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    Pam Clarke, Bruce Johansen and Zane Bell at the Leaves of Love Memorial at Horsham Cemetary.

Wimmera Health Care Group life governor Bruce Johansen weighs in on hospital partnership idea

Wimmera Health Care Group life governor and Horsham health-service volunteer Bruce Johansen has added his voice to a growing opposition to a proposal for a merger between Wimmera and Ballarat health services.

Mr Johansen, in his 90s, has written a letter outlining his thoughts on the concept.

Here is his letter.

SIR, – Having followed with interest the media talk and some community comments regarding this, I feel that I cannot remain silent.



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I have given more than 30 years of my life as a volunteer with both the Wimmera Base Hospital and Wimmera Health Care Group, of which I was the inaugural president. 

My service began back in the late ’90s as Wimmera Hospice Care Committee chairman. As history tells you we were very successful and after much hard work with an outstanding committee, established one of the best hospice care services in Victoria, if not in Australia.

Many readers will well know Anne Hayes, who was our first co-ordinator and remained so until her retirement.

I served on the hospital board for 17 years, of which seven were as president, as well as 13 years on the division-two board of the Victorian Hospitals Association and three years on the VAH board, representing all of Victoria.

Since retiring from the WHCG board some years ago, I served on the Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation and a number of other committees until I withdrew from active volunteering due to my age, leaving the task to younger and more able community members.

During my time as president of our hospital I had the privilege of serving with our chief executive John Krygger on the ‘new hospital’ project committee, working with health department personnel, architect and builders.

All this is in no way to try to ‘big note’ myself, but only to let those who do not know these facts that I feel somewhat able to speak with authority on this proposal.

I had the opportunity to listen to the current board president and chief executive along with one other board member at Horsham East Rotary Club, where they came to speak to us with the objective of advising the benefits to our community of this proposed merger.

After almost an hour of discussion and answering Rotarians questions, they were unable to offer one benefit to this community in such a merger.

Neither in the press or in any of the very little information given to the press, has there been anything offered to make any logical reason to support this idea.

What does concern me mostly is the fact that I see this as a Victorian Government idea which I am afraid is a ‘fait accompli’ as there is very little official comment coming from the health department.  

Adding to this is the fact that all board members are paid by their ‘masters’, the government, and really only give lip service to the community who they are supposed to represent. As volunteers we had the ability to stand up and fearlessly have our say, many times in direct opposition to the views of departmental personnel.

May I encourage many folk to exercise their right to voice their opposition to this proposal as once it comes into being it is too late and we are left with a very inferior service. 

What we need to push for is more services here in Horsham, remembering the vast area we serve as a base hospital.

The aged care facilities have been below standard for many years and what was once the ‘new hospital’ is past time to be rebuilt, according to the health department, who at the time of building stated they only build hospitals for a lifetime of 20 years – this is long past.

There is a growing number of people moving to the country and over the whole of the Wimmera the population is set to grow. 

Adding to this is the mining industry along with other proposed developments, all of which show a greater demand for a larger and better equipped hospital, not one that will deteriorate should management be based in Ballarat.

I apologise for the length of this letter, but I remain passionate about our hospital and afraid of what is planned by others who hardly know where Horsham is, let alone Rainbow, Kaniva, Nhill, Warracknabeal and Stawell.

Bruce Johansen

Life governor, WHCG, Horsham   

The entire May 5, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!