West Gippsland Healthcare Group (WGHG) has celebrated staff who achieved remarkable milestones of 15 to 45 years of dedicated service.

WGHG Board Chair Jo-Anne Moorfoot presented Recognition of Service Awards to 41 long-serving staff at a ceremony in October.

Among those recognised was Alice Wells, a registered nurse from the Emergency Department, who has spent 45 years with WGHG.

Chief Executive Officer Shannon Wight says: “Alice has been a role model, mentor, and a source of reassurance for everyone around her. She is softly spoken, deeply compassionate, and has made an immeasurable contribution to caring for our community’s youngest and most vulnerable.

“These awards recognise the hard work of all recipients and their contributions to this organisation. We thank everyone for their years of service and continued efforts.”

The Recognition of Service Awards coincided with the departure of long-serving staff member Maria Kraszewski, who was honoured for her 49 years of dedicated service at a separate event.

Maria began her journey as a member of the cleaning team, working across the operating theatres and labour wards. She held a number of other environmental service roles before becoming our Environmental Services Coordinator, a role she held until her retirement. In this role, Maria oversaw cleaning staff, hospital attendants, pest control, staff accommodation, and ensured the hospital consistently met health department standards. In 2006, she was awarded Life Governorship at WGHG in recognition of her service.

As one of the group’s longest-serving staff, Maria described colleagues as her “second family”.

Recognition of Service Award recipients:

15 Years: Marandah Orvad, Letitia Clark, Karen Gleeson, Lynda Goodfellow, Alexander Kilner, Timothy Riddle, Elaine Thomson, Lynne Booth, Tanya Breward, Lauren Sell, Katrina Bannister and Bradley Gallagher.

20 Years: Jodie Gray, Jennifer Heslop, Stephanie Meharry, Sharyn Norris, Sherie Small, Renee Kersten, Melissa Pinch, Robyn Ridley, Chanea Wilkinson, Anne Balfour, Barbara Buckley and Lynette Burrage.

25 Years: Tamara Guy, Karl Hood, Raelene McDonald, Lyn Wilkinson, Jodee Bethune, Fleur Glover, Suzanne Schena and Kerrie Wright.

30 Years: Rosa Paris, Glenda Tottenham and Lois Dorling.

35 Years: Sandra Bell, Suzanne Colby, Diane Haysom and Julie Hume.

40 Years: Sheree Blum45 Years: Alice Wells