Find your voice

UP FRONT, I want to say I am no longer part of the Save Healesville Hospital Action Group as I resigned at the start of the year due to an over-commitment with work and, unfortunately, a back injury.
In saying that, I am passionately behind what SHHAG are trying to achieve on behalf of the Healesville community.
The opposite can be said at every stage for the Hon. David Davis, Minister for Health.
From day one of negotiations with SHHAG Minister Davis refused my involvement in any meetings.
At the time I thought he mustn’t like me, which isn’t anything new to me (which I’m sure some readers will agree with) but I truly believe I was excluded as I was the only member of SHHAG who was an experienced lobbyist and after reading New Health Study on page one of the Mountain Views Mail, 24 June, I believe he had the agenda set right from the start and working with our community was not part of his plan.
Sure, he held several meetings with the group but on most occasions the group left with words but no commitments and now the efforts of SHHAG and the community have been side-swiped by the minister undertaking his own study demonstrating total arrogance by either the minister and or the State Government.
There are many issues when it comes time for people to vote but a local rural hospital that serves the local community must be high on people’s reasons when they go to the ballot box in November.
No matter who runs in the new Eildon electorate, make sure your voice is heard.
Make sure you tell Minister Davis, through the new local Liberal candidate, that we do not accept their cloak and dagger style communication.
Millions of dollars have been promised but there is already so much waste at the hospital.
The great portable training buildings near White Street are used half a dozen times a year and otherwise sit idle rather than being used as consultation suites for people like Dr Simpson, who was forced to leave Healesville due to lack of meeting rooms.
Eastern Health had their mugs, pens, pads and posters printed quickly to show they won the Premier’s Award for Community Engagement which is a joke and no doubt part of the State Government’s plan to run straight over the top of our local support. The time has come for transparency and not some dictatorship report but an independent report demonstrating what is best for our community.
Come on Healesville – you have always been loud; you have always passionately stood up for what you believe in.
If you don’t find your voice, get used to the trips to Maroondah for minor injuries, for respite, for maternity and for surgical recovery.
Alexandra and Mansfield have better hospital facilities than we have, including a wider range of surgical procedures, so why don’t the people of the Yarra Valley deserve the same?
Finally, I would like to put on the record my disappointment in the whole political system as our local member knows what is best for our community but even her voice has been ignored by the State Government.
So the question is are local members really listened to or do they just toe the party line and therefore why would anyone vote for any major or minor party.
Perhaps the time for an independent is upon us.
Kersten Gentle,
Healesville.