A reunion for Echuca Regional Health staff was hosted at Echuca Workers on Saturday, April 27 for past and current staff members and their families.
Sue Swalling and Beth Baker organised the event, which saw 100 people attend from a range of hospital departments and eras.
“It’s just great to have them all here and to see them all chatting is just amazing,” Mrs Baker said.
“They’re all different; cleaners, doctors, outdoor staff, indoor staff, nurses, everything.
“It’s terrific.”
Many decades of the hospital’s history were represented, including the oldest guests, Elaine Holschier at 99 years of age and Colin Moysey at 96.
Dr Moysey practised with Dr J. Jones at Heygarth House in Echuca for close to 50 years.
He was joined by his granddaughter, Coco Moysey, who is following in Dr Moysey’s footsteps, studying to become a doctor.
Smiles and embraces were shared, with some guests telling organiser Beth Baker they had not seen their former colleagues in more than 30 years.
Mrs Baker worked at the hospital for 12 years as an enrolled nurse, and Mrs Swalling was there for 15 years as a nursing assistant and a crèche assistant.
“The hospital was a great place to work. I mean it’s different now, but when we worked there we had such fun,” Mrs Baker said.
“We worked hard ... there weren’t as many rules back then!”
The last ERH reunion was six years ago, with 60 attendees. The organisers were happy to see the numbers increase for this event.
One of the afternoon’s highlights was the raffle, with 17 prizes donated by local businesses on offer.
The raffle raised $913.52 for the ERH Cancer and Wellness Centre, which opened in June 2023.
“The Echuca businesses, owned by Echuca people, are really very generous,” Mrs Baker said.
“Moama Bowling Club is amazing, they gave us $500 worth of vouchers, and (Echuca Workers) here gave us $100.
“They’re all owned locally ... the people who live, work and own Echuca businesses are just great.”
Echuca Workers hosted the group, providing nibbles like sandwiches, cakes, tea, and biscuits for the crowd.
“They’ve done a really good job,” Mrs Baker said.
“It’s central and easy for everyone to get to. If they want to, they can even get the courtesy bus home, which makes it ideal.”
Some guests brought photo albums with memories dating back decades. Stories from 1970s editions of The Riv featured in one.
A slideshow of photos from across the years also played during the event, with photos of former staff at work and at play.
“We used to have great parties at the hospital,” Mrs Baker said.
“We did have fun, way back then.”
The $913.52 will be donated to ERH Cancer and Wellness Centre this week.
Full list of raffle prizes:
- Two $250 Moama Bowling Club vouchers
- Two $50 Echuca Workers vouchers
- Happy plant worth $85 from Echuca Moama Plant Farm
- ERH chopping board and knives
- Six Jonny & Lyle coffee vouchers
- Bottle of Cape Horn Picnic Brut and $50 Cape Horn voucher
- $50 Wren Café voucher
- Nutrimetics hamper and voucher from Laura Burt
- Quilt made by Helen Schier
- 10 Paramount Cinema tickets
- Chopping board, knives, wine and glasses from Lyn and Brian Wills
- Trilogy For Hair trim and blow wave