex Club and the Car Club. In 1975 members of the Apex Club donated a Bird Respirator for use with respiratory distress patients who may have had asthma. The unit cost in excess of $400. In the same year the Mount Beauty Hot Rod and Car Club donated a large evaporative air conditioner which was installed in the Medical Centre’s patient waiting room at a cost of $180. In December 1995, UKV Lions Ladies tirelessly raised money to install a refrigerated mains pressure Water Cooler designed to give a continuous supply of iced water for filling glasses or jugs.

Mt BeautyTawonga Apex Club presented the Tawonga Hospital with a Respirator and the Car Club handed over an air- conditioner. (Left) Apex President Mr Roy Davies, Secretary Mr Kevin Hickey, Car Club Secretary Mrs Joyce Gill and Car Club women’s Auxiliary President Mrs Joyce Vail.

Alpine Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 38 Tawonga District General Hospital

UPGRADED MEDICAL FACILITIES

In June, 1971 the Tawonga District General Hospital secured a grant for a new X-Ray machine after it received approval from the Hospital and Charities Commission. A condition of the funding was that the local hospital needed to contribute $1,500 towards the total cost of $4,100. Three weeks later the community had already raised $2,200 aided by a special donation of $1,000 from the UKV Lions Club. Others who contributed were Mount Beauty Timbers $100, Falls Creek Lodge Owners $115, Mount Beauty Workman’s Club $200, SEC $200, Meriki Motel $100, Dr Jean Hutchings $100 and other individuals donations. The fully mobile X-Ray unit was the best of its kind available and Hospital Manager, Mr J.A. Williams indicated that the Committee of Management were deeply grateful for such a magnificent community response. The new machine replaced a 30 year old obsolete unit that had been deemed inaccurate by experts.

The same year four new stainless steel beds and overbed tables were purchased, a new dishwashing machine costing $700 was installed in the hospital kitchen making life much easier for staff.

Kitchen staff employed in the old Tawonga District General Hospital 1949-1961.

A new community service supplied by the Federal and State governments (at no cost to the community) was introduced in July, 1975. The concept was developed by Hospital Manager, Gordon Morgan. The micro bus unit supplied transportation for the aged and needy free of charge. In ten weeks 4,000 km were travelled and 400 passengers carried.

Improvements to the Mount Beauty Airstrip by Mr Alan Mull and his colleagues enabled the first landing of the air ambulance in 1976 to fly a Alpine critical patient to Melbourne. Mr Mull’s tireless efforts in seeing the air strip Health lengthened made the Air Ambulance a reality in the isolated area. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 39 Tawonga District General Hospital

The annual general meeting of the Tawonga District General Hospital in 1980 indicated that funds were made available from the Health Commission of Victoria for new equipment and furnishings that amounted to in excess of $50,000. Director of Nursing, Anna Dicker presented her report stating it had been a busy year with considerable upgrading carried out in areas of facilities. “We have seen much of our equipment upgraded including a new E.C.G. Machine, lifepak four defibrillator, hi-lo beds, intensive care bed, air conditioners, new bassinettes, surgical instruments, wall clocks, visitors’ chairs and patient arm chairs. Wall papering of the foyer and labour ward have brightened the hospital considerably.” (Alpine Observer, Thursday Oct, 2, 1980.)

Staff worked tirelessly in the Hospital Kitchen providing meals for patients and a delightful three course dinner for Meals on Wheels recipients in the district. In 1977, 11795 meals were produced at an average cost of $2.60 per meal.

Approval for funds to build the twelve bed Nursing Home Wing at Tawonga District General Hospital by the Health Commission of Victoria in 1981 meant certain funds were also secured for significant improvements to hospital facilities.

The Health Commission agreed that money would be made available to modernise the kitchen at the hospital thus enabling them to supply the additional meals required following the construction of the nursing home, also to be able to provide for up to forty meals each week day to the Mount Beauty Paramedical Day Care Centre and twenty meals per day for the Meals on Wheels service. Funds were also pledged to renovate the Nurse’s Home which was used as the Day Care Centre and to rebuild the internal structure of the Day Care Centre in order to increase servicing capacity. More funding was decided via the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged, Beechworth, to provide additional equipment and professional staff. Extra money was Alpine obtained to upgrade the Tawonga District General Hospital boilers so that Health they would be able to supply heating and hot water to the Nursing Home Bright MT beauty myrtleford Wing. 40 Tawonga District General Hospital

In 1986 the Tawonga District General Hospital President Cr. Steve Svarc and committee members saw their role as vital in making sure that the hospital continued to develop and upgrade facilities to attain the desired standards of health care. It was well understood that it was a community hospital that must change, develop and progress but above all else it must be able to provide to the community the health care it needs in the best possible manner.

