Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, was thrilled to officially open the Phillip Island Health Hub.
Minister Hunt joined Victorian Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, the Hon Jill Hennessy MP, Victorian Member for Bass, Brian Paynter MP, members of Bass Coast Health and the local community, to officially open the Hub at a ceremony on Saturday.
“The opening of the Phillip Island Medical Hub is the culmination of years of dedication and hard work by the community, the Phillip Island Medical and Health Action Group, the Warley Trust and Bass Coast Health,” Minister Hunt said.
“I have had the privilege to be involved with this project for the past ten years and to see it open its doors is a fantastic feeling.
“This facility is built for not just the present, but future needs of Phillip Island residents and visitors. It is a facility the whole Phillip Island community can be proud of.
“Services such as cardiology, urology, oncology, haematology and ophthalmology have already been secured for the Hub, with plenty of room for more services to follow.
“I will continue to work with Bass Coast Health, Bass Coast Shire and the Victorian Government to secure expanded services for the Hub and across Phillip Island as a whole.”
Mr Hunt went on to acknowledge the tireless work of the Phillip Island community, which helped bring the Hub to fruition.
“This has been a true partnership from all levels of Government and most importantly with the community,” Mr Hunt said.
“Following the closure of Warley Hospital in early 2008 – the community, led by Jock McKechnie, Graeme Cock, Peter Paul, John Matthews and Linda Marston have lobbied all sides of politics for funding of the Hub.
“At a federal level, we were able to commit $2.5 million for the construction of the Hub, as well as assisting in securing $2.2 million from the Victorian Government, $1.1 million from the community led Warley Trust and the gifting of the land from Bass Coast Council.
“I congratulate them and the whole Phillip Island Medical and Health Action Group team for the leading role they played in ensuring this state-of-the-art building came to fruition.”