‘The Unbreakable Farmer’ Warren Davies, Yea and District Memorial Hospital community health manager Sarah Austin, state Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish, leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson, Andrew Embling of Alexandra Events and owner and founder of Jayco Gerry Ryan at the launch of the Murrindindi Mobile Health Van.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Cows and farmers weren’t the only things that filled the Yea Saleyards on Wednesday, January 7 — there was also a special vehicle, primed and ready to transform the delivery of health services in the region.
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The Murrindindi Mobile Health Van, an initiative funded by the community and managed by Alexandra Events, was officially launched during a bustling cattle sale, where the vehicle itself was open for attendees to see exactly what the community had achieved.
Alongside healthcare workers, members of local government and residents who are to directly benefit from the van, the leader of the Victorian Opposition, Jess Wilson, attended the launch event to see what regional Victoria could accomplish.
Gerry Ryan, Andrew Embling, Jess Wilson and Cindy McLeish take a look inside the van.
Photo by
Billie Davern
“What we see on offer here and right in this district is the Yea hospital putting out this service for farmers, for locals, all around preventative healthcare,” Ms Wilson said.
“This is a service that is desperately needed, and it’s desperately needed because our health services, particularly in regional Victoria, are not funded properly.”
The van, which will be operational and ready for bookings on Monday, January 12, addresses challenges faced across the district where distance, transport and availability of services can limit access to health care.
Over $114,000 was raised by the community to fund the initiative, which will deliver medical and mental health services across the Murrindindi Shire.
Jess Wilson and Sarah Austin take a look inside the van.
Photo by
Billie Davern
State Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish said the van would make an impact in the areas it was needed most.
“This allows (service providers) to get to the smaller communities, of Flowerdale, of Taggerty, of Eildon and township, which is bigger but doesn’t have good health services at all,” Ms McLeish said.
“So, this actually really makes a difference in helping people.”
Murrindindi Shire Mayor Damien Gallagher agreed that it would be instrumental in providing care to those in the shire, and beyond, without access.
“This van is about bringing health care to people, rather than expecting people to always travel long distances to get care,” he said.
Caolan O’Connor, Elizabeth Sinclair, Gerry Ryan, Andrew Embling and Neil Beer celebrate the launch of the van.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Etched on the van is a long list of people associated with its delivery, including local health services, community partners, donors and local government.
One of these is Yea and District Memorial Hospital, whose chair, Ian Marshman, said the van was all about removing barriers to healthcare.
“Mobile health services like this allow us to reach people earlier, remove practical barriers and deliver care in a way that fits their lives,” he said.
For more information about the Murrindindi Mobile Health Van, visit tinyurl.com/3pf9rnyc
