News
Dedication of John McNally Medical Imaging Department
1st June, 2009
Victoria Police Commissioner Simon Overland APM officially dedicated the ‘John McNally' Medical Imaging Department at East Grampians Health Service on Friday 29th May 2009
Prior to the official dedication ceremony, the Police Commissioner accompanied East Grampians Health Service Chief Executive John Davies, Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Chairman John Forbes, Emmerson Financial Group Principle and AMP Foundation Representative Chris Emmerson and East Grampians Health Service Chief Radiographer Azu Azubuike on a special tour of the Medical Imaging Department.
The moving dedication ceremony, which was held in Pyrenees House in front of 60 guests including members of Victoria Police, saw the unveiling of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation official plaque by the Police Commissioner and the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Chairman followed by a blessing by Fr John Mathes the Grampians Police Chaplain.
For East Grampians Health Service, the Victoria Police Foundation and the Ararat Branch this is the third such dedication that has taken place at the health service to perpetuate the memory of Sgt John McNally who was killed on the Mount Ararat goldfields at Cathcart in 1856. Sgt McNally was the first member of Victoria Police killed in the line of duty.
Since 2002 when the Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was established, over $400,000 has been donated to the health service including $63,000 towards the ‘John McNally' Emergency Department, $150,000 for the ‘John McNally' Emergency Helicopter and todate $236,000 has been handed over to the ‘John McNally' Medical Imaging Department for the General and Portable X-Ray Machine, and the current project being the Image Intensifier and the installation of Computorised Technology.
East Grampians Health Service Board Chairman, Graeme Foster expressed the thanks of the Board and the Staff for the significant contribution given by the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation and in particular the Ararat Branch, who with outstanding community support, including that of the Emmerson Financial Group and the AMP Foundation, have given so significantly to the health service. The dedication of the Medical Imaging Department is another step in acknowledging this outstanding community partnership.
At the conclusion of the dedication ceremony Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Chief Executive Neil Soullier made a special presentation of the Foundations ‘Chairman's Medal' to East Grampians Health Service retiring Chief Executive and Ararat Branch inaugural member John Davies for his outstanding service to the Foundation and his vision and commitment in bringing together the strong partnership that has been developed with the Ararat Branch.
Neil also congratulated the Ararat Branch on its continued success, and importantly for being a role model for the other regional branches of the Foundation that are now being established throughout Victoria.
Following the ceremony, guests were invited to afternoon tea in the Boardroom where those present had the chance to meet the Police Commissioner and Foundation members.
Photo: John McNally Medical Imaging Department plaque unveiling L/R: Ararat Branch President Terry Weeks, Victoria Police Commissioner Simon Overland, Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Chairman John Forbes, East Grampians Health Service Board President Graeme Foster.
