The many donors to the makeover of the newly-designated Family Room at Millicent and District Hospital were thanked at a celebratory afternoon tea in the boardroom on Friday afternoon.
Their generosity was acknowledged by Millicent Hospital executive officer and director of nursing Michelle de Wit along with representatives from the Millicent Health Advisory Council and the Millicent and Surrounding Areas Health Support Group.
Ms de Wit explained the hospital had earlier received many donations from individuals, groups and businesses back in 1992 which enabled room 12C to be converted into the Palliative Care room.
Two years later, a bequest from the family of the late Karen Lee Graves had enabled a courtyard to be erected outside the Palliative Care room.
Ms de Wit said the name “Family Room” was now appropriate 30 years later.
“We were looking to create a home-like environment and not a clinical one,” she said.
“The stays in the Family Room could go on for a number of weeks.”
The new furniture includes a king single bed, reclining chair and a sofa which can be used for overnight stays by family members.
The Family Room curtains, floor coverings, lighting, electrics and plumbing are all brand new while the bathroom and toilet facilities are designed with the mobility-impaired in mind.
One of the courtyard wooden benches was restored by prisoners at the Mount Gambier Gaol.
The Imagine Millicent Arts Group (IMAG) also made a substantial cash contribution to a new outdoors mural of Lake McIntyre bird life by Millicent artist Peter Dunn for the upgraded courtyard.
After more than 50 years of dedicated service, the final funds of the Evening Auxiliary were donated to the Family Room makeover and the group has gone into recess.
The other donors were the Millicent Country Women’s Association, Wattle Range Auxiliary, Millicent Cancer Support Group, Triple M (Give me five for kids), Matthews family, Millicent Senior Citizens Club and Millicent HAC presiding member Dr Kevin McGrath and his wife Toni.
Ms de Wit and nurse unit manager Fiona Oliver conducted tours of the Family Room for the 30 invited guests.
