Creswick celebrated the 160th birthday of its historic Creswick & District Hospital

Published September 19, 2023

The community of Creswick celebrated the 160th birthday of its historic Creswick & District Hospital with a dinner on Friday night. The dinner was attended by special guests Martha Haylett MP and The Hon. Mary Delahunty and also featured scientist-entrepreneur, Dr Peter Molloy from Firebrick Pharma, as the guest speaker.

The Hon. Mary Delahunty, Bob Orr OAM & Maree Cuddihy

Guests at the sell-out event heard about the importance of rural health care, how the community is currently rallying to support their local health service as well as developments in research into curing the common cold.

The event was a celebration of the vital health services it has been able to provide the community for more than a century and will help to raise much-needed funds to assist with the current building upgrades.

The Creswick community has a long proud history of supporting this hospital. In 1857, a hospital was planned to be built in the area and the community donated generously towards its construction. The hospital was completed in 1863.

160 years on, Central Highlands Rural Health is upgrading Creswick Health's hospital and residential aged care facilities. However, due to global supply issues and significant price increases in materials, the project needs community support to complete the project.

Earlier this year, a committee of community members, chaired by former hospital President Bob Orr, formed to rally support for the local health service and encourage individuals, businesses, and community groups to donate to cover the shortfall in building funds as a result of global supply issues and significant price increases in materials.

The Creswick Health Upgrade Appeal Committee aims to raise $150,000 to complete redevelopment works at Central Highlands Rural Health’s Creswick Hospital and Residential Aged Care facility. Since it launched in March 2023, the committee has raised close to $100,000 towards its target in partnership with The Creswick & District Community Bank which has matched donations up to $33,000.

Margaret Orr (President, Creswick & District Hospital Auxiliary) and Bob Orr OAM (Former President and current Creswick Health Upgrade Appeal Chair)

Former Creswick & District Hospital president and Chair of the Creswick Health Upgrade Appeal Committee, Bob Orr said: “The Creswick Hospital and Residential Aged Care facility has been an essential service for our community since 1863. Locals feel comforted knowing that we have a health service in our much-loved rural town to receive medical care close to home and our loved ones.

“I know that locals are passionate about our hospital, and I’m pleased to have recently formed a committee of community members to rally Creswick and surrounding residents to support the future of health care in our rural area,” said Orr.

Central Highlands Rural Health’s Board Member and event MC, The Hon. Mary Delahunty, encouraged the Creswick community to rally behind the committee to support their much-loved hospital and aged care facility.

“Central Highlands Rural Health is extremely appreciative that Bob Orr and the committee have formed to support the major upgrades at the facility. While we have been working on improving Creswick Health’s facilities, Central Highlands Rural Health remains committed to providing our residents and patients with contemporary, purpose-built environments to ensure their comfort and care are maximised,” said Ms. Delahunty said.

Thanks for Mary Forbes for volunteering to cater the event and the weeks spent preparing an incredible 3 course dinner and her team of volunteers on the night. We also very much appreciate the Creswick Brass BAND and Bespoke Balloons Ballarat for their contributions to the night.

The evening raised $16,157.00 to bring the campaign total to $109,281.69. Chair, Bob Orr, announced at the event that the campaign would be extended to 31 October to meet the $150,000 target.

There are two upcoming fundraising events:

- Springtime Dance on Sunday 7 October = https://events.humanitix.com/springtimedancedaylesford

- Musical Threads: Performers for Patients on Sunday 15 October = https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=728424449296159&set=a.614040130734592

Can you give a gift? Donations can be made in person at the Community Bank Creswick & District branch at 1 Raglan Street, Creswick or Creswick Health’s Community Health reception at 1 Napier Street, Creswick. Gifts can also be made online or via credit card payments.

If you’d like to become donate to the appeal, please get in touch with Kathryn Kosloff, Fundraising Manager, on (03) 5321 6555 or via giving@chrh.org.au

Support the committee and stay up to date via the campaign page: www.fb.me/creswickhealthupgradeappeal

Thank you to our generous auction donors: