Patients, families, staff and supporters celebrated the first anniversary of the move to the new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) today with a vibrant birthday festival.
Entertainers from far and wide treated patients and visitors to special performances and visits throughout the day, including:
- Spiderman and Batman, who abseiled down the windows of the inpatient building, a treat from Metropolitan Window Cleaning
- Players and mascots from AFL clubs Richmond, Melbourne, St Kilda, Rugby Union club Melbourne Rebels and netball team the Melbourne Vixens
- Jessica Zinna from Beauty and the Geek
- Wilbur the Waterdrop from Melbourne City Water
- Wilbur Weekly from Melbourne Weekly
- Bearemy, Build-A-Bear’s cuddly mascot
- Clown doctors from the Humour Foundation
- Author Ann James
- Transformer characters Optimus Prime and Bumblebee from Crazigrams, and
- An assortment of multi-talented medical students from The University of Melbourne who amazed with their juggling, unicycling and magical feats
Everyone enjoyed an assortment of activites throughout the hospital, including:
- signing the massive ‘cubby’ craft cake
- a jam-packed program of fun coordinated by the hospital’s Education Institute and Starlight Express Room
- dance parties
- meerkat naming competition by RCH community partner Zoos Victoria
- golf with SNAG Golf
- storytime with the State Library of Victoria
X-Factor’s Nathaniel Willemse led the singing of ‘Happy birthday’ alongside the RCH staff choir and an excited audience of patients, families, staff, supporters and visitors in Main Street, before heading out to join Australian singer-songwriters Deborah Conway and Paul Dempsey for a lunchtime concert in the garden.
Today’s celebration had particular significance for outgoing RCH Chairman, Tony Beddison AO, as it marked his last day at the helm. Mr Beddison announced his retirement last month after eight-and-a-half years in the role. This morning Mr Beddison cut the birthday cake, joined by Australia’s first paediatric intestinal transplant recipient, Mohamed El Shazly.
The move to the new RCH on 30 November 2011 saw 143 inpatients transition from the old hospital over eight hours. Patients moved across purpose-built passageways in beds, cots and wheelchairs, supported by up to six RCH staff each. All up, hundreds of staff were involved in making the move a great success.
The hospital was officially opened a month earlier by Her Majesty The Queen on 26 October 2011. The event made headlines around the world and showcased the wonderful state-of-the-art facility.
Since moving to the new hospital, staff at the RCH have performed:
- Australia’s first paediatric intestinal transplant
- 10 heart transplants
- 11 liver transplants
- 209,893 specialist clinic appointments
- 14,630 surgical procedures
The year has also seen 33,930 inpatient stays and 76,225 Emergency presentations at the RCH.
RCH CEO Professor Christine Kilpatrick commended staff for their efforts in ensuring a smooth transition to the new facility.
“Our staff continue to maximise our new setting to enhance the excellent care we provide the children and young people of Victoria. I congratulate all staff for their ongoing commitment to their patients and to their colleagues,” she said.
The new facility continues to win numerous building and design awards, including the prestigious 2012 Dulux Colour Grand Prix Award and the 2012 Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Architecture Medal.