General News
5 December, 2024
Hospital welcomes garden opening
A new three-level outdoor space honouring the late Leonie Clarke, in the grounds of the Bowhaven Hostel and Rainbow Hospital, is now officially open.
The Leonie Clarke Garden was unveiled on November 22, offering residents and patients a tranquil space in which to enjoy the outdoors while honouring Ms Clarke.
West Wimmera Health Service CEO Ritchie Dodds led the proceedings, with Ms Clarke's mother Fayisse Clarke cutting the ribbon to officially open the garden.
The garden comes complete with a putting green, raised garden beds, outdoor seating and accessible ramp, as well as a separate memorial garden featuring an array of fruit trees.
The memorial garden provides a space for families and visitors to reflect, and honour loved ones, with laser cut butterflies to be installed intermittently as a tribute to the passing of residents.
“We’re incredibly pleased to be able to offer this space to our existing residents and patients to enjoy with their families and visitors for years to come”, Ritchie said.
“The garden was aptly named in honour of Leonie Clarke who was a much-loved long-term Board member of Rainbow Bush Nursing Home and West Wimmera Health Service, serving for more than two decades.”
The garden was made possible through grant funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and the Department of Health’s Aged Care Branch Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services and Community Kitchen Garden Initiative Grants 2020-21.
The team at Rainbow Hospital are now calling for donations to purchase garden furniture for residents, patients, visitors and their families to enjoy the new outdoor space. To make a donation or find out more, call Rainbow Hospital reception on 5396 3301.