GV Health Waranga Feature

CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF

THE 'WHROO' WING

It’s all smiles out the front of the new Whroo Wing at Waranga Health. From left Jayne French, Waranga campus manager, Pauline Holt, hostel supervisor, Sadie Vale, project manager model of care and Jake Symes, CICG project manager.

Waranga Health Rushworth’s healthcare facilities are currently split across two sites — the Waranga Aged Care Hostel, completed in 1996 and the Waranga Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home and Waranga District Nursing and Community Health building, which was built in 1961. A $10 million redevelopment, funded by the Victorian State Government, will create one integrated healthcare facility offering a range of acute health, aged care and community health services in the centre of Rushworth.

The redevelopment will provide a flexible, multi-service provider for health and aged care needs in the district.

This will also co-locate Primary Care and District Nursing Services on site, making access to all health services easier for all.

The decommissioned Waranga Memorial Hospital will be moved to the new facility at the site of the current Waranga Aged Care Hostel. The state-of-the-art redevelopment will include new office, administration, reception, storage, consulting and activity areas, as well as a new dining room and alfresco area, laundry facilities and a hairdressing salon. Bringing the services together on one site will stop

the duplication of health, IT, kitchen, laundry, utility and maintenance services.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said, “We’re putting people first by revamping Rushworth’s health services so more patients can be treated sooner, closer to home.”

“This will provide a real boost to local health services and make a genuine difference to the lives of patients and aged care residents who will benefit from modern, safe facilities and better connected care.”

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CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF THE 'WHROO' WING

Commercial Industrial Construction Group Pty Ltd (CICG) project manager Jake Symes.

The building process The re-development of Rushworth’s Waranga Aged Care Hostel began in September 2017 with completion of the entire project expected between March and April 2019.

Commercial Industrial Construction Group Pty Ltd (CICG) project manager Jake Symes said, “It has been a great opportunity to be a part of this exciting project and we’re thrilled by the positive feedback we’ve already received with the recent completion and handover of Stage One - the eight-bed aged care unit, ‘Whroo’.

“Stage two is now underway and with demolition over three zones,

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up-keeping existing services to enable the rest of the facility to remain operational makes this the most technical part of the build.

Stage Two includes the demolition and construction of the new acute wing, consulting rooms and staff offices as well as the new entrance, driveway and portico.

“Stage Three will see the fit out of the existing buildings (Wings B, and C), lounge, living and carpark. Throughout the process, we are using suppliers from within the Goulburn Valley.”

Waranga Health

CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF THE 'WHROO' WING

Naming the New Wings to reflect Rushworth’s History One of the most important stages of any redevelopment is naming the new wings. This process has been undertaken with input from the hostel completed in 1996 members, staff, the Community Reference Committee and friends of the hostel members. The new redeveloped facility will be called Waranga Health.

With Rushworth having such a rich history in regards to its mining days, indigenous ancestors and its unique forestry and plant species most of the names have been chosen to reflect and embrace these themes.

AGED CARE WINGS Whroo Whroo Historic Reserve lies within the 33,000ha Rushworth State Forest. The 500ha reserve encompasses the site of the Whroo township and part of the associated goldfields. The Aboriginal name for the waterhole, Wooroo, meaning ‘mouth’ is the origin of the name Whroo. The waterhole is now the only visible evidence of a history of occupation of the area between Lake Cooper and Reedy Lake that dates back many thousands

of years before Whroo was a flourishing gold-rush town. Again this name was chosen as a tribute to the gold rush times, but also to our indigenous ancestors. This wing is now complete with residents having now moved in.

Balaclava Named after the Balaclava Mine which was an open-cut mine in the Australian ghost town of Whroo, Victoria. It opened in October 1854, one year after gold was found at nearby Rushworth. The proceeds from this local mine were actually used to build the old Menzies Hotel in Melbourne. This name was chosen as a tribute to the region’s gold mining past.

Ironbark

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

ACUTE WING Heily Named after the first, well-renowned GP in Rushworth, Dr John Vickers Heily. Dr Heily purchased the 243ha property at Lisadurne, near Rushworth in 1870 after he immigrated to Australia from Ireland. He set up a medical practice in Rushworth and ran the land as a farm for sheep and stud rams.

