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A new chapter for Waranga Health

CREATE: Compassion. Respect. Excellence. Accountability. Teamwork. Ethical Behaviour.

Investing in Rushworth’s future A message from Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos. Country hospitals are the lifeblood of our regional communities — and everybody deserves the very best care, no matter where they live. Rushworth can be truly proud of its dedicated doctors and nurses who have provided locals with first-class treatment and care since the doors of Waranga Memorial Hospital first opened in 1961. And this tradition continued with the addition of the Waranga Aged Care Hostel in 1995, delivering compassionate care for the elderly. However, the Rushworth community deserves modern health care facilities that match this first-class level of care — and we’re proud to make that happen. We invested $10 million to revamp Goulburn Valley Health’s Waranga Campus, turning it into a revolutionary one-stop shop for all of Rushworth’s health and aged care services. It’s all part of our $250 million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund — the largest of its kind in Victoria’s history — which is helping to upgrade rural and regional hospitals across the state. The government is giving a $100 million boost to the fund, so that more of these worthy projects can proceed. Here in Rushworth, this flagship new home for acute, aged care, primary care and community health services will better support the needs of the community as well as enable new and improved models of care. By moving everything under the one roof, health professionals will be able to work closer together and services will be better linked to deliver high quality, safe and tailored care. And this will make a real difference for the quality of life and wellbeing for patients and residents, with services also more readily available than ever before, right on their doorstep in the heart of town. Most importantly of all, this impressive redevelopment secures Rushworth’s health services for many generations to come.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos. Picture: AAP Image/Ellen Smith

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Rushworth resident Helen Kavoukas with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews after the $10m funding announcement in 2016.

One-stop health shop for Rushworth It was late 2016 when Premier Daniel Andrews announced the news $10 million had been invested into Goulburn Valley Health’s Waranga Campus at Rushworth. The redevelopment aimed to co-locate all of the campus’ health and aged care services under one roof, dubbed Waranga Health. Mr Andrews was joined by then-Health Minister Jill Hennessy and State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes to announce the funding, which was taken from the first round of the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund. Sandy Chamberlin, GV Health’s Executive Director of Infrastructure, said the redevelopment aimed to turn the facility into a one-stop shop for all of Rushworth’s acute, aged care, primary care and community health services — all inside a fully-integrated, state-of-the-art hospital facility. It also included a new office, administration, reception, storage, consulting and activity areas, as well as a new dining room and laundry facilities. Ms Chamberlin said the redevelopment

had been ongoing for some time prior to the successful funding round, having made multiple funding applications previously. “It’s going to be a new day at Waranga Health,” Ms Chamberlin said. The new facility includes four acute beds, six consulting suites, 36 aged care beds and an updated lounge. “There is a new multipurpose room where members of the community will be able to come in, have meetings and hold presentations,” Ms Chamberlin said. Ms Chamberlin said it was a real bonus for the community, staff and residents within the facility. “It’s modern, updated to all-new standards, it’s a much more inviting facility,” she said. “The front door is on the main street (so) there should be much more interaction with the community.” Ms Chamberlin said the new facility ensured staff would not be required to

duplicate everything over two sites. In terms of the building’s design, she said the architect had ensured the exterior fitted in with the natural environment. “The architect has done a really good job … at integrating the new with the old and reflecting the environment so there’s lots of wood … the landscaping is nice and it looks beautiful,” she said.

input of the Rushworth community. “The community and the Community Reference Group were involved in the design process — from concept to schematic design to detailed design.” Services at the new site began operation this month.

“And it’s visible — because Rushworth is only a very small place we’ve built in the main street so you can’t avoid seeing it. “It’s literally in between the doctor’s surgery and the IGA.” The new facility is also equipped with a drop-off zone to enable ease of patient transportation. “Someone wanting to drop someone off can drive through, which will make a big difference for that facility,” Ms Chamberlin said. She said the project was done with the full

Sandy Chamberlin, GV Health Executive Director of Infrastructure.

