Twenty years ago, the world was a different place.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bill Clinton was the American president.
The Spice Girls “Stop” was number 1 on the charts.
Stuart Diver survived the Thredbo landslide
The Newcastle Knights won the NRL premiership.
What was happening in the MIA?
Griffith was fighting for to save its hospital.
It was in 1997 that Dr John Binks and his secretary Deanna Marriot presented a petition to National Party member for Murumbidgee, Adrian Cruickshank, protesting cuts to services and facilities of Griffith Base Hospital.
The petition, which carried 5200 signatures, called for the restoration of hospital boards and local autonomy; the end to the downgrading of local hospitals and community health centres, and the expansion of specialist services in country NSW.
“Stop cutting down the services in country hospitals and set up the patient care committees to give people a voice on health care,” was the message Mr Cruickshank said he wanted to give then NSW Minister for Health Dr Andrew Refshauge.
Mr Cruickshank had just returned from Africa where he had been assisting the Catholic Church is assessing a piggery project and cattle breeding stations.
Mr Cruikshank would serve as the local member until 1999, when he retired and was succeeded by the Nationals Adrian Piccoli, who was member for Murrumbidgee (and the new seat of Murray) until last week.
Dr Binks had organised a public meeting to protest hospital downgrades in 1996 at the Yoogali Club, but was disappointed by the lack of progress over the next 12 months.
“The petitions have been collected together to let the population know that although nothing seems to have happened, it’s not through lack of effort on our part,” Dr Binks said.
“Little has been achieved in terms of concrete deeds despite many, many words”
“The petition has been handed over with the hope that Dr Refshauge might even take notice of it”.
More than 12 months had passed with no appointment of permanent administration staff at Griffith Base Hospital, which was still under acting managers.