During the year significant developments took place ensuring a high quality of health care. A Minor Works Grant provided by the Health Department of Victoria allowed a replacement of the developing processor and the X-Ray Machine which was fifteen years old. A further Minor Works allocation of $5000 enabled the floors of the Theatre/Labour Ward/Recovery area, to be upgraded along with lights and additional theatre instruments and a diathermy machine. An update of the theatre suite occurred a few years later in 1996 that greatly improved the standards of practice leading to better patient care.

The community was privileged to have a small rural hospital providing a surgical service. Theatre Nurse Jane Robinson and Surgeon Peter Danne.

Later in 1986 a Capital Works Programme, costing $99,000 saw the completion of a project to update the hospital bathrooms. Funding was also made available for rectification works and stump replacement under the hospital building to secure the structure. The CEO’s office was converted into a medical records room providing additional security to an area that required extreme confidentiality. The Tawonga District General Hospital Committee was also pleased to receive approval from the Health Department of Victoria to purchase a new residence for the CEO. To facilitate this purchase a mortgage of $20,000 was arranged with the local ANZ Bank in Mount Beauty which was to be repaid fully with the rental payments made by the CEO.

In 1991 the Victorian Health Department allocated $28,000 from its minor works budget to upgrade Accident and Emergency at the Tawonga District General Hospital. A special designated area was to be made available so waiting in corridors was no longer necessary and a public toilet for disabled patients and visitors was built. The funds also provided for a two bed Alpine accident and emergency room adjacent to the X-Ray room and electronically Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford activated doors from the ambulance bay. 41 Tawonga District General Hospital

Mrs B. Pitman Dr M. Robinson Mrs M. Smith Mr R. Spargo Mr P. Taylor Dr A.M. Zagorski

Mr A. Chalmers Mr R. Hollonds Mr F. Johnson Mrs A. Mull Mr G. Napier Mr. A. Pay Tawonga District General Hospital Board of Management in 1995

HOSPITAL BOARDS /COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENTS

The Tawonga District General Hospital Board/Committee of Management members were acutely aware of all aspects of the health service and they maintained excellent relations with the administrators of the day. In the early days they were elected locally by the hospital’s contributors. In 1979 the Federal government launched an enquiry into hospital management and subsequently the election process changed, became more formal and the community was no longer able to participate in that process by electing their own representatives. Board members were appointed by the Governor in Council in a move that made it more likely that they would have a greater say in the state’s hospital management. At the time the hospital management committee was opposed to the changes as they felt it was extremely important for the local people to identify with their hospital board members.

At the Ninth Annual General Meeting of contributors to the Tawonga District General Hospital which was held at the Tawonga Public Hall on Monday, August, 25th, 1958, the Committee of Management consisted of Mr W. F. Hughes, Mr K.G.Plenderleith, Mr D. Griffiths, Mr C. Morgan and Mr L. Scharzman. All stood for re-election and the President elected was Mr D. Griffiths. Manager/Secretary at the time was Mr N. C. Muir.

In March, 1971, the Manager of the Tawonga District General Hospital, Mr J.A.Williams and President of the Management Committee, Mrs J.A. McCullough were deeply concerned at the deterioration of the hospital’s financial state. An increase in wages meant that an additional $11,000 had to be found per year to meet a 6% national wage increase. The only source of income available to bridge the gap was government grants and increased patients fees. The hospital received only $5 per day from the commonwealth government for pensioner patients yet it cost the hospital $24 per day to treat each patient. Later in the year at the annual general meeting a new Management Committee President was elected, Mr S. W. Church. The retiring President Mrs. J.A. McCullough was appointed senior vice president. Junior vice president elected was Mr G. Benstead and Mr. J. G. Bishop became treasurer. The balance sheets for the year indicated a financial surplus of $1,379. The average cost of treating each patient was $29.45 per day. A total of 564 In-Patients were treated and Out-Patient attendances totalled 776, there were 119 operations and 42 births. Reports presented at the meeting indicated that it had been a very successful year and was fulfilling a most important role in the community. The doctors at the time Alpine were Dr Jean Hutchings and Dr. C. W. Shaw replaced Dr Phillip Bunn. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 42 Tawonga District General Hospital

Over the years the changing Hospital Committee Management members gratefully acknowledged the continuing support and co-operation they received from the community. In 1972 Retiring President Mr S.W. Church stated in his annual report; “I wish to record my thanks and admiration to countless organisations and individuals...who have contributed to another successful milestone in the history of the hospital...I trust that all concerned will have gained some satisfaction in the knowledge that they have helped to maintain a most precious community asset.” (The Alpine Observer, Thurs, Sept, 28.)

