By JESSE GRAHAM
HUNDREDS of balloons were released today, celebrating the community campaign to secure a future for Healesville Hospital and pushing for maternity to return.
The balloon release was part of a celebration regarding the recent announcement of a $7.8 million expansion to the hospital’s services, which will see six renal dialysis chairs at the hospital in future.
The event was also held around the anniversary of the closure of Healesville Hospital’s maternity services, which the Save Healesville Hospital Action Group (SHHAG) have been campaigning to return.
SHHAG ran the event from noon-1pm, where a sausage sizzle was held and balloons were purchased before a group release at 12.30pm.
SHHAG chairwoman Fiona McAllister said the day was an occasion to congratulate community efforts in pushing for an expansion of the hospital’s service and a reminder that the group’s fight was not over.
Some 597 photographs of children born at Healesville Hospital, Yarra Junction Bush Nursery and Lilydale Private Hospital from 1979-1990 were on display at the event.
The photos will remain on display in the Healesville Community Bank window for the next two weeks.
For the full story, see next week’s Mail.