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Long history of community care Hospital care was first established in Rushworth during the 1930s. While the country was in the grip of the Great Depression, Rushworth community members had worked hard for almost two decades to bring the Waranga Bush Nursing Hospital to life. The Waranga Bush Nursing Hospital was officially opened in 1933, and in a detailed history book compiled by Sian Viney in 2011, it was explained the facility was made possible due to the growth of bush nursing hospitals across the state. Ms Viney detailed how the Victorian Bush Nursing Association was able to establish and maintain more than 40 hospitals. “It did so by charging an annual membership subscription fee, which was promoted by the association as a logical way to provide care that most people would require at some point in their lives,” she wrote. With World War II beginning in 1939, the effects of this were soon felt across the country and Rushworth was no exception. While the hospital was in good financial shape, staff numbers across the whole health sector had declined as workers enlisted to serve. Following the war, the need for accessible health care options, particularly in rural communities, became apparent, as exservicemen were relocated to country areas. Given the bush nursing model included membership fees, plans were set in motion to develop the Waranga Memorial Hospital after a proposal from the Charities Board to establish a ‘general’ hospital that would be more affordable for patients. It was years, however, before the Waranga Memorial Hospital was officially opened with a quote from the Rushworth Chronicle on Thursday, May 25, 1961, describing

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the affair. “Dr J. Lindell was privileged to declare the hospital officially opened, cutting the ribbon with a pair of specially inscribed scissors which were gifted to him as a memento of the event to express the gratitude of the community,” the story read. It was clear the hospital’s history aptly reflected social culture of the time and Ms Viney went on to describe the impact the ever-changing local doctors had on the community. Dr Gerry Gibney was the first surgeon to move to town in the 1960s and it was clear he and his family became entrenched in the Rushworth make-up. “Their farewell on August 19, 1967, held at the Shire Hall, comprised ‘items, speeches, supper and dancing’,” Ms Viney’s history book reads.

recalls meeting a local resident on the porch of the doctor’s home, with a towel around a partially severed limb.” Nurses, on the other hand, were often made up of local employees who were trained in Bendigo or Shepparton, with others married to residents and some also the partners of school teachers. “On rare occasions if it was a quiet shift, a nurse might get some knitting done or read a book, but more frequently there were mothers in labour, newborns to look after and sometimes other non-medical ‘commotions’ demanding attention,” Ms Viney wrote. According to Ms Viney, from early in the Waranga Memorial Hospital’s history, Mooroopna Base Hospital and then Goulburn Valley Base Hospital were paid to carry out its administration. It was partially due to this relationship

that the decision was eventually made to amalgamate with the now-Goulburn Valley Health during the mid-1990s. “Despite the community feelings at the time, many can now reflect on the amalgamation as a change for the better,” Ms Viney wrote. “Being part of a large organisation has allowed the hospital to remain viable and provided necessary funding for equipment.” In 2011 the Waranga Memorial Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary, which prompted Ms Viney to compile the facility’s history. Five year’s later, in 2016, Goulburn Valley Health was successful in receiving state grant funding to redevelop its aged care hostel into a one-stop shop, merging the hostel and hospital services together. The new facility began operation this year, marking a new day at Waranga Health.

Dr Gibney was followed by several others including Dr Cosgrove, Dr Shaw, Dr Jamieson, Dr Abdul Omarjee, Dr Ted Venables and Dr Rodney Payne. It was in the late 1980s when concerns were raised about the viability of small rural hospitals into the future. The arrival of surgeon Dr Roger Steer also saw rights given to visiting medical officers from neighbouring towns. The surgeons were obviously more than just doctors, Ms Viney wrote. “The unique personalities of each of the doctors, combined with their work ethic, their professionalism and dedication to the community stand out in the memories of staff from the period,” the history book said. “The small community setting meant the doctors were well-known and often visited at home by patients after hours. One nurse

Old plans showing early design ideas for Waranga Memorial Hospital were found at the facility recently.

