Hospital celebrates its 40th year

Rockingham General Hospital celebrated its 40th birthday in style last Friday when special guests gathered to commemorate the milestone.

Health Minister John Day joined State Opposition leader Mark McGowan and Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels and each planted a rose in the hospital gardens to mark the occasion.

Safety Bay resident Moya Parker, 59, is one of a handful of staff who has worked at the hospital since it opened on May 28, 1976, and said it has been a very happy place to work.

“When I first started it was so quiet and tiny, but it was a very big deal,” she said.

“Before there was a hospital in Rockingham, people had to travel to Fremantle, so the community was very excited when it opened all those years ago.”

Ms Parker grew up in Rockingham and said RGH was unique in many ways.

“Where else do you have kangaroos lounging about on the lawns in the sun every morning?” she asked.

“The staff have been wonderful people and I have seen many managers come and go who have all worked hard to create a fantastic place to work.

“I have no plans to retire for now — I haven’t ever taken any significant breaks and still love going to work every day, which is all I need.”

Mr McGowan congratulated the hospital on 40 years of fine service to the people of the region.

“It’s fantastic to have seen and helped the hospital grow into such a marvellous facility and one of the great assets of the local area,” he said.

Mr Day acknowledged the staff and volunteers who worked hard to make the hospital an important and much-appreciated part of the community.

“The key to any successful healthcare service is the people who are committed to delivering caring, high-quality services, day in, dayout,” he said.

“Since the mid-1970s, the hospital has tripled in size.

“Staff now expect to see more than 23,000 inpatients, 94,000 outpatients and 54,000 emergency department presentations a year.

“More than 1700 babies are delivered every year, providing fundamental care to the local community close to home.”