In 1975 the Hospital Management Committee suffered a tremendous loss when committee member Mr Parry was killed in a tragic car accident. Mr Parry had joined the Management team in April1959 and was House Committee Chairman from September 1963 until his untimely death. President Mr R. Hollonds said at the annual general meeting that, “Ted was always a willing and tireless worker...and is sadly missed as a Committee Member and as a staunch friend.” (Other Committee members were Messrs. L. Cooper, S. Church, A. Dunn and Mrs A. J. McCullough.) During the year the hospital accepted the resignations from the committee of Mrs G. Goss and Mr. G. Smith. Welcomed to the Board of Management were Mr A. Dunn, Mr W. Halsall and Mrs M. Mills.

Alpine Observer 25,8,1977. On Thursday June 15th the Minister for Health Mr Vasey Houghton and MLA Mr Lou Lieberman visited the Ovens and Kiewa Valleys to inspect the area covered by the Kiewa and Ovens Health Services Association. During his tour of Mount Beauty he visited the Day Care Centre and the Tawonga District General Hospital. Keeping the hospital viable and financially sound was a prime responsibility of the Hospital Boards of Management in an increasingly difficult political climate where health finances were not forthcoming. As President Mr R. Hollonds indicated a year later. “The indicated future financial climate in the Health Care field will throw considerable increased economic responsibility on Hospital Boards of Alpine Management and being a labour intensive industry financial control Health becomes an ever increasing challenge.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford 43 Tawonga District General Hospital

The effort to obtain a balance between the best available health care provided by the Tawonga District General Hospital and the level of funds allocated by the State Health Commission was always a challenge for the members of the Board of Management who acknowledged that it was brought about by team work, consultation and monitoring of all aspects of the decision and policy making processes. Although the hospital reported a successful year of operation in 1980 it also finished the year with a deficit of $24,741. A total of 650 patients were admitted and out patients amounted to 1,471. Thirty three babies were born. The Committee regretfully accepted the resignations of Mrs M. Mills, Mrs G. Tresidder and Mr B. Dowling. The Committee also felt the tragic loss of member Cr. Bob Edmondson who died May 14th, 1980 and had been a devoted member for years. Welcomed onto the Management Committee were Senior Constable Mr K. Pearson, Dr J. Plenderleith, Dr M. Robinson and Mrs B. Pyle. Hospital Manager Mr G. Morgan resigned and Mr D. Overton was appointed.

Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Overton was appointed in 1980

The Tawonga District General Hospital was in a sound financial position in 1986 and operated with a surplus of $19,517 from an income totalling $1,008,851. This occurred even though the average cost of patient per day treatment had risen from $243.68 to $319.05. The Honorary Director of Medical Services Dr Mark Zagorski indicated in the annual report that the hospital was now providing an increased range of services including medical, surgical, paediatric, obstetric, geriatric and psychosocial.

The establishment of Kiewa Valley House meant a separate management structure was formed that dealt solely with the affairs of the nursing home. This meant that the Tawonga District General Hospital CEO, Mr David Dart was responsible to two independent Management Boards resulting in a duplication of effort. (Two annual reports, Two annual general meetings, two normal meetings, two sets of financial returns and two sets of minute books.) After years of trying to merge the two Boards of Management the matter was resolved over a commonwealth land title issue when the extensions to Kiewa Valley House jutted into land that was under state jurisdiction . Those on the Committee of Management were Mr R. Addinsall, Mr J. F. Heberle, Mr R. Hollonds, Mrs M. A. Mills, Mr G. Napier, Dr J. M. Robinson, Cr. S. Svarc, Dr Alpine A. M. Zagorski, Mr H. Sigmund, Mr A. Moore and Mrs A. Moore. Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 44 Tawonga District General Hospital

TEN YEAR PLAN In 1986 the Tawonga District General The representative from the Health Hospital Management began to Department of Victoria was Acting examine their role in the community Regional Director of Health, Mr David and plan for the future. The Health Harrison who indicated that there Department Victoria requested all was a need to look at the co- hospitals in the North East region ordination of services, matching prepare a ten year plan, detailing them to the users who would benefit existing levels of services, and the from the hospital. He also stated, anticipated levels of services for the next five and ten years. The report “Future planning for the Tawonga was the result of months of District General Hospital should take investigation into the Health Services into account its remoteness, the high provided in the region with a focus on level of tourist usage, the high risk the special characteristics of nature of sports such as skiing which individual communities and areas. were popular in the area and Mount Beauty’s aging population base.”

