As we prepare to welcome in 2025 lets look back at what has happened in the CALHN Health Museum and CALHN in 2024.
January
We farewelled a long serving staff member Jonathan Hull who went onto work at the Holdfast Bay Council. Jonathan had been with us for several years and was a much admired member of the team. We wish him well on his future.
March
In March the CALHN Health Museum visited our the Holdfast Bay Discovery Centre and was given a guided tour by our former college Jonathan. It was wonderful to see him and what he has achieved. We also welcomed new staff member Anna Grigoriev.
May
The CALHN Health Museum once again took part in History Festival. The title of our display was “ Between The Pages” and focused on bringing photos and objects in books to life. We had displays on eyes, first aid, nurse uniforms and much more.
We were also given the opportunity to tour the new Kangkanthi Building at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It opened later in the year.
At Hampstead we celebrated 50 years of Volunteers at Hampstead with a morning tea put on by the CALHN Volunteer Unit.
June
We farewelled staff member Jasmin Clark. Jasmin left to explore opportunities overseas. She moved to Edinburgh and has been working at Edinburgh Castle. We wish her well in her future endeavours (even though we are a tad jealous).
June also saw CALHN put on its annual lunch for Volunteers. This year it was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in the city. It celebrated the time and effort that volunteers make to our hospitals and honours their dedication to their work and CALHN.
The Physiotherapy Department left Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre and moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the new Kangkanthi Building. A farewell event was held and the CALHN Health Museum loaned objects for the event.
July
July 3rd saw the opening of the Kanganthi (pronounced ‘gun-gun-dee’. Kaurna word meaning ‘to care’) Building at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This new 5-level clinical services building provides a 46 bed Emergency Department, a 14 bed Intensive Care Unit, 12 operating theatres, and 52 in-patient beds for rehabilitation including gym facilities. It also houses SA Medical Imaging, and SA Pathology Laboratory. Many of these departments moved form the main buildings into this new facility.
Also in July the CALHN Health Museum became custodians of the historical collection at Glenside. Objects include artwork by patients, to medical equipment and documentation and photographs. Its a wonderful collection to explore and gives an insight into the treatment of people with mental illness in South Australia.
September
The 6th of September saw the Queen Elizabeth Hospital turn 70. The hospital officially opened in 1954 as a maternity hospital on land that was owned by the Connor family. The doors opened at 7:30am and the first patients were received. The first baby born at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital was a boy on the morning of 7th September 1954. It became a general hospital in March 1959 accepting all types of medical cases. This hospital has had many achievements in its 70 years including in 1964 surgeons performed the first successful kidney transplant and TQEH was the first teaching hospital in SA to be accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.
November
The CALHN Health Museum was also invited to attend the book launch for “ Her Great Adventure: Dorothy ‘Puss’ Campbell” held at the Torrens Parade Grounds. The book written by Puss’s niece, Dr Janet Scarfe tells the story of RAH Nurse Dorothy Campbell’s adventures during the war.
At Hampstead the Geriatrics Department moved to a purpose built building at Sefton Park. This department shared a building with us and it has been quiet since they have left.
Remembrance Day was poignant with the CALHN Health Museum putting on a display at the Royal Adelaide Hospital along side CALHN Volunteers selling handmade poppies and gifts. Lest we forget. You can read more about this in Remembrance Day 2024
December
Our last educational excursion for the year was to the St Johns SA Ambulance Museum at Brighton and afterwards had our Christmas Lunch at Charlie’s Diner. You can read more about this in CALHN Health Museum Christmas Festivities 2024, as well as our Christmas display for CALHN’s Christmas Display Competition 2024.
What a year 2024 has been. So much has happened from farewells, and moves to anniversaries and celebrations its intriguing to see what the new year has in store.
As we start a new year I would just like to thank everyone for their support throughout the year and wish everyone a safe new year and can’t wait to see you in 2025.
Written by Kellie Branson, CALHN Health Museum