New hospital equipment unveiled
Following 12 months of fund-raising by the Ballina Shire community, the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) officially unveiled new digital X-ray equipment at the Ballina Hospital today.
The new equipment will ensure a faster diagnosis for people attending the hospital, which will in turn result in faster treatment for patients, Ballina Mayor Phillip Silver said.
The unveiling of the equipment took the form of an afternoon tea to thank the members and sponsors of the Ballina Healthy Community Fund who were instrumental in raising in excess of $150,000 towards the purchase of this equipment.
Ballina Shire Council, Ballina RSL Club, Ballina RSL Sub Branch and the Ballina Bowling and Recreation Club formed the Ballina Healthy Community Fund to co-ordinate fund raising for this equipment from the entire Ballina community.
Cr Silver, the chairman of the fund, said: “Monday is a great day for the shire with the unveiling of this equipment. To raise in excess $150,000 from the Ballina Shire community towards the purchase of state-of-the-art health equipment that will improve the lives of people throughout the shire, is a magnificent achievement.
“This level of fund-raising just highlights what can be done when an entire community gets behind a worthwhile project.
“Special mention also needs to be made to Mr Bob Grant, the former chairman of the Ballina RSL, as without Bob’s energy and drive I’m sure that we would not have achieved our fundraising target.”
