Friends of the Old Bega Hospital Newsletter
July 2025
The 20th and 21st of June 2025 will go down in Far South Coast history as the days the Bega Valley community was able to walk up the steps and through the main doors of its heritage OBH after a 20 year wait for the fire ravaged building to be restored.
On Friday the Land Managers, with the help of the Friends Committee, held the Official Opening of the restored building.
On Saturday the Friends held a Community Picnic Day which attracted over 1,000 people. All enjoyed the entertainment over the course of the day - Bega Band, BAAD and the Figmentz. The community radio station provided a beautifully set up morning tea on the verandah of the Nurses’ Quarters for some of the nurses who were working at the hospital when it closed in 1956. What a thrill for the community to be able to meet those nurses and listen to some stories about those days. The star of the day was the restored OBH, the craftsmanship of which did take most people’s breath away. How proud is our region to have the community’s patient efforts rewarded by the unveiling of a National Trust (NSW) Heritage Award plaque in honour of the Judges’ Choice award winning rebuild.
For those who forgot their picnic, the Friends Committee held a successful morning tea and cake stall, operating out of the new kitchen for sandwich making with customers able to choose their treats from an assortment of home made baking. The verandah off the Women’s Ward provided a sunny place to sit with friends and family to enjoy the food and view. The Tearooms raised $1,567. Friends sincerely thank the members of Bega CWA, Red Cross, Senior Citizens, OBH Tenants and any others who provided the cakes and other baked goodies. Some people found it so hard to choose from the delicious offerings before their eyes.
The Friends new merchandise lines, linen aprons and tote bags, as well as our new stock of T-Shirts and T-Towels were admired, as well as the sunny room they were displayed in, and many people took advantage of the good quality, and the desire to have a memento of the day, to purchase presents for family and friends. As well our limited edition Jigsaws (sponsored by Bendigo Bank) proved a drawcard as the picture illustrates a scene now hidden by a new roof! The beekeepers donated 12 jars of valley grown honey. Thankyou Beekeepers! Merchandise and honey sales raised $685.
The Friends made up a small raffle of all of our merchandise, plus a quirky owl (donated by owl potter David), and a jar of honey. Raffle raised $410, and was won by an excited Debbie Tipping.
The special ‘DONATIONS’ bucket held $347.85 when the day was done. Total all up raised was $3,030. There are some expenses to come out of that amount. Treasurer John will have expenses outlined for next newsletter.
Land Managers and Friends Committee plan to open the OBH a couple of days a week, one day a week as soon as a feasible roster and services to be offered can be worked out. Merchandise and raffle ticket sales will start the operation off. An information pamphlet on space hire costs will be available as well as information on the history and operation of the precinct. Visitors will be able to walk through some areas of the building to get an idea of the wonderful restoration work. Artisan creations are being sourced from OBH tenants for display and sale.
Volunteers needed. The Landscaping Monthly Working Bee is on schedule for the last Saturday of July, the 26th, starting at 9.30. This will be a very important working bee, placing layers of rice straw over garden beds to provide compost and kill the last of the few hardy weeds. The layers of straw require handling and positioning by two people. So if you can bring along a partner to help with sliding the mulch into place on tarps that will be helpful. The mulch will be placed on the long fence line of the north boundary (well away from the beehives). Judy has worked out it will take 12 people 2 hours to get the job done, but if 24 people can commit to help it will only take the landscaping buddies an hour! When Judy calls ‘down tools’ there will be a yummy thank you morning tea provided as well as a chance for you to chat about planning suggestions for OBH’s open spaces with your landscaping buddies.
It is important Judy does have at least 12 people to hold the working bee. If you can make it please message Friend’s Committee Secretary, Kay Dowman on 0437 101 645 with your ‘yes.’ And if you can’t help out with the ‘dirty part’ of the Landscaping Plan help with a plate of sandwiches or any baking or treats would be appreciated. Drop off at OBH any time after 9.30 on the Saturday. Friends would appreciate you letting Kay know about help with baking or sandwiches.
Please bring whatever protective gear you normally use for gardening.
Friends thank our local Bendigo Bank for sponsorship of this stage of the Landscaping Plan.
OBH Spring Fair. Friends have decided as the Roof is Raised, our Raise the Roof Spring Fair will now become a part of the history of the OBH. We held our first Fair in 2015. The aim of the Fair was to alert the community, especially new arrivals to the Bega Valley since the fire in 2004, that our much loved heart of the OBH Regional Community Cultural Centre was still waiting to be repaired and restored. Finally after 9 years, Raise the Roof achieved its aim. And the community can now occupy the spaces.
As they say- one door closes and another one opens. Friends will now, with community help and sponsorship, run an OBH Spring Fair (perhaps we might have a competition to think up a more exciting name). It will be held on the Sunday before the Melbourne Cup is run - this year the date is 2 November. We imagine, maybe, we can hang a few activities on a horse racing theme. But early days of organisation. More information on this Fair will be in place by Friends next newsletter.
Bendigo Bank sponsored workshops. The Bega Valley Weavers, Potters and Seedsavers have each held 2 workshops offering our community the chance to come together at OBH to have fun learning new skills and making new friends. Three of my grandchildren, 8, 11 and 12, enjoyed learning how to braid, weave and knit at the Weavers last workshop held during the school holidays. Sincere thanks to our local Bendigo Bank for the $500 sponsorship, to cover workshop expenses, provided to each group for each workshop held.
Friends Committee have been busy spending money raised from the many raffles and various events run over the last 20 years to purchase gear for the kitchen and other community rooms in the OBH. Crockery and cutlery to serve 80 people has been hand washed and packed away. Along with all the other bits and pieces needed for a kitchen to function, and functions to be fed. All purchases have been sourced from our local businesses - where possible those businesses which have donated prize vouchers for our many years of raffles or sponsorship for events. Our next Friends raffle will be raising money to purchase and install an outdoor drinking fountain at a convenient spot within the centre.
There is still much work to be done to ensure the whole centre with its new spaces in the restored OBH is serving the regional community in ways which build up social capital and improve the lives of all in the region. The Friends desperately need an experienced volunteer social media person to assist with keeping our community informed about what is going on at the OBH Regional Community Cultural Centre. If this could be you, or you know of anyone with such an interest and some spare time, please message Val Little, 0428 991 683 or Kay Dowman (Friends Secretary) 0437 101 645.
Last but not least, please get the message out that the doors are open at OBH and there are various sized spaces for hire, casual or permanent, at community rates. Interested people only have to email bookings@obh.org.au.
Thank you all for your help and looking forward to seeing you at OBH.