In an early draft of The Hospital the plan it was Board of recommended that Management hospital bed reviewed the numbers be report closely progressively and submitted reduced from 15 to 9 revised of which three estimates and would be for data (1986 nursing home type census figures) patients.Other to the Regional recommendations Directorate that were the helped the maintenance of Regional Office midwifery services understand that at their present there was a real level, and an need for the 15 expansion of beds to continue domiciliary services to be provided. on the basis of need.

The draft report was to be the basis In1991theTawonga District General for significant planning decisions in Hospital Committee of Management the future and prompted much President Cr. S. Svarc and CEO Mr debate. In 1988, the Wodonga David Dart signed a Health Service District Health Council convened a Agreement Programme with the public meeting in Mount Beauty to Regional Director from the Health encourage the community to become Department of Victoria, informed and to have its say in the Goulburn/North Eastern Region Mr development of future health D. Harrison. While the hospital services. At the meeting Bright Shire recognised that the role of the Deputy Cr. Brian Goss said, hospital should be reviewed and changed where needed it was “It was necessary for the District understood that any changes of Health Council to work in with local emphasis would not effect the levels government bodies to ensure local of service of obstetrics, pre-natal communities understood the issues care, adult medicine, general surgery, Alpine and the decisions made.” gynecology, accident/emergency and Health paediatrics. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 45 Tawonga District General Hospital

Dr Mark Robinson, CEO Mr David Dart and Director of Nursing Nola Henry

David Dart

“I started working at the Tawonga District General Hospital on April Fools Day in 1985. It was very countrified and friendly and everyone knew each other very well. From a medical point of view the hospital was very well equipped but it was limited from an operational point of view, due to the structure of the building, which made moving trolleys or beds in and out of the wards very difficult.”

“The hospital was old but it was always clean and patient care levels were always maintained. We had an exceptional array of services that over the years included X-Ray facilities, outpatients accident and emergency, a radiographer who visited every Saturday, theatre services, birthing suites, and visiting specialists including a surgeon and a part time gynecologist. Allied Health services were contracted in, we had an intensive care bed which changed to a high dependency bed and in addition we had a children’s ward. The flexibility meant that we could change things around depending on the situation.”

“There was a push in the 1980’s to build a new hospital because ours was the only timber framed two-storey building left in the state still being used as a public hospital. There was a real risk of fire and safety issues (The Mt Beauty Chalet was a similar weatherboard structure that burned to the ground in the late 1980’s.) but also it was impossible to achieve accreditation and comply with standards which was becoming an important issue in the health industry. The Hospital Management and doctors had been pushing for a new hospital for around ten years but we couldn’t get on the Health Department of Victoria’s Major Capital Works List.”

“The hospital was a viable concern most of the time but there were times when it wasn’t. In 1986 there was a significant push by the registered nurses for a work based restructure, which brought with it a considerable increase in wages. In those days the ability of the hospital to be financially viable rested a lot with hospital management being able to negotiate with the health department to secure funding. However towards the end of 1996 the hospital was not considered viable, in fact we had a deficit of around $65,000. The deficit related in some part to the different funding structures between State and Commonwealth Departments and Alpine the introduction of Casemix funding. The indications were beginning to appear that Health the hospital would struggle to survive in the future.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford 46 Tawonga District General Hospital

A TURNING POINT

By 1994 it was estimated that there were more that twenty small hospitals across rural Victoria that were facing closure due to changes in government funding structures and low patient turnover. It appeared that smaller rural hospitals which offered limited surgical services and had no waiting lists were under scrutiny. Adding to the apprehension was a realisation that the funding structure Casemix, which had been introduced in 1993, concentrated on the hospital receiving money according to how many patients they treated. Real concern was beginning to surface in the Mount Beauty community and the Upper Kiewa Valley about the possible closure of some health services provided by the Tawonga District General Hospital. CEO David Dart summarized his perceptions; “The writing was on the wall, and the Hospital Management Board were advised that we weren’t going to get a new hospital by standing on our own. The indications were that we would struggle in the future. While I didn’t believe that the hospital would close I felt it was in danger of being wound down to the point where you could not wind it up again. There was an emerging fear about the continuation of our theatre and birthing services and there was a concern that if accreditation became compulsory there was no way we could have brought the two services up to standards. Without an injection of major funds it was possible that those services would be transferred and a real fear that once we lost them we would never get them back.”

