By Emma Schenk
OVER 35,000 people have thrown their weight behind the idea of a Warburton hospital, in a petition demanding sufficient medical services in the area.
The petition, started by Yarra Junction resident Lilian Kreuzer, was presented to Brad Battin last week highlighting the community outcry for a local hospital.
Ms Kreuzer took action after witnessing first-hand the suffering people go through travelling to Box Hill hospital.
“They look so ill and even when they manage to get an ambulance it’s exhausting and stressful to travel that far for treatment and check-ups.”
When she experienced the trauma of breast-cancer, Ms Kreuzer was lucky to have the Warburton hospital at her doorstep and said that was a major factor in her recovery.
“I know for a fact that having it so close definitely helped my recovery,” she said.
Unfortunately, the Warburton hospital closed its doors in September 2000 and left many locals without convenient access to medical services.
Thanking the community for their sincere efforts, she said it was really wonderful to see so many locals getting involved.
“Having a hospital will bring jobs, make people happier, and importantly help those with young children, the elderly and other people suffering illness,” Ms Kreuzer said.
She said Brad Battin had done a great job in improving the local ambulance services and was hopeful the petition would instigate change.
“If this doesn’t bring about a response, I’ll have to think of something else and keep trying,” she said.
“It’s too important to just forget about.”
