Official Opening and Blessing of Mater Private Hospital Springfield

Your Grace Lord Archbishop, Treasurer, Minister, Federal Member, Chairman, Mayor, Mr Sinnathamby (who yesterday celebrated his birthday), distinguished guests, especially Sisters of Mercy.

It is Kaye’s and my great pleasure to join with you all on this very special occasion, and to acknowledge, in this emerging regional city, our traditional Indigenous custodians, of ancient heritage and contemporary contribution. Thank you, Uncle Joe, for your generous observations. I can assure you I am doing all I can in this role to promote reconciliation and equal opportunity and equal access to services our governments earnestly seek to provide.

I am honoured today to join a proud succession of Governors who have opened Mater facilities throughout the State, beginning in 1910 when our tenth Governor, Sir William McGregor, opened the first Mater Private iteration to be located at the South Brisbane site.

Just as no doubt it was 105 years ago, today’s commemoration is a major event, both in the life of Mater, and for the vibrant communities it supports.

In relation to the latter, this is not just limited to this emergent Springfield precinct, but also for the half a million or so residents who live within a twenty minute radius.

They may within them treat the sick and infirm, but the building of a new hospital is often very much an indicator of a healthy community.    

This is certainly the case with the Mater Springfield.

It is a distinguished edifice, and not just because of its striking architectural features.

It stands as a talisman of Springfield’s progress and maturity, complementing the University of Southern Queensland campus in this emerging knowledge precinct. Thank you, Chairman, and your Corporation, for this manifestation of altruistic attention to the public good.

The Hospital exemplifies Mater’s concerted pursuit of innovation, and adherence to core values: Mercy, Dignity, Care, Commitment and Quality. I thank Mater wholeheartedly for a significant investment in this community, adding to the Mater’s distinguished suite of established facilities.

Sir William MacGregor would I expect be astounded were he here today, particularly by the scale, and amenity, of this growth region.

But his observation those 105 years ago that there was hardly anything in our great State of which we should be as proud as our hospitals, remains particularly apt.

This Hospital is a stellar example of the beneficial collaboration across borders and disciplines, across industry, research and government which defines Queensland’s robust medical industry.

I thank and congratulate all those involved for their vision, professionalism and, above all else, their faith in, and service, to the community.

Speaking of faith, it is tremendously reassuring to see not only the maintenance, but expansion, of hospital facilities auspiced by our Christian churches. Thank you, Archbishop, for holding firm to the churches’ core thrust of caring for the sick and infirm along the path of nurturing the soul. 

It is with enormous pleasure that I will shortly join Mater’s CEO and Chair in unveiling a plaque, and now I am pleased to declare officially open the Mater Private Hospital Springfield.