At the 1994 annual general meeting of the Tawonga District General Hospital quest speaker, Anita Wood, former CEO/DON at Orbost, outlined the possibility of a Multi-Purpose integrated Health Service to Board members. In the following year the Hospital Board of Management was addressed by Ms Rosemary Calder from the Department of Human Services on the future establishment of a Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) that would see Alpine the amalgamation of three Alpine Shire based hospitals, Tawonga District Health General Hospital, Bright Hospital and the Myrtleford Hospital. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 47 Tawonga District General Hospital

FORMATION OF ALPINE HEALTH The formation of the Alpine Health Group on March 30th, 1995 saw the beginnings of an earnest investigation by Bright, Myrtleford and Mount Beauty communities into the concept of a formal merger of their rural hospitals. The Alpine Shire had recently formed (1994) which saw the amalgamation of the three towns come under the umbrella of a single local government body. Negotiations were well underway between representatives from the three hospitals and the Victorian Department of Human Services for the establishment of the first Shire based Multi-Purpose Service in the state. By 1996 there were already three multi-purpose services operational in Victoria with a further two sites in the developmental stages. Those three were Otway Health and Community Service, Far East Gippsland Health and Support Service and the Upper Murray Health and Community Service.

An Alpine Health Steering Committee formed which was Chaired by Mr Les Hocking of the Myrtleford Hospital, Deputy Chairman was Mr Otto Smultz from the Bright Hospital and the Co-ordinator was Tawonga District General Hospital CEO, Mr David Dart. Other members included equal representation from each hospital, one representative from the Alpine Shire and Ovens Community Health Service and the North East Victorian Division of General Practice. Their aim was to meet on a regular basis to examine minutely all aspects of a MPS and its effect and viability within the three very different communities. The push for a Multi- Purpose Service came from a joint Commonwealth/State task force, established in 1991 to address the problems of service provision in rural and remote communities. The objectives were to: ! Improve the flexibility of health programs, ! To provide a more cost effective aged care and health service, ! Enhance the matching and co- ordination of aged care State Liberal member Hon. Tony Plowman and the and health services to late former Chairman of the Alpine Health Boad, Otto community needs. Schmalz. The Alpine Health Multi-Purpose Service was approved by the State Minister for Health and Aged Care Services and was to commence on July 1st, 1996 but due to unforseen legal complexities linked with the amalgamation there was a three month delay. Throughout the discussions associated with the MPS, Kiewa Valley residents were informed of the current philosophies of an integrated health service which was designed to ensure a full range of health and aged care and community support services to all members of the small isolated rural communities. At many public meetings the local communities Alpine showed their initial support for the formation of Alpine Health but the three Health month delay caused a loss of momentum and a perceived loss of enthusiasm Bright MT beauty myrtleford for the concept. 48 Tawonga District General Hospital

The enormous difficulties associated with the amalgamation of three entirely separate health organisations was felt by all administration personnel but particularly the inaugural CEO Mr Alan Garside, who was appointed in March 1997, five months after Alpine Health was formulated. Amid rumours and community concerns that an MPS model would see a possible down grading of services and cut backs to acute care services, particularly in Bright and Mount Beauty, was a recognition that nearby Corryong Hospital which had been part of an MPS for three years had seen their operating theatre facilities drastically cut in a cost cutting measure.

During this time Community Focus Groups were established in CEO Mr Alan Garside each of the three Alpine Health Campuses to act as a link between the community and Alpine Health management and to provide an opportunity to offer an opinion on specific health issues relating to their relevant communities. Residents were reassured on many occasions that Alpine Health would retain all services however Mr Garside publically stated in the local newspaper in March 4th, 1998, that; “The future level of service provision is still to be determined...We can give assurances that all existing services will be retained but we can’t say at what level.” The first annual meeting of Alpine Health incorporating Bright District Hospital and Health Services, Myrtleford War Memorial Hospital and Tawonga District General Hospital was held on Thursday 30th October, 1997 in the Tourist Information Centre, Delany Avenue, Bright. Alpine Health was unable to confirm allocations of Revenue and Expenses at the time which resulted in the Victorian Auditor General, Mr C.A. Baragwanath, criticising the report saying that Alpine Health; “Has been unable to provide adequate accounting information to support its financial statement.” The annual report stated that allocation of specific Revenue and Expense Cash Flow Statements could not be confirmed due to difficulties experienced from the merger of accounting systems arising from the amalgamation of the former hospitals. The Board of Management indicated that discussions were continuing with the Department of Human Services regarding establishment grants for Alpine Health and reimbursement of monies expended in the initial month of merger.