The Rushworth State Forest is home to one of the largest ironbark forests in the region, hence the choice of this name.

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CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF

THE 'WHROO' WING

Waranga campus manager

Jayne French Jayne said, “The aim of this project is to provide an integrated health service for the community of Rushworth from the one site under the umbrella of Waranga Health. This will enable easier community access and increased healthcare and community services.

All services will be delivered from the Waranga hostel site ensuring a flexible, multi-purpose service provider for all health and aged care needs in the district.

Stage One is complete and residents moved into the new rooms on July 5th and have settled in well. Staff have worked well together to enable a smooth transition for the residents during this period.

Administration and management staff have relocated to the new meeting room and work station in Whroo Wing while Stage 2 works are in progress.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the local businesses and those people who reside close to the hostel for their cooperation during the works and for any disruption that may have affected them.”

Waranga project manager, model of care

Sadie Vale

Sadie has worked predominantly as a district nurse at Waranga’s District Nursing Service for the past 23 years in both clinical and management capacities. In her current project management role for the Model of Care, Sadie said, “It is a privilege to be working in this role, working with many key stakeholders and the recently formed steering committee for the Model of Care Waranga Re- Development.

Leading this project is both exciting and challenging. In my professional experience, I have looked after a vast number of community clients and have seen many of our clients transition into aged care. Stakeholder engagement is an important part of this process, which is currently on track. Getting everyone’s input, reviewing current services and identifying gaps for the development of Model of Care moving forward is paramount to the success of this project.

Staff across the current facility have worked for many years, and the changes to the new facilities will no doubt be sentimental, of which we are mindful and respectful of the adjustment that will take place for all.”

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CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF

THE 'WHROO' WING

Acting nurse unit manager

Hannah Mortlock For the past six years Hannah has happily travelled from Mooroopna to work in Rushworth and throughout the period of construction knowing that Rushworth was getting a first class health facility.

Hannah said, “It’s so nice to finally see this unfold. We as a collective are looking forward to continuing to provide good quality nursing care to the Rushworth community in a new and improved facility. Rushworth is such a pleasant place to work and this redevelopment will be fantastic for the community. Health care will be more accessible especially being located right in the centre of town.”

“We are putting people first by revamping Rushworth’s health services so more patients can be treated sooner, closer to home”

Victorian Health Minister, Jill Hennessy

Hostel supervisor

Pauline Holt Rushworth local, Pauline has worked at the Waranga Aged Care Hostel since it first opened in 1997 and is thrilled to see the service being updated, integrating so much new technology.

“It was a little emotional to see the old building demolished after so many years and with so much history, but the new facilities are wonderful and the residents are enjoying keeping an eye on the progress. The new facilities are spacious and inviting and it’s nice for the residents to enjoy the modern conveniences.”

“It has been a great opportunity to be part of this exciting project and we are thrilled by the positive feedback we have already received.”

CICG project manager, Jake Symes

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Waranga Health

CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF

THE 'WHROO' WING

Marg (Toohey) Swift (right) has lived in Rushworth for 62 years and has been a resident at the hostel now for three years. A passionate Richmond supporter Marg says she’s better not to watch the game on television because it usually doesn’t turn out well for the TV! Of the changes to Whroo Wing at Waranga Health, Marg said, “The place is unreal, I have a huge bedroom and the staff are absolutely wonderful. From the cleaning lady to the management, they’re all so kind and friendly. It’s nice to be able to keep an eye on the building progress. Even though it’s a bit sad to see the building knocked down, the improvements are fantastic.”

Ninety year old Patricia Watson is a relatively new resident at Waranga Aged Care Hostel but is certainly not new to the service. At age 92, Patricia’s own mother had lived there. Patricia is also lucky enough to be surrounded by her daughter, two granddaughters, and daughter-in-law who all work at Waranga Aged Care.

Patricia said, “I love this beautiful new space, I feel very happy and at home here. I really enjoy living here.”

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Eighty-eight year old resident Phyllis Mitting is joined by enrolled nurse Kerry Slattery. Kerry said, “The new lifting system is less labour intensive making movement more fluid for residents and much safer for both residents and nurses.”