This month Calvary Public Hospital Bruce is celebrating 40 years of delivering public health services to the Canberra community, with a number of staff joining the Minister for Health and Wellbeing today to celebrate the milestone.
Calvary Public Hospital officially opened on 2 March 1979, and has continued to be an important part of the ACT health system for the past 40 years.
“Much has changed at Calvary since it opened 40 years ago. Notably the Sisters are no longer active in the Hospital, but their Mission of ‘Being for Others’ remains evident.
“Calvary has been modernised and improved over the years, with some of our best doctors, nurses and allied health staff calling Calvary home.
“I was delighted to meet with a number of staff members today who were here at the very beginning, including foundation Chief Executive Officer Gerald Garrity, who served with Calvary for 17 years prior to and after the public hospital opened.
“Employee June Smith and Auxiliary members Josie Collier, Pauline Hurley and Bev Jungwirth collectively represent more than 160 years of service to the community through their connection with Calvary.
“It’s wonderful to be here on this important birthday to celebrate the achievements of our health care staff – the people who work in our hospitals, care for the community, and support us in our time of need.
“I extend my warmest wishes to Calvary Public Hospital on their 40th birthday and look forward to continuing our partnership with them as they continue to play a major role in the ACT health system.”
Minister Fitzharris also toured one of the recently upgraded surgical wards at Calvary today, which used to house Calvary Private Hospital.
“It’s wonderful to see these new surgical ward today, which is dedicated to surgical inpatients and Calvary’s Hospital in the Home service,” said Minister Fitzharris.
“I know staff and patients are finding the new layout of the hospital easier to navigate, and it means there is more room for medical patients and other services on other floors now.
“Previously surgical and medical patient units co-existed on the same floor, so by taking over the space previously occupied by Calvary Private we have been able to grow our public hospital services in Canberra’s north, and offer better care closer to where people live.”
Calvary Public Hospital was officially opened on 2 March 1979 by Archbishop Edward Clancy and then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Through 2019 Calvary staff will celebrate anniversaries of the service commencement and expansion that occurred through 1979, commencing with birthday celebrations and staff length of service awards on Thursday 7 March 2019.