Before Mr Garside resigned in April 1998 he acknowledged that Alpine Health would incur an operating loss in its first year of several hundred thousand dollars. He attributed this loss to one off costs associated with restructuring Alpine the organisation, such as redundancy repayments, and some unforeseen Health expenses relating to Federal Government charges and Workcover payments. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 49 Tawonga District General Hospital

Les Hocking Alan Pay John Kantor Barbara Pyle Mark Henderson

Suzanne Cooper President Treasurer Vice President Dr Mark Robinson Marion Schumejko Otto Schmalz

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED Towards the end of 1997 Alpine Health Board Members were voicing their concern and became increasing aware that change was urgently required if they were to turn around the serious financial problems that were indubitable. Significant changes in the management structure and administration of Alpine Health took place during 1998 with the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer Mr Alan Garside and the Finance Director Mr G.R. Musselwhite. A number of changes also occurred within the Board, notably the retirement of Mrs Barbara Pyle and Mr John Kantor in October, 1997 and Mr Alan Pay and Dr Mark Robinson in February, 1998. Appointed in their place were Mr Andrew Randell, Mr Dale Blampied, Mr Graham Meakin and Mr Clive Walker. The new president was Mr Otto Schmalz.

At a request from the new Board of Management financial consultant Arthur Anderson was commissioned to undertake a thorough financial analysis of Alpine Health. In addition Patricia Mahon was employed as an interim CEO, for a six month period with the expectation of a permanent appointment being made at the end of 1998. It was generally understood that her brief by the Board was to ‘just fix it’ referring to Alpine Health’s financial situation. By the end of the 1997-1998 financial year it was revealed that the debt incurred amounted to $1.4 million dollars, of which $500,000 was expected to be recovered from the Department of Human Services. In October 1998 the Victorian Health Minister, Mr Rob Knowles approved $380,000 on condition that the Board of Management prepared a business plan within the next month to outline its budget for 1999. The government supported the appointment of Patricia Mahon with the understanding that allied together, the MPS model would be made to succeed and to fulfil the health needs of the communities. Ms Mahon was committed to the Multi-Purpose Service. “It’s actually a good model for rural and regional areas...It means we are more flexible and responsive to what the community needs... The system had failed in the past because it is a difficult model to Alpine understand but the MPS concept is a logical Health one for areas like the Alpine Shire.” Bright MT beauty myrtleford Interim CEO Ms Patricia Mahon 50 Tawonga District General Hospital

DISCONTENT By the time the Anderson Report had become public the Board of Management had already acted on a number of recommendations and strategies to reverse the adverse trends. In essence the Report identified that there had been a lack of management skills to undertake the necessary strategic alignment of the organisation, there had been a lack of financial expertise to prepare, co-ordinate and monitor hospital budgets, a review of management and nursing positions had not taken place, each campus continued to operate as a stand-alone hospital due to a lack of strategic change to align the organisation with MPS funding and Alpine Health was left responsible for MPS establishment costs.

Key decisions were made to remedy the situation but the period of change and uncertainty surrounding the establishment of Alpine Health meant that community perceptions of the MPS model were at an all time low. There was a general concern that the hospitals were not being managed very well which in turn affected staff morale. In addition the vulnerabilities of the new structure were also being scrutinized by local doctors who in turn were beginning to question the effectiveness of the Multi-Purpose Service. In September 1998 Mount Beauty doctor, Mark Robinson met with the state opposition leader, Mr John Brumby to sum up the general feeling:

“We are concerned about staffing cuts, low levels of morale among staff and the lack of change management instituted by Alpine Health.” At this time a number of public metings were convened in Bright essentially to ascertain information about Alpine Health. These meetings were well attended by residents from Mount Beauty, Bright and Myrtleford and provided an opportunity for doctors, staff and the community to voice their fears.

Alpine Times, September,1998 A vote of ‘No Confidence’ in the Board of Management of Alpine Health was the culmination of a significant shared community unrest and a deep Alpine suspicion that they were not being informed of all aspects relating to levels of Health health services, changes to staffing levels and redundancies that were taking Bright MT beauty myrtleford place. 51 Tawonga District General Hospital

