The Wesley Hospital Wesley Expansion Sod-turning Ceremony

Assistant Minister to the Premier on Matters of State and New Citizens, Leader of the House and Member for Moggill, Dr Christian Rowan MP; Member for Maiwar, Mr Michael Berkman MP; Moderator of the Uniting Church Queensland Synod, Reverend Bruce Moore; Board Chair, Uniting Care Queensland, Mr Jim Demack and Board Members; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ben Edwards; Group Executive, Hospitals, Mr David Harper; General Manager, The Wesley Hospital, Mr Jason Burton; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this morning.

When I was sworn in as Governor of Queensland, almost five years ago, I made a pledge to encourage a healthy and active Queensland.

At that time, I had worked for more than 30 years in health.

Then, as now, I am acutely aware of just how vital it is to the health of all Queenslanders to have access to top-quality health services, and how important it is to give support and encouragement to everyone in the vast network that provides those services.

That commitment has remained a focus of my work as Governor as I have travelled around the State, listening to Queenslanders, wherever they may live.

I was simply thrilled when I first heard about this exceptional project, and very happy to accept the invitation to turn the first sod today.

When completed, this expansion will give the Wesley the largest and most comprehensive private cancer-care centre in Brisbane — a wonderful 10-storey health precinct with a new day surgery centre, radiology services, radiation bunkers, and new specialist suites. It is truly visionary.

It was exactly 49 years ago yesterday that the Wesley Hospital first opened, with the first patients transferred by a convoy of ambulances from the old St Helen’s Methodist Hospital in South Brisbane to the brand new 302-bed facility here on the Moorlands Estate site.

On that occasion, there was no formal ceremony or public event; no ribbon-cutting or speeches, but rituals such as this sod-turning are important.

This was well understood in 2007, when one of my predecessors —our 24^th Governor, the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce — turned the first sod ahead of the construction of a multi-million-dollar Clinical Trials Centre here at the Wesley. 

Like laying a foundation stone, turning the first sod brings a community together to share a sense of achievement and to honour those who have helped reach this important milestone.

In this case, there is much to celebrate, and I congratulate everyone who contributed — from raising funds and securing investment to planning and negotiating around this important project.  Your combined effort finds expression today in this humble yet resonant gesture.

I once again congratulate everyone concerned in this latest addition to one of our State’s most respected and successful health institutions and wish you well as the build begins.