100 YEARS AGO

Situated in Warragul, because it is the most central position, the District Hospital is constantly extending its sphere of usefulness, east and west, north and south.

Patients come from as far as Morwell, and even Walhalla on the east, to Berwick, Kooweerup and Lang Lang on the west, and from Mountain View on the south to Neerim and Fumina in the north.

This area embraces a very large extent of territory from which patients are drawn and the provision for the upkeep and medical nursing of such a large number of persons involves a very heavy outlay. Each shire is called upon to help, but the burden is not yet equally divided among them.

This financial assistance, with the help of the Government, provides for the general maintenance of the patients and staff (generally between 40 and 50), but when a special outlay has to be incurred, as is the case with the nurses’ new quarters, then a special appeal is necessary. These new quarters are urgently needed, for the health and welfare of nurses is of paramount consideration.

Owing to the high cost of materials, the outlay will be close upon £1800, apart from the furnishing. The committee has about £600 in hand, and it is hoped to get a grant of £500 from the Government. Then another £700 or £800 is needed. thus: - cost of bale, 1914 - £3 7/6; cost of same bale, 1920 - £23 12/6.

If these figures are analysed, it will be seen that the increase is 700 per cent.