A NEW DIRECTION

A major restructuring of all aspects of Alpine Health eventually resulted in significant changes to the management structure and staffing levels within the organisation. This was in direct response to several reviews that were undertaken which included an Evidence-Based Needs Assessment, a Service Plan, a Nursing Service Review, a Theatre Service Review, as well as a five year Financial Plan, a Business Plan and a Corporate Plan. Throughout this period of turmoil the Hospital Board of Management and Senior management worked intensively to ensure that Alpine Health received the appropriate funding from the Department of Human Services for the future. Extensive negotiations took place with the Minister for Health, Mr Rob Knowles and Senior Officers from the Department of Human Services, which resulted in Alpine Health receiving government grants of $1.13 million and a further $869.700 in support of restructuring and the recovery of the amalgamation costs. The support of politicians including the Member for Benambra Mr Tony Plowman and the Deputy State Premier Mr Pat McNamara had been enlisted to address the shortfall in funding that had previously aided in a financial deficit of $1.4 million in 1998. A process of change had been implemented which finally resulted in a significant turnaround and a surplus of $244.349 by the end of the 1999 financial year. The president of the Board the late Mr Otto Schmulz outlined their achievements. “In March it was clear that Alpine Health had lost direction and failed in the integration of the three campuses...In March, with the full support of the Board, I took on the inherited problems and moved towards financial accountability of what we did and did not have.” “By the end of June we had achieved a 50 percent reduction on monthly financial overruns from $1,000,000 when we took over in March, down to $50,000 by the end of June.” By September, last month,, we had actually come in on budget, the first time since Alpine Health had been formed two years ago.” “We have halted the decline and are now in the process of turning our deficit around and striving as a team for future success.”

A plan of the redevelopment of the Alpine Health Mount Beauty Hospital

The fortification of Alpine Health was aided by the Victorian government’s announcement of $3.7 million for the redevelopment of the Mount Beauty Hospital Campus. The Capital Works Grant was assured during the period of turbulence in early 1998 by the Member of Benambra Mr Tony Plowman, and was a welcome relief to the Board and the Kiewa Valley communities who perhaps for the first time could sense stability within the Multi-Purpose Service. This was strengthened by a further state government commitment of $5.2 million to extensively upgrade the Myrtleford Hospital Campus. With Alpine an overall commitment of funding amounting to $8.9 million it appeared Health that Alpine Health was moving into an exciting and rewarding period. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 52 Tawonga District General Hospital

A NEW HOSPITAL The community and Alpine Health collaborated in discussions that determined the site and redevelopment of the Mount Beauty Hospital. In May1998 concept plans were launched which took into consideration existing facilities and services and the future health needs of the community. Alpine Health’s Acting CEO Michael Hedderman revealed that a new green- field site would cost the community a further $1million and that final plans were dependant on the results of a service needs analysis. Taking into consideration the financial constraints the Board confirmed the redevelopment of the hospital would take place on the existing site being aware that the community had already contributed significantly to the building of the nursing home which was adjacent to the old hospital.

Snow halted the demolition of the Tawonga District General Hospital in July 2000 which delayed the construction schedule by more than two months.

The construction of the new hospital was developed to include three stages which aimed to alleviate and minimize disruption to current services. The first stage commenced in mid 1999 with the establishment of a new kitchen and emergency service building, simultaneously, thus allowing a continuation of these services. The second stage included the demolition of the former SEC administration building which had been converted into the Tawonga District General Hospital in1961. During this stage of construction primary care patients were moved into the new emergency services building and the kitchen was relocated into the ‘Brick Café’ next door and continued to provide meals for Meals on Wheels recipients and hospital patients. Following the demolition was the construction of the new hospital in its place. The third and final stage of redevelopment was the upgrading of the aged care facility, Kiewa Valley House.

Throughout the three stages of redevelopment of the Mount Beauty Hospital disruption to some services and the community was inevitable but the period was characterised by an emerging confidence in Alpine Health and a Alpine growing community perception that a new, state of the art health facility was Health to be an enormous asset to the Kiewa Valley. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 53 Tawonga District General Hospital

Alpine Health CEO Mr Lyndon Seys oversaw the opening of the new Mount Beauty Hospital in November 2001 alongside Board of Management President Mr Andrew Randell (standing). Seated are Board members and politicians.

The building of the new Mount Beauty District Hospital emerged to be an important milestone in the history and development of medical services in the Upper Kiewa Valley. It’s particular significance lay in the knowledge that for the first time the community now had a medical facility that was purpose built and specifically designed to operate as a modern and fully equipped hospital. (The other two hospitals had been pre-existing buildings that had been extensively modified.) The sense of loyalty and ownership that had characterised the growth of the Tawonga District General Hospital since 1949 was now evident at the official opening of the new hospital in November 2001 as the community bestowed its enthusiasm and support. The Mount Beauty District Hospital began operations on the 20th of July, 2001 and the official opening was four months later. Over 400 community members attended on the day including many other dignitaries who had offered their support to the Board of Management, the administrators and to the Upper Kiewa Valley communities.