Auxiliary raised much-needed funds Former Ladies Auxiliary president Eileen Barlow wrote about fundraising efforts for Waranga Memorial Hospital in her memoirs. Her daughter Pam Barlow read an extract from the memoirs at the hospital’s farewell afternoon tea on behalf of Eileen, who was unable to attend. “One day I was reading to her her memoirs and I came across a part on fundraising,” Pam told those in attendance. “These people who raised the funds … have been great supporters and they’ve had a lot of fun on the way.” The extract read: “ … we ran a barbecue up in the bush for an Ugly Man competition. This was to raise money to help build the present Waranga Memorial Hospital. “Jim (Pam’s father) had been on the committee of the old bush nursing hospital and now it was my turn to join the Ladies Auxiliary. “Marie Stewart also joined, and Derm (Marie’s husband) used to drive us to monthly meetings and sit out in the car until they had finished. “I was the president of the auxiliary for many years, during which time we had many interesting fundraisers. We always used the money to buy equipment for the hospital. “One money-raiser which drew a large crowd was a Melbourne Cup Day luncheon on the hospital lawns with a Fashions on the Field competition. “The local doctor was the bookie for the day and raised quite a lot of money and we got some new members for our committee. “Another time we had a pyjama parade with the matron and some of the nurses as mannequins. “The committee all made casseroles and the venue was the Stanhope Hotel with the venue being donated by them for the night. “The matron knew a Melbourne League footballer who owned a lingerie shop and she was able to get him to provide the nightwear plus a lovely nightgown which he donated for us to raffle. It was a great success. “A dinner dance was held every year which was catered for by the auxiliary but we also paid others to work that night so we could invite guests. “One year we held a dinner at the pub and called it ‘Buttons and Bows’ and we decorated the pub with flowers made from buttons and ribbon bows. “Another dinner at the same hotel was called ‘A Touch of Pink’ and everyone wore something pink. “I think the hotel provided the drink and the auxiliary the food. “Every year at Easter, Rushworth had stalls and a parade with the money going to the Mooroopna Hospital. “I always made fancy dress for the children to enter. “One year the auxiliary entered a truck in the parade and called it ‘Nursing through the Ages’. “We had a bed and a patient on the float and I was dressed as Florence Nightingale and carried a lantern. “The ‘Nurse of the Future’ was dressed in

Pam Barlow reading an extract from her mother Eileen Barlow’s memoirs, which detailed fundraising for the Waranga Memorial Hospital.

a plastic uniform and carried a lamp that kept sending out spurts of smoke — I don’t know who thought that one up! “We always had plenty of satisfied expatients who donated goods to the auxiliary for our raffles.” Pam concluded the reading by thanking everyone for their fundraising efforts over the years. “The people on the auxiliary obviously had great fun as well as working hard, so thank you to all of those people,” she said.

An image from Eileen Barlow’s memoirs which shows the ﬂoat they entered in the Rushworth parade. Ms Barlow is now 101 years old and a resident at Waranga Health.

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Fond farewell to an old friend

Staff from over the years join locum doctor Suresh Jayasundera (centre) at the farewell to Waranga Memorial Hospital. Dr Jayasundera has been the doctor at Waranga since 2002.

Memories from Waranga Memorial Hospital’s almost 60-year history flowed as community members and staff said goodbye to the facilities at a special afternoon tea. Several people at the farewell were given the opportunity to do a final walk-through of the hospital. Waranga Health Community Reference Group member Clem Furphy addressed the packed lounge area and said they did not expect to see so many in attendance. “Thank you very much for coming,” he said. “It’s a very exciting but bittersweet day today as we walk away from this building that has meant so much to so many of us.”

Memorial Hospital where she gave birth. The final baby born at the hospital was Brett Anderson in 1997, who also planted the Lone Pine on the hospital’s grounds. Mr Furphy took the opportunity to express thanks to those who had worked hard at the hospital over the years, making it the facility it was. “I’d like to express my thanks to all the staff and those who have worked on the process.

Mr Furphy noted the last time a similar celebration was held in Rushworth was when the town’s Bush Nursing Hospital closed and the Waranga Memorial Hospital opened in 1961.

“I’d like to particularly record thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary … we really do appreciate the tremendous job you did over many years to add those little extra things that make the lives of the residents and patients so much better.”

He said Sian Viney’s history book of the hospital said there were about 40 people at that farewell event.

The event was an emotional one for staff and community members as they said goodbye to the facility.

“I think we’ve done better than 40,” he said, which was met with chuckles from the huge crowd.

