Upgrading and updating to face the issues
It has come at last — the proposal has gone through and Bilby is getting a brand new state-of-the-art hospital.
Although Bendalong also put up a possible location, replacing its slightly dated current hospital, the Bilby proposal has been preferred. This will involve the development of a regional hospital, with a focus on specialist regional medical issues.

As Dr Chuck Wilson indicated in his visit in January, ‘this area needs up-to-the-minute dialysis for kidney problems, a casualty department which can cope with serious tractor accidents or asthma attacks. It’s no good depending on an ageing facility 40 minutes down the road at Bendalong.’
Dr Wilson’s vision includes a specialist burns unit for when the fire season is most dangerous. He also indicated that the Bendalong facility is overcrowded itself, and the region needed to think big in its response, moving away from parochial local competition.
The Bilby graveyard area has been preferred as a site with its easy access to the main roads out of town, and its central location. One of the key elements of the new hospital will be its ecologically friendly and sustainable waste management system, and the lack of intrusion into the streetscape. ‘Even though it’s three storeys,’ said architect Gordon Brown, of Brown and Slates, ‘it’s designed to match its environment, to fit in.’
The Bush Nursing Hospital has been struggling for quite a while now to cope with the increased population of Bilby. There has been concern that accidents such as the multiple car crash two weeks ago on the Bilby-Bendalong Road put pressures on facilities which are no longer up to standard.
This new hospital is a part of the regional infrastructure funding arrangements (check the report), and the concept of a regional hospital in this population growth corridor has been supported and promoted over several years.
It is also a relief to Dr Bert Fisher, who has worked all his life with the Bush Nursing Hospital, and is a Shire Council member. ‘As long as I can remember (and you all know I can remember a long way back!) we have needed a decent casualty department. I’ve been anxious for years about any serious accidents. It’s surprising we haven’t had more fatalities.
One of the big initiatives is to provide a psychology unit — it will be doing research on regional issues related to community depression, managing career change and loss/bereavement, as well as running clinics.
Chops Lambert’s enthusiastic response sums up this positive announcement: ‘What a great day this is for Bilby’s health community — more jobs in building it, then more professionals interested in joining this innovative hospital and staying in our lovely town — a win-win for everyone!’
Further details can be obtained via the Department of Infrastructure — www.infra.vic.gov.au – or contact the architects Brown and Slates via email [email protected] to view the proposed plans.