The public were welcomed on the The State Minister for Health Mr John opening day and were invited to tour the Thwaites and Minister for Aged Care Alpine new hospital. Ms Bronwyn Pike unveiling the official Health plaque. Bright MT beauty myrtleford 54 Tawonga District General Hospital

APPENDICES FIRST OFFICE BEARERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS 1949-1950

Pres. L.T.Knevitt, Esq. Vice Pres. N.J.Hore Esq. & W.V. Sealey Esq. Treas. W.E.Mitchell Esq. MEMBERS OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. W.E. Bentley F.Keat J.P. A.B. Clough S.K. Pearce R.H. Coad C.G. Roberts W.J. Cooper F.A. Tessider M.J. Foote S.H. Winch PAST HOSPITAL MANAGERS/CEO Mr R. Kronborg 1949-53 Mr Peddlesden 1953-57 Mr N.C.Muir 1957-61 Mr D.J.Smith 1961-64 Mr L.C.Binks 1964-66 Mr R.J.Thrussell 1966-67 Mr M.N.Shipham 1967-70 Mr J. A Williams 1970-73 Mr G.L. Morgan 1973-79 Mr David Overton 1979-85 Mr David Dart 1985-96 Mr Alan Garside 1997-98 Mrs Patricia Mahon 1998-99 Mr Lyndon Seys 1999 -Current PAST AND PRESENT LIFE GOVERNORS Mr N L Addinsall Mrs O Emmerson Mrs G Lunt Mr G F Seymour Mr R Addinsall Mr O Emmerson Mr T Maddison Mr W Seymour Mr N W Alexander Mrs W Feagan Mr W W Mitchell Mr J Shevlin Mr W Baldwin Mr M P Foley Mrs H F Morgan Mr L P Shirley Mr A S Ballard Mr N Foote Mr A J McCulloughMr G Sisarich Mr W Barrett Mrs F Foote Mrs M McGrath Mr G Smith Mr J Barton Mr J G Gardener Mr R McInnes Mrs G Smith Mr C Baynes Mrs J Gleeson Mrs A Newman Mrs L Stewart Mrs D Bennett Mr H Goonan Mrs J Noble Mrs M Stuart Mr W G Best Mr J Grant Mr L Northey Mrs D Sutton Mr J G Bishop Mr J Grave Mrs P G Nunn Mrs E Swain Mrs P A Black Mr E Hamilton Mr W H Paton Mr S Svarc Mr J W Bourke Mrs E Hamilton Mr K A Pearson Mr T Taylor Mrs E Broadley Mr D Heiner Mr L N Peart Mrs E Tonnstein Mr C H Butler Mrs E Harrison Mrs R R Perry Miss N Tresidder Mrs M Cardwell Mrs S Hillman Mr A Peddleson Mr T F Tresidder Mrs T Carroll Mr R S Hollonds Mr P Plant Mrs P Walsh Mrs J Cartwright Mr S Hollonds Mr A Platt Mrs C Watson Mrs L Cheshire Mr N J Hore Dr J Plenderleith Mrs H White Mr G Chisnall Mr A Horney Mr K Plenderleith Mr W Whitehead Mr S Church Mr R A Hunt Mrs J Plenderleith Mrs H Williams Mrs O J Clarke Mr F M Hynes Mrs J Potter Mr I Williams Mr S A Clarke Mr T H Jenkins Mrs P Pratt Mr R E Wilson Mrs P Clarke Mr J Jenkins Mr N D Price Mrs G Young Mrs P Collings Mr J Keenan Mr A Rigoni Mr L R Cooper Mr G F Kelly Mr P I Roach Mr R Cooper Mrs E Kerr Mrs J Robertson Mrs W Deans Mr L P Kirley Dr J M Robinson Mrs H Devers Mr L T Knevitt Mr L Russel Miss MJ Doubleday Mrs I Lawrence Mr R V Russel Mrs M Duncan Mrs A Lloyd Miss G Ryder Mr A Dunn Mrs L Loone Mr D Saunders Miss M Egan Mrs E Lowe Mr A G Sexton Alpine Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 55 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book is the work of many people who offered their time and support. I would like to thank all of those people who gave up their time to be interviewed in their homes and on the telephone. I would also like to thank everyone who helped with proofreading and the verification of details. A special thanks to former President of the hospital Rob Hollonds, Bill Sutton and Jan Burnett who provided me with important research material and some of their own personal photographs relating to the Tawonga District General Hospital in the early days. This manuscript would not have been possible without the continued assistance from the Mount Beauty Hospital Director of Nursing Mrs Cheryl Clutterbuck who helped me with my enquiries and talked with me about all matters relating to the hospital. Most of the information contained in the book has been referenced from people who worked at the hospital, various newspaper reports local books and from past annual reports.

Alpine Health Bright MT beauty myrtleford 56