“Of course there’s tremendous memories here for staff,” Mr Furphy said.

While they could not attend the event, Mr Furphy said there were apologies from both the first and last babies to be born at the Waranga Memorial Hospital. He said the first baby born at the hospital was “touch and go” with the mother going into labour at the Bush Nursing Hospital which continued in the ambulance transporting her to the new Waranga

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“It is probably one of the most stressful and rewarding jobs that you can do.” Guests also heard from GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp, who reiterated Mr Furphy’s sentiment regarding the importance of health facilities in communities. “People are born here, they die here, and there’s a whole range of things that happen in between … so it’s important in

that context that we are respectful and acknowledge the contribution that people have made to these really important community institutions,” Mr Sharp said. “(Today) is a celebration and an acknowledgement of everybody’s hard work to establish the hospital and nursing home in the beginning, but actually then support and maintain it during its life.” Mr Sharp said while they were closing one chapter at Waranga Health, the commitment to a high standard of patient care would not change.

Long-time staff members Michele Hanson, Sadie Vale, Sherie Kealy and Kylie Rogerson at the farewell.

“It’s important to respect the past but also look forward to the future with a sense of optimism,” he said. Sandy Chamberlin, GV Health’s Executive Director of Infrastructure said the Waranga Health project became very close to her heart. “It became very apparent to me, while engaging with the users, the staff, the Community Reference Group, how much Waranga Health and the hostel mean to the community and how much the staff are passionate about their patients but also keeping the service in Rushworth,” she said. “We’ve been very lucky with the project to have so much passion. Thank you to everyone for helping to make this project a success.”

GV Health board members Michael Tehan and Jo Breen, board chair Rebecca Woolstencroft, GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp and Sandy Chamberlin, GV Health’s Executive Director of Infrastructure farewell Waranga Memorial Hospital.

Keeping the community involved The Waranga Health redevelopment was guided by the local expertise of the Community Reference Group. It was led by Clem Furphy, who said the group’s role was to be the conduit between the community and the organisation, making sure the community’s needs were understood. Speaking at the farewell to Waranga Memorial Hospital, Mr Furphy said the co-location of Rushworth’s health facilities onto one site was an idea that was not new. “The co-location of this hospital and nursing home down to the hostel site was first talked about over 17 years ago,” he said. “At that time, it was recognised that there were great efficiencies to be gained and improvements in the care if we could colocate and have everyone under the one roof.

to happen. “I must admit, I thought I might end up dying here as well before it did; however the good news is, as we all know now, it did happen, it has happened.”

Clem Furphy addressing the crowd at the Waranga Memorial Hospital farewell afternoon tea.

Mr Furphy was joined by fellow Community Reference Group members Elizabeth Perry, Marie Wycisk and John Barnett and thanked them for their service, in particular Ms Perry who had been involved the entire way. “She has been a passionate follower of everything that has happened through the life of this place,” he said. With the redevelopment now completed, Mr Furphy said they were still looking for new members to join their small band.

“Governments of both persuasions agreed it should happen but it’s hard to be noticed in a safe seat. “There were many master plans and reviews done but it never seemed

Elizabeth Perry, Clem Furphy, Marie Wycisk and John Barnett.

Caring doctor goes above and beyond his duties Since 2007, patients at Rushworth have been under the watchful eye of GV Health’s Dr Suresh Jayasundera. Dr Jayasundera said he had been a senior registrar on the wards at GV Health’s Graham St campus in Shepparton when he was asked to take care of the organisation’s peripheral hospital sites. For more than a decade Dr Jayasundera has worked closely with the team at Waranga Health. “It was a beautiful long journey from 2007 to date with a team of kind, efficient and caring nurses, administrators, reception staff, hotel services, lifestyle, district nurses and others who were instrumental for the success of the hospital,” he said.

Dr Suresh Jayasundera.

Dr Jayasundera said one of the highlights during his time at Waranga Health was caring for 95-year-old Robert Hill who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease 10 years ago. Mr Hill’s family asked specifically for Dr Jayasundera to care for him due to the fantastic job he has done. “We are very close because he was in the Royal Navy and I was in the navy in Sri Lanka,” Dr Jayasundera said.

