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Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre
OUR HISTORY
Our local health service commenced July
4 th 1925. Mrs. Ethel Wood and Lady
Smyth were the inaugural executive and
faced many challenges establishing the
service. Throughout the first year the
Centre provided 447 visits, 81 days in
residence, 10 all night sittings and 11
maternity cases.
Volunteers built the original centre in
1928 on land donated by Mr. A J Walter
and using building materials generously
donated by local benefactors.
The current site, 26 Bell Street was
purchased on 22 nd December 1970, and
opened in 1972 with the Bush Nurse
living onsite, often called upon after
hours.
As the service expanded the residence
was converted to make way for
increased services and the need for
administrative support. In August 1989
an adult day activity program
commenced.
In 1992 the Infant Welfare building was
purchased from the Shire of Wannon.
Refurbishment allowed for expanded
service provision.
In 1994 a Commonwealth funded
Respite program commenced. In 1997 a
capital redevelopment resulted in our
Function Room. This provided the
physical capacity for modern service
delivery.
In 2006 we embarked on a major facility
redevelopment project; in order to
address increased identified risks in the
areas of safety, service quality and
service range. This project was
completed in August 2007 with our
official opening held on in September
2007.
The Bush Nursing Centre of 2011 is a
broad service utilizing many strong
partnerships and continuously adapting
to community needs.
Above: Years of Balmoral and Victorian Bush Nursing history were celebrated in August 2010 at a gala function in
Melbourne to mark 100 years of Bush Nursing in Victoria. Balmoral delegates attending were past Charge
Nurse/Current RAN Diane McLean, current Centre Manager Lisa Hutchins, Life Member Carol Seymour and past
Charge Nurse Patricia Watt.
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