Uniting War Memorial Hospital celebrates a Century of Caring
A commemorative tree has been planted at the Uniting War Memorial Hospital (WMH), to honour over 100 years of service to the community.
Long-standing staff members, Allied Health Assistant Erle Lindsay and Hotel Services Manager and Chair of the WMH Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Committee Marie Lansdowne-Beck, were given the honour of planting the tree in memory of past and present employees. The beautiful magnolia tree will eventually form a line of magnolias at the historic site in Waverley.
The centenary was formally celebrated earlier this year, with a grand event attended by the Governor of NSW, featuring keynote speeches and live performances for staff and patients.
The celebrations honoured the Vickery family’s legacy, who bequeathed the land and buildings to the Methodist Church for use as a hospital post WWI, allowing the WMH to officially open its doors as a medical, surgery and midwifery hospital in 1922.
The hospital was listed as a public health organisation within NSW Health in 1969, then pivoting to aged rehabilitation in 1984 under the direction of the then NSW Health Minster. WMH continues to this day, as an integrated part of SESLHD, offering a range of specialist aged rehabilitation admitted and non-admitted services.
WMH Executive Manager Jane McGuire said the WMH had celebrated many significant milestones over the past 100 years.
“The centenary celebrates the thousands of Australians who have been born or cared for in our hospital, as well as the many staff and volunteers for their contribution to the community,” said Jane.
“This historic site is significant, not only as a tribute to the past, but for the important services it still provides today and will continue to offer into the future. The campus is an important community hospital for our district.”
The grounds and heritage buildings of the WMH represent one of the largest remaining suburban Victorian spaces in Eastern Sydney.
Check out this short video to see highlights from the colourful centenary celebrations.
