STAFF members at the Tomaree Community Hospital have a new space to take a break from their work after the completion of the second stage of the Reflective Garden project.
Don Whatham, secretary of the Nelson Bay Rotary Club, was a key figure in the project.
He said the area outside the hospital was once “bare, barren, uneven, and pretty much unusable”.
As of 2023, a beautiful garden now rests where the barren land used to be, thanks to the multi-year efforts of the Nelson Bay Rotary Club (led by then-president Doug Craike) and numerous other community members and organisations.
However, after the garden’s inauguration, it became clear that there was still work to be done as the area proved to be so popular with patients that hospital staff could hardly find a place to sit.
For the second stage of the project, the Rotary Club decided to add a covered area with plenty of seating for staff to relax.
“Originally this was going to be for staff and patients,” Jenny Craike said.
“But patients use the other section a lot, and nurses need their own retreat.”
After many months of work by Rotary club members, Mayor Leah Anderson officially cut the ribbon for the new seating area on 24 September, signalling the completion of the second stage.
“Great projects like these mean so much to our community, the staff, the patients, their families and their carers,” Mayor Anderson said.
“If it wasn’t for the remarkable work of groups like the Rotary and Lions clubs, a lot of these projects just wouldn’t happen.”
Port Stephens Council was a major sponsor of the garden, alongside other donors, including the State Government, Shoal Bay Pharmacy, former patients, and many other community organisations – not to mention the residents who purchased thousands of sausage sandwiches sold during Rotary’s charity events.
All the major contributors are immortalised in a plaque that will be displayed in the gardens.
The new seating area was put to good use during the opening ceremony and is certain to be popular with staff members.
By Nico LOMBARDO
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