Committee for Lorne: A word from the Chairman

What a celebration at the Lorne Community Hospital on Monday with the “coming together” ceremony of the Lorne Community Hospital and Otway Health to create a new single body called Great Ocean Road Health.

For the past three years, Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos, and the Boards of Lorne Community Hospital and Otway Health have been exploring better ways to share resources.

“The new entity has been created to deliver better health”, Ms Mikakos said, and followed on by saying that “Great Ocean Road Health will ensure people living along the Great Ocean Road, and visitors, have greater access to high quality health services”. “General practices are now integrated and better able to attract and keep more doctors working on the coast”, Ms Mikakos also reiterated.

In front of a large gathering of Community representatives from both towns, Lorne Community Hospital Chairman Damian Smith, conducted the local ceremony that involved the pouring of sand from both the Apollo Bay beach and the Lorne beach into a single jar to symbolize the coming together of the service offerings of the two entities and communities.

Mr Smith was quick to highlight that through the “joining of services” each would still retain their own identity and for staunch Lorne locals, I’m happy to report the name Lorne Community Hospital will continue in existence, as will the ability to donate to and pledge to the continuing service of your choice. In Mr Smith’s closing words ‘the Lorne Hospital Board is now dead but the Lorne Community Hospital will live on” rang strong and were certainly valued by many that have Lorne entrenched in their veins.

On a day of celebration there was only one “downer”. Barwon Health have recognised what this town has known for the past five years and that was the professionalism and talent of CEO Kate Gillan. She has been appointed to a major role within the huge Barwon Health group.

This is major step in her career and an absolute “feather in her cap”.

Congratulations Kate for not only your work at our local Health Services but for the “extra miles” you also gave to our Lorne Community – we will all miss you!

Whilst on celebration, the Stribling Reserve Committee of Management must be congratulated on the “turning on” of their new “state of the art” digital scoreboard. So good in fact that a little birdie told me that the installers reportedly commented “it’s the most impressive” installation in regional Victoria. If you haven’t seen it make sure you get up to a home game before the year is out and for those who remember what a “drive-in” used to be like, this is bigger, brighter and better!!!

A continuing reminder that our next community luncheon is scheduled for the Friday prior to the AFL Grand Final. We would love you to spread the word and go out of your way to invite others that may attend for the first time.

Ian Stewart
Chairman – Committee for Lorne