Dr Suresh Jayasundera in his Sri Lankan Navy uniform with patient Robert Hill.

Dr Jayasundera said he surprised Mr Hill on one occasion when he arrived at the hospital in his old navy uniform.

The pair recently celebrated Mr Hill’s 95th birthday together. “I took a lemon cake for him because he likes anything with lemon in it,” Dr Jayasundera said. In 2013, Dr Jayasundera was awarded GV Health’s chief executive’s Living the Values Staff Award for Excellence. “Our mission is to give patients the same treatment received at GV Health’s Shepparton campus,” he said. With four acute beds at the new Waranga Health facility, Dr Jayasundera said there would be an increased focus on treating patients local to Rushworth and surrounds. He congratulated the team on the big achievement of transitioning to Waranga Health’s redeveloped site on High St. Dr Jayasundera also acknowledged the hard-working team in the Restorative Care Program which has visited Rushworth since 2010. He said the program enabled patients following fractures or surgery to undergo slow-stream rehabilitation either before going for more intensive rehabilitation at GV Health’s Shepparton campus or before being discharged home.

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Modern and comfortable The new Waranga Health provides patients and residents with up-to-date amenities. The refurbished facility boasts a new hairdresser salon, lounge and dining area with plush seating and a landscaped, outdoor dining area with in-built BBQs.

1. Residents will get to enjoy a new lounge room area with a toasty fireplace. 2. The new facility has a fresh and spacious feel. 3 & 6. The new facility has several outdoor areas, perfect for family gatherings. 4. Residents do not have to go far to get their hair cut, with an on-site hairdresser. 5. The new palliative care room at Waranga Health.

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Impressed with the facilities

Happy with the move

Waranga Health patient Bob Ballantine was one of the few to experience care at Waranga Memorial Hospital before being transported to the new Waranga Health site.

Waranga Health resident Geoff Baker said he had already taken full advantage of the on-site hairdresser at the redeveloped High St site.

“I think I was one of the first ones in here,” he said. Mr Ballantine was admitted in early April for surgery to his shoulder and hip after taking a nasty fall. He said he was impressed with the

new amenities at Waranga Health and in particular the bathrooms. The Rushworth local moved to the area when his friend purchased the caravan park where Mr Ballantine lives today.

Waranga Health patient Bob Ballantine.

“I like to have the short-back-andsides look,” he said. He was among the residents housed at Waranga Memorial Hospital during the Waranga Health redevelopment. Originally a Kyabram boy, Mr Baker said he moved to Rushworth during the 1970s.

“I went to Rushworth High School,” he said. Mr Baker happily participated in activities at the High St site after it was redeveloped with fellow residents and said he was enjoying the new-look facility.

Waranga Health resident Geoff Baker.

Walking down memory lane

Sharon Gleeson dressed up as Santa Claus at the old Waranga Memorial Hospital.

Waranga Health ANUM Claire Campbell in times past at the old hospital.

Brett Anderson, the last baby born at Waranga Memorial Hospital, planting the Lone Pine that still stands on the grounds today.

Former Federal Member for Murray Dr Sharman Stone addresses audience members at an event at Waranga Memorial Hospital.

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Born into the Waranga Health family Waranga Health’s model of care project manager Sadie Vale said there was a real sense of excitement in the community with the opening of the redeveloped High St site. “It has been a big change for staff,” she said. “It’s going to do a lot for the town. It’s a beautiful building; it’s right in the main street — it’s just lovely.” Ms Vale said it had been exciting to see the recent progression in health care in the small country town.

She said the service employed more than 100 people and there had been no jobs lost through the redevelopment. “There’s some changes with some roles but everyone’s got roles so that’s a really good outcome.” Ms Vale has been an integral part of health care at Rushworth, contributing 24 years to

the industry. But her relationship with Waranga Memorial Hospital started long before that. “I was actually born there,” she said. “There are a lot of us that work there and were born there. “And I also had my tonsils out there as a four-year-old.”

Waranga Health model of care project manager Sadie Vale.

