Former South Burnett Private Hospital nurse Racheal Collier with Ava, 14 months, and husband Scott

July 25, 2015

Are 9265 signatures enough to convince someone somewhere that South Burnett residents really value their private hospital in Kingaroy and want to keep it open?

South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann announced at Friday morning’s supporters’ rally that 8712 signed submission forms had been received back at Council just a week after the campaign was launched.

But by the end of Friday another 553 forms, collected by local businesses, added to the tally.

That’s 9265 signatures collected in just over a week from a region that only has about 33,500 residents in total – men, women and children!

Supporters of the South Burnett Private Hospital gathered from 7:00am on Friday to hear local GP Dr Debbie Tellam add her support for the hospital, and listen to another impassioned plea from Mayor Kratzmann.

The red balloons, T-shirts, stickers and a live broadcast by CROW-FM added a colourful air to the rally but there was a serious message: 70 jobs have been lost since the hospital doors closed on June 30, and local residents could well die if another hospital operator cannot be convinced to take it over.

Mayor Kratzmann said a magnificent facility was not being used “and that can’t be allowed to continue”.

He pledged to continue to do his utmost to find a provider.

“Hopefully I can get back to you in a week or two with some good news; if we don’t have good news I can assure it won’t be for the lack of trying,” he said.

Kingaroy Rotary Club members were kept busy dispensing bacon and egg muffins, donated by SupaIGA to help the cause.

Amongst the crowd were many former nurses from the hospital hopeful a new operator will be found quickly.

South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann added his signature to the supporters’ wall
Debbie Dennien, Kingaroy, with Dr Debbie Tellam, from Markwell Medical
Harrison Braithwaite, 8, from Kingaroy, signs the wall … his siblings Lawson, Patterson and Rhianon also signed
Shaz from CROW-FM with station mascot
Charlene
Charlene pops up again, this time with CROW-FM brekky announcer Corky
Craig Yarrow was making sure everyone could be spotted supporting the hospital
Darrin Kefford (Rotary) and John Box, from Kingaroy
Gary Cecil, Kingaroy, with Insp Mark Long (QFRS)
Des Cook, Neil Black and Lex Petersen, from Kingaroy Rotary, were kept busy serving up bacon and egg muffins … a queue formed at their booth
Cr Damien Tessmann, Alan Broome, Kingaroy; and Mayor Wayne Kratzmann
Elaine Madill, Wondai, left; and Rhonda Kath, Benair; with Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell
Former South Burnett Private Hospital nurses … Jan Lang, Linda Nielsen and Marion Kucks, all from Kingaroy
Luke McCormack and Geoff Griffith, from Kingaroy
Jo Lindner travelled from Yarraman to sign the wall
Half of Markwell Street was blocked off with barriers to allow the crowd to listen to the speeches
Evan, Bryce and Barbara Winter, from Kingaroy … Bryce and Barbara were born at the old St Aubyns
Maureen Allott, Booie; with John Bjelke-Petersen, Kingaroy; and Carl Rackemann, Wooroolin
Dennis Cotter, Kingaroy, and Frances Wyeth, from Tingoora, snap up a T-shirt
South Burnett Child Care staff members Dana Slade and Estelle Wolski with Clare Petersen shared balloons and T-shirts (Photo: SBCCC)

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