The Week that Was
Last week’s Health Forum
Our Club hosted a very successful community forum last Thursday when four speakers from Southern NSW Local Health (SNSWLHD) brought us up to date with happenings with the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. Over 50 people attended and the panel spent half the time fielding their many questions.
The new $330 million Level 4 Eurobodalla Regional Hospital at Moruya is bigger than the combined existing Moruya and Batemans Bay Hospitals. It includes a larger Emergency Department, an eight‑bed Intensive Care/Close Observation Unit which is the region’s first Intensive Care Unit, surgical and operating theatres including a day‑stay surgical unit, expanded chemotherapy and renal dialysis services, an expanded medical imaging department including MRI, and ambulatory care and outpatient services. It will also include paediatric and maternity services, with a special care nursery, mental health beds for short term care, and education and training facilities including a simulation laboratory. The Government apparently plans to also include a radiotherapy unit but the panel said it was a matter of funding.
On staffing the hospital, speakers said they had been “blown away” with the expressions of interest from their recruitment campaign aimed at attracting skilled and passionate professionals to Moruya.
We also heard that the Government has spent $2.2 million upgrading TAFE’s Moruya’s facilities for teaching nursing to ensure the region has a skilled, job-ready workforce to support the new hospital and broader local health services. SNSWLHD staff are talking with high schools about placements and traineeships. Narooma Rotary’s initiatives with student transport to Moruya campus, in collaboration with Club Narooma, was applauded.
On appropriate and affordable accommodation for staff, the Government has already purchased five new three-bedroom dwellings with additional housing to be to be built on the hospital site. The panel also mentioned Rotary’s involvement in raising funds for carer’s accommodation at the new hospital.
There were also questions about what services were available from the Narooma Community Health Centre.
Sunday’s Market
A beautiful sunny day for a market helped a little but generally the market was typically slow for the winter months. Good to welcome back Ray Dukes Socks, Metal Concepts from Canberra and Vagabond Travel Gear leather goods after a break, while we had new stalls Eva Jean Collective a fashion family team of mother & daughters, Stitch & Sprout another mother, daughter team with lovely hand sewn novelties and potted plants, and the Coulsons with their collectibles. Bob Mettam – ‘One Dog Strumming’ – helped liven the atmosphere for young and old who were obviously enjoying his music. August sees the weather warming up and so are advance bookings and new enquiries for stalls promising more choice of goods and food.
This month trialled social media platforms Narooma Rotary Club, Eurobodalla Notice Board, Cobargo/Bermagui Notice Board, Tilba Notice Board, Tuross Head Community, Neighbourhood Watch Moruya, Moruya Notice Board, South Coast Community Support Group. This has already generated more views by posting more than 220% than previously. Narooma Rotary Facebook currently has 1,100 followers.
THIS THURSDAY 30th July
No meeting being the fifth Thursday in the month.
NEXT WEEK
Wednesday 5 August noon, Narooma Golf Club: Prostate Cancer Support Group
Thursday 6 August 5pm, Narooma Golf Club: Board Meeting