A job for life in Rushworth Having been a part of the fabric at Waranga Health for 25 years, Nurse Unit manager Kylie Rogerson said the transition had been an emotional journey. “Going up there (to Waranga Memorial Hospital) and feeling that coldness has been strange,” she said. “It was such a lovely warm place.” Ms Rogerson said it started to feel like home at the redeveloped High St site when residents and staff made the transition over. “It still feels like a new job,” she said. Ms Rogerson is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of nursing staff and the clinical care that is provided at Waranga Health, which she said had evolved with the redevelopment. The move has been close to home for the local girl who grew up in the Rushworth community and got her first job out of university at the health care facility in 1994. Ms Rogerson said the camaraderie and spirit of her colleagues was what made working in the field so special.

Waranga Health Nurse Unit manager Kylie Rogerson.

“Patients and staff know as much about our lives here as our families do at home,” she said. “We all gel and get along — there’s a

real warmth.” Much like Ms Rogerson, many other members of staff consider a job in Rushworth a job for life. “We have a few people who’ve travelled for 20 years from Shepparton,” she said. “In the dark, in the fog, doing shift work — it’s incredible.” While Ms Rogerson said the move had been hectic, it made sense for Rushworth’s health services to now be all on one site. “It is in a central community area so accessibility has improved.” Ms Rogerson believed the redevelopment would secure the town’s employment prospects for generations, offering opportunities to people across a range of disciplines. “I’ve changed roles and evolved throughout the years, and it’s great to see Rushworth’s health services evolving too. “It’s a big tick for me — it can only get better.”

New facility brings everyone together Despite living in Mooroopna, Waranga Health Nurse Unit associate manager Hannah Mortlock makes the journey to work at Rushworth each day. She said she moved to the Goulburn Valley about six-and-a-half years ago when she began applying for jobs. “A previous manager of mine had worked here (at Rushworth) and at Tatura so they suggested I look for a job here,” she said. Ms Mortlock said it had been an exciting time to be a part of the health care community in Rushworth with the

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redevelopment taking place. “It has been hectic,” she said. “There’s been many years of planning and we’ve still got a lot to do.” Ms Mortlock said it was great to now have all staff, residents and patients on one site. “It’s nice that everyone is here together; we’re all central now.”

Waranga Health Nurse Unit associate manager Hannah Mortlock.

Fresh start for food preparation While eagerly awaiting their new kitchen, Waranga Health’s hotel services staff have worked hard to ensure the quality of food has been maintained during the redevelopment. Hotel services staff members Sherie Kealy and Louise Adams said they had been cooking food for the residents at the old Waranga Memorial Hospital before transporting it to the new site on High St for patients and residents. The pair said the plan to do this was put in place in late February and they were counting down the days to get into the new kitchen at Waranga Health. “It has been a really big job,” Ms Adams said. “Without our team we couldn’t have done it.”

The pair was proud to say there had been little disruption for residents and patients during the process, and not one person complained about cold food. “The feedback from residents has made us feel like we’re doing a good job,” Ms Adams said. The pair, along with fellow hotel services staff, will enjoy the use of a brand-new oven, new flooring and new benches at the High St site. “We’re going to start everything fresh,” Ms Adams said.

Hotel services staff Sherie Kealy and Louise Adams.

What’s in a name? Rushworth has a rich indigenous, environmental and industrial history. The Waranga Health wings have been named to highlight the area’s unique historical background. Whroo: Whroo Historic Reserve lies within Rushworth State Forest. ‘Wooroo’ is the Aboriginal name for waterhole, or ‘mouth’. The name of one of the facility’s existing wings, Whroo, was chosen as a tribute to the indigenous owners of the land.

Balaclava: Named after the Balaclava Mine, and chosen as a tribute to the region’s gold mining past.

Golden Guinea: A hidden treasure found deep in Rushworth State Forest, the ‘Golden Guinea’ (leopard orchid) is now famous for growing wild in the region

Heily: The acute wing is named after the first GP in Rushworth, Dr John Vickers Heily, who set up a medical practice in Rushworth and also ran a farm.

Ironbark: Rushworth State Forest is home to one of the largest ironbark forests in the region.

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14 High Street, Rushworth Waranga Health main reception: (03) 5851 8000 District Nursing Service: (03) 5851 8020 www.gvhealth.org.au