The new Urbenville Medical Centre was officially opened recently, with officials and residents celebrating the new facility which should hopefully secure medical services to the town and surrounds.
Tenterfield Shire Council initially received a federal grant to upgrade the old facility, a converted house, but this was eventually deemed unfeasible, according to council’s business and social development officer, Harry Bolton.
“When we started to look at the renovations needed to meet the Australian medical standard, it was going to cost a lot of money,” he said. “The estimated investment required in renovations to upgrade was deemed uneconomical and the decision was made to move to a green field site and build and to sell the old premises to redeem some of the additional investment required.”
The husband and wife team of Doctors Philip Chalmers and Carolyn May had moved from Sydney and taken over the practice with the expectations that the working conditions would improve.
When the decision was made to start from scratch, it took time to find a suitable site and undertake necessary earthworks, Mr Bolton said. Severe weather conditions interrupted construction when it began last year. The keys to the centre were handed over to the doctors at the end of last year, with the medical practice now happily ensconced in the new building.
Mr Bolton said, “It was a great outcome for Urbenville and the hospital there. We risked losing the doctors and, as it now, the doctors are taking on trainee medical students and mentoring other students. It’s a project that had to happen to retain doctors.”
Deputy Mayor, Peter Petty, made the welcoming speech and thanked the many Shire staff and community members involved in the project, saying it was a true partnership project, with council contributing half the funds required.
Cr Petty introduced Federal member for Page, Janelle Saffin, who officiated for Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek.
“The upgraded Urbenville Medical Centre would be vital to continue providing health services to the Urbenville community and surrounds. The new centre has modern consulting rooms for two doctors and a practice nurse,” she said
“It will now provide an expanded variety of health services. This modern medical centre will serve Urbenville and the local community well into the future, and provide a great incentive towards recruiting doctors and allied health professionals.”
Colleen Scofield, president of the Urbenville Progress Association, said that the centre was a major asset, saving Urbenville from finding itself in the same position as Bonalbo, with no doctors. She also said that credit was due to the Tenterfield Shire Council for its ongoing support and for securing the grant. Urbenville was also blessed by having the doctors.
Official guests at the Medical Centre opening were: Hon Janelle Saffin (Federal Member for Page), Deputy Mayor Peter Petty (Tenterfield Shire Council), Ms Lotta Jackson (General Manager Tenterfield Shire Council), Doctors May, Chalmers and Lee, Ms Nancy Martin (Executive Officer, Director of Nursing, Urbenville Hospital), Mr Wes Smith (Builder of the Medical Centre), Mrs Colleen Scofield (President Urbenville Progress Association) and Mr Harry Bolton (Business and Social Development Officer Tenterfield Shire).
