WHILE it was a historic moment for Griffith on Friday, it was also one fraught with emotion.
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For the people of Griffith and surrounds the St Vincent’s Private Community hospital (SVCPH) which officially opened on Friday is more than just a medical centre.
It is a chance for the city to have access to healthcare at home, keeping families together through trying times of sickness.
“Anyone that had to travel away for health in the past, and go through that emotional and financial stress we hope for those families that they can now stay here in Griffith during that time,” chairwoman of the Griffith health facilities fundraising committee Anne Napoli said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Bernadette Keenan, who officials say her put her heart and soul into the hospital’s planning.
“I cannot tell you how great this is for the community,” Ms Keenan said.
“Because I am from Griffith it is really important to me that we have something like this.
Ms Keenan said she had been hearing about how crucial achieving a facility like SVCPH was for Griffith since she was a child.
“It’s really about improving access to health services and ensuring families are dislocated as little as possible, she said.
“This is for the greater good of the community, and that is the most important thing.
A reality 15 years in the making Griffith mayor John Dal Broi paid tribute to the late Ray Gamble who had the original vision for the hospital and who sadly didn’t live to see his dream realised.
“The community wanted this facility and it was a challenge they rose to,” Cr Dal Broi said. “Thank you to the people of Griffith.
“I would venture to say there is not another local government area in Australia that can say they own a hospital.”
However, Cr Dal Broi said without the help of the Casella and Spagnolo families “they said we will give you the land, now you build the hospital
CEO of St Vincent’s Hospital Robert Cusack also paid tribute to the Casella and Spagnolo families, who he called ‘the great enablers’.
“They were continuously the driving force behind this hospital and their leadership inspired to community to commit almost $6 million.
Speaking on behalf of the families Roy Spagnolo said that they had been happy to help create a facility that would help reduce the need for medical trips away.
“We stand here today as a united community,” he said. “We have succeeded in this great feat.
With the hospital also including the Murrumbidgee clinical learning and teaching centre, Mr Spagnolo said the hospital would bring a new generation of doctors and nurses to the region.
“They will be able to study here and hopefully stay here for the benefit of our community,” he said.
The importance of helping health professionals into regional areas was further stressed by Health Minister and Member for Farrer Sussan Ley who said the regeneration back to regional Australia was important.
“They have fallen in love with what rural living and practising has to offer
Ms Ley first visited the site of the hospital over a year ago, not knowing she would soon be member for the region following an electorate redistribution.
Chairman of St Vincent’s Health Australia Paul Robertson said Griffith had been one of the most generous communities he had ever been involved with and paid tribute to Griffith City Council.
He said he admired the dedication of the community and Griffith City Council in making the hospital happen, recounting to those attending the opening how Cr Dal Broi had called him to a meeting with seven mayors from the surrounding areas when it seemed as though St Vincent's were ‘slacking off’
“I don’t know what the collective noun for seven mayors is, but I think it is scary,” he said.
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